HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University women's soccer head coach Bob Sheehan has announced the addition of seven student-athletes to the program. Taylor Abbott, Annie Greene, Jamie Lehker, Lindsey Meyer, Megan Sullivan, Shelby Wall and Kayla Wypasek will all join the team for the 2019 season.  
 
"This is a group of high achieving student-athletes both academically and athletically," said Sheehan. "They have all played important roles in leading their high school and club teams to success. We welcome these seven outstanding young women to our program."
 
Taylor Abbott
Abbott comes to NKU from Burlington Central High School in Burlington, Illinois, where she plays for head coach Jessica Arneson. As a center back, she helped her team to a 23-3 record in her junior season, and she will start her senior season this spring. While at Burlington Central, Abbott has been named to the all-conference team. Abbott also plays for FCX Barrington for head coach John Koeune. In the most recent season, the team went 22-3-2, and Abbott scored a goal and recorded an assist.
 
Coach Sheehan's comments: "Taylor is a fast, fit, and physical defender who can play anywhere on the back line. Taylor plays with a high degree of toughness.  She is a lock down defender who competes.  Her work ethic and commitment to the game are very high."
 
 
Annie Greene
Greene arrives at NKU from Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills, Ohio, which is a suburb near Cleveland. She played for head coach Joe Ciuni. This past season, her team went 12-4-3. Greene scored six goals and added three assists in just eight games played. Coming into this season, she had played in 56 games for Gilmour Academy. Greene was named to the 2018 North Coast League First Team and the 2017 News Herald First Team, and she helped her Gilmour Academy win the 2016 Division III State Championship. Greene also plays for the Cleveland Cobras for head coach Sean McNamara. The team recently won the U-19 State Cup Championship and the U-19 Great Lakes Alliance NPL Championship.
 
Coach Sheehan's comments: "Annie is an assertive and crafty attacking player with pace who scores goals and creates for others. She has played key roles on championship teams. Annie has come up with big plays in championship games, such as assisting on both goals in her Gilmour team's 2-1 victory in the 2016 Ohio high school state championship match. "
 
 
Jamie Lehker
Lehker will attend NKU after playing at Badin High School in Hamilton, Ohio. Lehker played as a defender and midfielder during her career with the Rams. In her senior season, she played in 14 matches and helped the team to a 9-5-3 record. She was named the defensive MVP for both her junior and senior seasons, and she also earned first team all-conference honors as a junior. Lehker also plays club soccer for the Total Futbol Academy 01, which placed third in the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships this past July. She plans to major in biology at NKU.
 
Coach Sheehan's comments: "Jamie plays at a high level in the midfield and on the back line due to her excellent skill set and understanding of the game. Jamie possesses great composure and is a hard tackler. She is an extremely versatile player with a great sense of the game."
 
 
Lindsey Meyer
Meyer comes to NKU from nearby Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, where she played for head coach Alex Dean. Meyer is a midfielder/wing who helped her team to a 23-5 record as a senior. She scored 28 goals and recorded 16 assists for the Bluebirds this past year. She was named first team all-state and finished her career as the Highlands High School record holder for points, goals and assists. Meyer also played club soccer for CDA 2000 in Cincinnati for coaches Tiffany Roberts and Hugh Seyfarth.  Her CDA 2000 team finished third in the U.S. Youth National Championships this past July.
 
Coach Sheehan's comments: "Lindsey has demonstrated an ability to score goals and create opportunities for others as the Highlands High School record holder for points, goals, and assists. She is quick, technically proficient, and possesses good vision. She has played at a high level and competed for championships with both her high school and her club teams."
 
 
Megan Sullivan
Sullivan signed a National Letter of Intent for NKU's track & field program, and she will also play for the women's soccer team. Sullivan attended Anderson High School, and played soccer for head coach Andy Boyd. As a midfielder and defender, Sullivan helped her team to a 14-4-1 record. She scored 13 goals and added 15 assists. Sullivan led her conference in goals, assists, and points. She was named first team all-conference during her junior and senior seasons, and she also earned all-city and all-state honors during her senior year. Sullivan also played for the Alliance Cincinnati Elite Gold soccer club for head coach Jim Calder.
 
Coach Sheehan's comments: "Megan is a left-sided player, who has the ability to move up and down the flank at speed and consistently deliver quality service into the box. Her speed and athleticism on the track serves her well on the soccer field. She is also an extremely productive goal scorer."
 
 
Shelby Wall
Wall arrives at NKU from nearby Oak Hills High School, where she played for head coach Kevin Spraul. She was also a member of the school's track & field team. In her senior season, she helped the soccer team to a 9-7-2 record. She scored six goals and added eight assists. Wall was named first team all-conference and to the Academic All-Southwest team. She also played for the Total Futbol Academy 01 for coaches Jay Kiley and Chip Pittman. Her club team placed third in the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships this past July. Wall plans to major in criminal justice at NKU.
 
Coach Sheehan's comments: "Shelby is an athletic player with a strong commitment to the game. Shelby has an excellent work rate and provides outstanding width in the attack. Her passion and drive are at the highest level. She has played key roles on all of her teams."
 
 
Kayla Wypasek
Wypasek joins the NKU program from Strongsville High School in Strongsville, Ohio, where she played for head coach Todd Church. In her senior season, Wypasek helped her team to a 17-3-1 record and an Ohio high school state runner-up finish. As a center midfielder, she scored 15 goals and added four assists. She was named First Team All-Academic Ohio, Second Team All-Ohio and first team all-conference. Wypasek also played for the Cleveland Futbol Club for coaches Benny Dargle and Marco Raduka, and she plans to major in Biology.
 
Coach Sheehan's comments: "Kayla is a highly-skilled and dynamic central midfielder who captained her young Strongsville team to the Ohio high school state championship match last week. Kayla is a playmaker. Beyond her technical skill set and production as an attacking player, Kayla developed into an important leader for her Strongsville team."