By: GSU Athletic Communications
GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University women's soccer team and head coach
Justin Wagar announced the addition 16 newcomers ahead of the start of the 2024 season.
This year's batch of new Lady Tigers feature four transfers and 12 incoming freshmen. Two goalkeepers, six forwards, three midfielders, and five defenders make up the positions for the recent signees.
"This class adds depth for our program, a lot of speed, and a mixture of experience and talent. I'm excited to start our official season and games soon and have the chance to see them compete in season," said Wagar.
Jayla Gage is an All-Conference college transfer from Chicago State University, and then Troy University where she played one year for each school as a forward. While at Chicago State, she led the team in shots, points, and scoring with five goals, including two game winners to earn a spot on the Freshman All-WAC team. While at Troy University, Jayla notched two goals and two assists to finish second on the team in scoring and for most points. Gage started 27 out of 32 games her first two years of college while notching 7 total goals and 2 assists. For club ball, the California Native played for Strikers FC ECNL.
Olivia Kowall is a talented 5'7 forward and attacking center mid from Arizona where she is an impact player for her Phoenix Rising ECNL-R team. Oliva was honored as a First Team All-Region selection her senior season, Attacking Player of the Year for All-Region 2023-2024 as well as being honored as her teams MVP and Schoolwide Ironman Athlete of the Year. Kowall was also a first team All-Region selection in 2021-2022 seasons.
Aubrey Salazar is a JUCO transfer from Visalia, California where she was a two-year starter for the College of the Sequoias. Salazar, the team captain, was a standout as an All-Conference College player as a speedy winger and forward for her team. Salazar was also a scholar athlete.
Cindy Norfles is a speedy 5'10 Center back and Forward who hails from Long Beach California. She plays forward for club soccer for her Pateadores ECNL-R team where Norfles was the leading scorer this year notching 19 goals and 12 assists. At Wilson High she was the team's defensive captain the past two years at corner back where she was honored as the Defender of the Year for her junior and senior seasons, while garnering All-Conference honors the past three years while helping lead her team to a league championship in the 2022-2023 season.
Anaya Thomas is a versatile 5'8 center back and center mid from Palm Beach Florida where she was a standout for her Palm Beach Gardens Predators Girls Academy team. Thomas was a team captain for her Predators GA team the past two years as well as high school captain her senior year. Thomas was honored her senior year as a First Team All-County Selection and MVP while playing center mid. She played for the State and Regional Olympic Development teams too.
Naiya Singleton is a mid-year transfer who joined the Tigers this January from Sam Houston State U. Singletary is a fast forward and outside mid that prepped for Shadow Creek High in Pearland, Texas, a suburb of Houston. She was two-time First Team All-District and All-Academic team selections. Singleton played club ball for the talented Houston Dash Girls Academy 05 team that went undefeated in league play while qualifying for the GA Playoffs. She was an ODP team selection as well.
Kayla Loughrey is a talented outside defender and outside mid from Colorado. She was two time All-State getting honorable mention her junior year and then First Team All-State as a senior. She was her team's captain and was selected All-Conference both of her upperclassmen years. For club ball she was an impact player and starter on her Broomfield United Girls Academy team.
Kaia Bace, a 5'10 Goalkeeper from New Jersey is a mid-year transfer coming from Seattle University. She was a First Team All-Conference and All-State Selection out of high school where she earned the Golden Glove award for best keeper in 2022 for Toms River High School East. Bace was a top club keeper and was invited to the national ID2 Camp in 2018 and the U-14 US National Training Camp that same year. She was nominated on a number of occasions as GK of the week for New Jersey and was named the NJ.com Top Goalkeeper to watch and to the Top-Rated Girls Soccer Player list. For club she played for PDA ECNL which qualified for the regional and National finals.
Alana Aiken is a 5'8 forward and mid who played club ball for FC Dallas, BVB, and DKSC ECNL over the past 4 years where she was honored as a High Impact player and Player of the Week. She prepped for Rock Hill High and was a varsity forward her last three years where she was honored as an All-District Player and an Academic All-District selection. Just prior to moving to Texas for high school, Aiken helped her Charlotte Soccer Academy team win the state and regional title while making it to the National Championship game.
Ronya Halleen is a dynamic outside back and forward from Sweden where she competed for 2 seasons for
allsvenskan and two seasons in elitettan. Halleen is fast and athletic, can beat players off the dribble and create scoring opportunities for her team.
Aaniyah Frye is an incoming freshman from California where she played her club ball as a center back and forward for her SoCal Blues ECNL team. She is a tenacious 1 vs 1 defender and is good in the air.
Za'Keya Charles is a strong athletic striker who is joining GSU from Sandy Creek High school in Atlanta. Charles was a 1st Team All-State forward and League Offensive MVP where she led her team in scoring and assists. For club ball she scored 11 goals this season for her Moba Soccer Academy team.
Jasmine Ford is a 5'11 Goalkeeper from South Carolina.
She is a 3x All state 4x All-Region player. She received rookie of the year and capped her senior year with the North South Soccer Classics. In four years, she had 189 saves (0.455 goals against average) and 31 shutouts. She played her club ball for CESA ECNL-R.
Adalie Hernandez is a crafty attacking center mid and forward from Northern California where she led her Calprep team in scoring and was selected as team MVP. She played club ball for LaMorinda Girls Academy team for five years helping them to the national playoffs and was twice selected to play for the West Region's Best GA Camp.
Marlene Myrvold is an incoming 5'10 center midfielder from Norway who played for FK Fosen and was the team captain and Player of the Year in 2022 after leading her team in scoring. She is a great passer, a good defender in the midfield.
Charlotte Cuthbertson is a f
orward and midfielder from Ontario, Canada where she played for OntarioLeague1 Oakville Blue Devils and OPDL's Oakville SC. Charlie was a multi-sport standout for Erin District High School where she was named 2023 & 2024 Soccer MVP after leading the varsity team to the 2024 Provincial Championships earning a Bronze Medal, where she was the tournament's leading scorer. She was awarded the Ontario Scholars Award and was a four-year Honor Roll recipient.
Grambling State opens the 2024 season Aug. 15 at LSU-Alexandria.
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