ELON, N.C. – Elon University women's soccer head coach Neil Payne and his staff has announced the signing of five future Phoenix to national letters of intent for the upcoming 2019 season.
 
This year's group includes two players from inside the state's borders, as well as one from Virginia, New Jersey and Tennessee. The 2019 class helps strengthen the Phoenix offensively with three forwards and one midfielder, while adding depth defensively with one center back.
 
AVERY DAVIS
Forward - 5-7 - Chattanooga, Tenn. / Baylor School / Chattanooga F.C.
Avery Davis joins Elon after playing for Chattanooga F.C. While a member of Chattanooga F.C., she helped her club to a state title under head coach Luidgi Beauzile. Davis was honored with three All-Region team and All-State team awards at Baylor School. Additionally, she guided Baylor School to a top-20 ranking nationally, an undefeated season and 2017 State Championship, as well as a 2018 State Semifinals finish. Davis was also named to the All-American Watch List, All-Region MVP, a team captain, and was the team's leading goal scorer at Baylor School under head coach Curtis Blair.
 
Coach Payne on Davis
"Avery is another recruit we were excited to recruit, she has a strong sense of the standards we're trying to implement and her competitiveness is clear to see.  Avery will give us a different look in front of goal and her athleticism and skill level will allow us to be more threatening in the final third."
 
BEKY MYERS
Forward/Midfielder – 5-8 – Fairfax, Va. / Fairfax High School / McLean ECNL
Beky Myers will join Elon after playing club soccer for McLean ECNL. As a three-year letterwinner at Fairfax High School, Myers picked up a Second Team All-Region selection and a First Team All-District honor. She was a varsity captain as a junior and a senior and let her team to the District Finals under head coach Gwyn Jones. While playing with McLean ECNL at the club level, Myers helped the team to first-place finishes in the conference in both 2016-17 and 2017-18 under the direction of head coach Brent Leiba. She will become the fifth Phoenix on the squad that played at McLean ECNL, joining rising sophomores Lily Harkes, Makenzie DePriest-Kessler and Jasmine Bryant, as well as rising senior Breanna Mitchell.
 
Coach Payne on Myers
"Becky comes to us from McLean, who is one of the best ECNL clubs in the country.  We know they develop top-flight players and she will be ready for the standards we will expect next year. Becky has the ability to drive a team forward and she possesses a quality in the final third that will help us succeed next season."
 
CLAIRE BRODERDORP
Forward/Midfielder - 5-10 – Charlotte, N.C. / Charlotte Soccer Academy / Providence Day
Claire Broderdorp comes to Elon after playing club soccer for Charlotte Soccer Academy, where she led her U-19 team to the National Playoffs in 2017 under the direction of club coach Phillip Poole. While playing for Providence Day School, Broderdorp guided her team to a conference title and a state semifinalist finish during the 2017 campaign under head coach Dan Dudley. She was a two-time All-Conference selection during her sophomore year in 2016 and her junior year in 2018.
 
Coach Payne on Broderdorp
"Claire has proven she can score goals, particularly in big games. Claire's a strong physical player who can score with all surfaces and she's a player who is capable of finishing the chances that will be created for her. Claire comes to Elon from coach Phillip Poole the academy director at Charlotte Soccer Club, Phillip's philosophy and standards fall right in line with what we will expect moving forward and we know he will push and develop Claire before she arrives." 
 
MOLLY MAHONEY
Forward/Midfielder – 5-8 – Basking Ridge, N.J. / Ridge High School / N.J. Elite Flames
Molly Mahoney joins the Phoenix after a decorated club and high school career. She comes to Elon after playing at the club level with N.J. Elite Flames and guiding the team to a 2018 National Championship and to the 2018 US Club Cup under head coach Jordi Meijer. N.J. Elite Flames was also the top-ranked team in New Jersey and the region, as well as the second-ranked team in the nation. Mahoney finished the spring season with 29 goals and 11 assists for the club during their successful national championship run. While playing at Ridge High School under head coach Katie Donahue, Mahoney led her team to New Jersey State Runner-Up finishes three straight years from 2015-17. As a captain during the 2018-19 year, she is the leading scorer for the squad. She was named one of the top players in New Jersey during her junior and senior seasons, and earned "Athlete of the Month" in October in 2018. She has a strong family background in collegiate athletics as her brother Max currently plays basketball at Boston University, her grandfather John Mahoney played basketball at William & Mary, and her mother Aly Mahoney swam at the University of Maryland.
 
Coach Payne on Mahoney
"We were very excited to recruit Molly as we feel she fills a void in the current squad. The combination of athleticism, technical ability and productivity will give us a different look in key areas of the field and we look forward to her helping us raise standards across the board."
 
RHODES NEESE
Defender – 6-0 – Greensboro, N.C. / Grimsley High School / NC Fusion
Rhodes Neese will head to Elon after wrapping up her club career with local club N.C. Fusion in nearby Greensboro under head coach Andrew Flemming. While playing at Grimsley High School, she was a named the 2017 Defender of the Year, a three-time All-Conference selection (2016-18), and was named to the All-Region Team twice in 2017 and 2018. Additionally, Neese guided Grimsley to a Metro 4A Conference Championship in 2017. She also excelled in the classroom as a member of the A-Honor Roll, Latin Honors Society and picked up the AP-Scholar Award in 2018. Her sister Riley Neese currently plays college soccer at Appalachian State.
 
Coach Payne on Neese
"Rhodes is a local player we're excited to add to the squad, she has a good presence in the air, is tough in the tackle and has a determination to disrupt the opponent.  Rhodes comes to us from NC Fusion in Greensboro where John Pardini and Andrew Flemming are clearly raising the level of play throughout the club, and we can trust they will prepare Rhodes for the next level."