Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo of new signees, returning players, and coaching staff by James Jones. 

NEWARK, Del. - - With the his first chance to bring in a crop of players, second year Wilmington University women's soccer head coach Jeff Zoyac signed 15 student-athletes to the program, making up the 2016 recruiting class.

"We are very excited to have this group joining our program for the fall," Zoyac, who took the coaching job last July, said. "They are a group of players that are rich in talent and character that will contribute to the program both on and off the field."

The class consists of nine incoming freshman and six junior college transfers. Position wise, the class features eight defensemen, four midfielders, two attackers, and a goalkeeper, according to the position in which they played last season.

"This incoming class will complement the returning group of young women who are eager to kick off the 2016 season," Zoyac continued. "A lot of credit goes to (assistant coaches) Derek Buckley and Don Palmucci for their tireless efforts in bringing in this outstanding class."

Below is a short synopsis of each individual of the 2016 recruiting class, in alphabetical order:

Stephanie Alvarez: Two-year varsity letterwinner at Vineland High School. Went on to play two seasons at Cumberland County Community College. Earned NJCAA All-Region 19 Third Team honors as a freshman in 2014. She led the team with 13 assists in 2014, finishing second on the team with 21 points as a defender. Also played for Airstorm.

Gabrielle Bluford: Four-year letterwinner at Glassboro High School before going on to play two seasons at Monroe College. Helped lead Monroe to the 2014 NJCAA DI Women's Soccer National Championship and a third place finish in 2015. Helped lead high school team to a 2012 South Jersey Group 1 second place finish before earning the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year award as a senior. Also plays for FC Westchester.

Valerie Bragg: Four-year letterwinner and three-year captain at Rising Sun High School. Helped lead the team to two divisional championships as the team's central defender. Was named All-County all four years and All-Division in two seasons. Also played for and was named a captain for Cardiff FC. Also an All-Honors and National Honor Society member in the classroom.

Ashley Cafarella: Four-year letterwinner at Old Bridge High School. Helped lead team to the division championship and earned a spot in the New Jersey State Championship game. Went on to play two seasons at Brookdale Community College, helping the team to back-to-back (a part of three straight) NJCAA Division III Women's Soccer National Championships. Was named a First Team NJCAA All-American as a midfielder as a sophomore, scoring 14 goals and adding seven assists in 2015. Was named a Second Team NJCAA All-American as a freshman after scoring 15 goals and adding four assists in 2014. Also a two-time All-GSAC and All-Region 19 performer.

Erin Kennedy: Was a defender at Timber Creek Regional High School in Sicklerville, N.J. Helped lead the team to three straight conference championships. Earned the MVP award during Team Camp in 2014 and earned the Most Courageous Award as a senior in 2015. Was named a captain for Washington United, a club team she's played on since 2012.

Casey Lubonski: Three-year letterwinner as a center midfielder for Washington Township High School.  Earned the Coaches' Award as a senior in 2015 and the Unsung Hero Award as a junior in 2014. Was also named a team captain of the Washington United Spirit, a club team she has played on since 2012.

Taylor Mocknis: Four-year letterwinner at Rising Sun High School as a midfielder. Helped lead the team to the Regional Championship one year. Was named All-County twice and Honorable Mention All-County twice throughout her high school career. Also played for Perry Hall White March club team. Helped lead club team to three Delaware State Championship, two Region I Championship games, the PAGS Division I Championship, and the EDP Championships.

Devin O'Reilly: Four-year letterwinner and starter at St. Georges Technical High School. Named a First Team All-Conference performer in her first three seasons. Also named a First Team All-State as a sophomore and junior, and a Third Team All-State as a freshman. Has been named a captain for the third time this season. Also earned three letters on the field hockey team, being named a captain as well.

Emily Ohara: Four-year letterwinner at Cumberland Regional High School as a left back. Played a season at Cumberland County Community College. Also played for FC Rage and the UK Elite. Helped lead the team to the semifinals of the Donosti Cup in San Sebastian, Spain.

Gabby Perry: Two-year letterwinner at Pemberton Township High School. Helped lead the team to the first round of the NJ State Tournament. Was named First Team All-Burlington County and Second Team All-South Jersey. Also played defense for the SJA club team. Older sister, Alexis, also plays for the Wildcats.

Martina Stewart: Played goalie at Marlboro High School before playing at Brookdale Community College. Helped lead Brookdale to a pair of NJCAA Division III National Championships (a part of three-straight for Brookdale). Was named a Second Team NJCAA Division II All-American as a sophomore in 2015. Made 92 saves and only allowed seven goals on the season, amassing a 0.35 GAA with 14 shutouts as a sophomore. Recorded 147 saves with a 0.47 GAA and 11 shutouts as a freshman.

Riley Thompson: Four-year letterwinner and starter at The Morgan School in Clinton, Conn. Helped lead the team to the Connecticut State Tournament all four seasons. Helped lead the team to the Shoreline Championship game as a senior. Was named Second Team All-Shoreline as a senior. Also was a four-year letterwinner on the school's basketball team, helping the team to the State Championship game as a sophomore and the Shoreline League Championship as a junior.

Jessica Unsihuay: Four-year letterwinner at St. Georges Technical High School as a midfielder and attacker. Has been named First Team All-State in her first three seasons. Has also been named the Blue Hen Conference Player of the Year in her first three seasons.

Laura van Steveninck: Joining the Wildcats from Monnickendam, Amsterdam where she attended Damstede Amsterdam. Played soccer for ASV Wartburgia Amsterdamn as a defender.

Teigha Ward: Five-year letterwinner at Central Valley Academy in Ilion, N.Y. Earned First Team All-CSC and a Section 3 All-Star all five years. Scored a season high 34 goals while in high school. Went on to play at Herkimer County Community College in Herkimer, N.Y. Was named a NSCAA and NJCAA First Team All-American as a sophomore after scoring 27 goals and adding 15 assists for 69 points (ranking second in both categories in NJCAA Division III) in leading the team to the NJCAA National Championship Semifinals. Also earned the 2015 Mountain Valley Conference and Region III Player of the Year awards, as well as the Region 3 Tournament MVP. Her freshman season was just as impressive, earning NSCAA and NJCAA Second Team All-American accolades, as well as First Team All-Region 3 and All-Conference honors. She helped lead the team to a third place finish in the NJCAA National Championships with 23 goals and seven assists for 53 points.