BILLINGS, Mont. – Announcing a recruiting class of eight signees on Wednesday, Montana State University Billings women's head soccer coach Stephen Cavallo introduced the newest incoming Yellowjackets who will join the program in 2023.


"We are very excited to welcome these eight phenomenal student athletes to our program," said Cavallo. "We love the mixture of great skill and personality that this group will bring. We believe they will continue to help our program move in a forward direction and will help us towards our goal of competing for and then winning a GNAC Championship. I want to thank our staff, Coach Abiye and Coach Kaylee, for all their hard work and efforts in recruiting these wonderful recruits. We look forward to getting them on campus next fall."
 
Claire Brogdon
Goalkeeper
Gilbert, Arizona
Perry High School
Intended Major: Business/Biology
 
Brogdon comes to the Yellowjackets after helping her Perry High School varsity soccer team reach the 6A conference semifinals. The team went 14-4-1 this season. Brogdon averaged 3.3 saves per game in the 2021 season, and 2.8 in 2022. Also, a participant in ODP (Olympic Development Program), Brogdon's team was a semifinalist in the Farwest Championships, and she was recognized as the goalkeeping MVP on her team.
 
Coach Cavallo on Brogdon: "Claire is a goalkeeper with fantastic size and positional awareness.  She has the wingspan and length to make saves in the top corner that many other keepers cannot make. She is extremely dedicated to her craft, and we look forward to bringing her into our goalkeeping core."


Brogdon on choosing MSUB: "I chose MSUB because it is a smaller campus that still provides the technology, resources and support to be successful in my academics. MSUB checks off a lot of my personal needs from a family and community. On my visit Coach Cavallo showed me the wonderful outdoors that I enjoy along with a small caring and supportive community. Most importantly when I pictured myself in Billings playing for Coach Cavallo and Coach Jack, they made me feel they were truly invested in me. They had a very positive and motivating energy on and off the field that made me feel inspired. They had creative yet effective training drills that I know will continue my growth as a player. It is where I wanted to play Soccer at the next level and continue my education so I am so glad that I will be a Yellowjacket in 2023."
 
Ava Curtright
Defender
Blaine, Washington
Blaine High School
Intended Major: Human Performance
 
Curtright is a four-year starter on the Blaine High School team coached by Gio Quesada, where she was a team captain for three seasons. Her team made it to postseason play this year. Curtright also plays for Whatcom FC Rangers, where she has been a starting defender since the 2017/2018 season, and the Surf Academy GO5 team. In addition to her athletic ability, Curtright has a 4.0 GPA and has numerous academic honors, including National Honor Society membership.
 
Coach Cavallo on Curtright: "Ava is a hardnosed defender with great tenacity. She is another one that we believe has the capability to play in multiple different positions across the backline. She is a fast and very good at reading the game."
 
Curtright on choosing MSUB: "I chose MSUB because attending a school that is inclusive and will prepare me for a career in human performance was critical to my decision. On the athletic side, I wanted to join a team that has coaches who care about the players and a team atmosphere that pushes each other to be better on and off the field but also knows how to have fun at the same time. After meeting with Coach Stephen and Coach Abiye, it was clear they care about their players, pushes the team to continue to grow, and want to have fun in the process. Spending time with the players not only confirmed the coaches care about the players but also showed the character and culture of the team. I left my visits feeling like I would fit in on the team really well. I really look forward to becoming a Yellowjacket and being part of the MSUB Women's Soccer family."
 
Chloe Fredenburg
Defender/Midfielder
Dripping Springs, Texas
Dripping Springs High School
Intended Major: Physical Education
 
Fredenburg has been a three-year varsity soccer player for Dripping Springs High School under head coach Bailee Perrine. She was a key contributor for her team who won the 2021 5A state championship. A multi-sport athlete in high school, Fredenburg is also a varsity athlete in basketball and track and field.
 
Coach Cavallo on Fredenburg: "Chloe is a versatile left footed player who can play as an outside back or as a winger. She is athletic and skilled on the ball and possesses a real tenacity when it comes to her defending."
 
Fredenburg on choosing MSUB: "When deciding where I wanted to go to college, I knew I wanted two things; I wanted to play for a great soccer team, and I wanted to be in the cold/mountains. MSUB was a perfect fit."
 
Kate Hollenberg
Forward
Kennewick, Washington
Kamiakin High School
Intended Major: Psychology
 
Hollenberg joins the Yellowjackets after playing four years of varsity soccer for Kamiakin High School, where her team just completed a District 8 4A championship victory to qualify for the state playoffs. Hollenberg also plays soccer for the 3-Rivers Soccer Club, where she helped her team win the 2022 U19 Washington State Championship Cup, Far West Regional Cup, and place in the top four at the USYS National Tournament.
 
Coach Cavallo on Hollenberg: "Kate is a true #9 with a strong presence on the field.  She works hard in the lone striker position and has the technical ability and strength to play in that role.  She is active in the attack and always seems capable of making something happen in the final third."
 
Hollenberg on choosing MSUB: "I chose MSUB because of the environment that the coaches and players have created. While I visited Billings, everyone demonstrated the moto: Trust, Commitment, and Care (TCC) both on and off the field. It truly already feels like a family, and I am so excited for the next four years. The opportunities for me to be successful in both academics and athletics is unmatched. Montana is also so beautiful, and I am excited to experience living in a new state."
 
Jaden Johnston
Defender
Twin Falls, Idaho
Canyon Ridge High School
Intended Major: Undecided
 
A four year-varsity soccer player at Canyon Ridge High School, Johnston has experience playing all over the field for coach Christa Tackett. Making the 4A State Playoffs every year since 2020, Johnston had a 40-7-19 career record in high school. Johnston was the leading conference scorer as a junior in 2021 and was selected second-team all-state. Her team won their conference championship in 2022. Johnston also found success at the club level, becoming a four-time Idaho State Cup Champion.
 
Coach Cavallo on Johnston: "Jaden is a very athletic and versatile defender. She can play both centrally and in the outside back position. Jaden has a tremendous amount of potential and a work ethic and drive that seems to be unmatched. We believe Jaden will really help strengthen our back line."
 
Johnston on choosing MSUB: "The first time I visited Billings I immediately felt at peace here. The people, the city, the school, it all felt like home right away. Once I started coming back to Billings more and bonding with the team, I knew this is where I was meant to be. I love symbolism so when I was at a camp for MSUB and a yellowjacket died on my cleat, I knew it was meant to be."
 
Kaari Little
Midfielder
Bellingham, Washington
Sehome High School
Intended Major: Biology
 
Little comes to MSUB after playing four years of varsity soccer split between Tumwater High School and Sehome High School. Her accolades include 2019 second team all-conference, 2020-2021 co-MVP all conference, and 2021 second team all-conference. Little is a captain this season for Sehome High School. Little is also a one-year varsity basketball and golf athlete, where she finished eighth in districts in the 2021 season.
 
Coach Cavallo on Little: "Kaari is a strong central midfield player with fantastic work rate, desire, and skill. She can play in both sides of that position – aiding in attack and defense. There isn't a tackle on the pitch that she avoids, and we believe she has the capabilities to be a strong midfielder in the conference."
 
Little on choosing MSUB: "I chose MSUB because I loved the team environment when I visited, how supportive the coaches seem, and the size of the school. Being in the GNAC, I will also get to travel/play in my current hometown and see my family, along with visiting my brother who plays at a different school in the GNAC."
 
Campbell Pacheco
Goalkeeper
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Hope Christian School
Intended Major: Accounting
 
Pacheco comes to the Yellowjackets after a four-year varsity soccer career at Hope Christian. She was selected to the 2022 New Mexico All-Star Team after a 2022 season where her team finished with a perfect 23-0 record on the season. Pacheco was also previously selected as a first team all-district winner, as well as second team all-state.
 
Coach Cavallo on Pacheco: "Campbell is a goalkeeper that is fully capable of making the wonder save. She has fantastic reflexes and athleticism. We believe Campbell has a ton of upside and is going to continue to create excellent depth and competition at the goalkeeping position." 
 
Pacheco on choosing MSUB: "The opportunity to play for Coach Cavallo and Coach Abiye, as well as getting a great education at an amazing school and location."
 
Ave Roberts
Midfielder/Forward
Billings, Montana
Billings Skyview High School
Intended Major: Health/Human Performance
 
Staying in Billings for her collegiate career, Roberts is a four-year letter earner at Skyview High School. Finishing second place at state in the 2019 season, Roberts was a team captain for multiple seasons, and on top of her soccer accomplishments is a standout track athlete, being one of the top runners in the state in multiple events and being a member of a school record setting 4X400 relay team. Roberts is also a standout student and musician, being elected to National Honor Society and receiving a Presidential Award for Education Excellence, along with being a member of the all-state band.
 
Coach Cavallo on Roberts: "Ave is a player with an incredible amount of upside that we are so excited to keep here in Billings.  She can play a magnitude of different positions in the attacking end.  She is one of the fastest kids in Montana and has set multiple school records in track."
 
Roberts on choosing MSUB: "I have been watching the MSU Billings women's soccer team since my freshman year of high school. I have gotten to know the players and coaching staff, attending the soccer and ID camps. The MSUB Women's soccer team plays with creativity and finesse, and I know I can excel on this team. I have trained with MSUB soccer girls for years and I knew it would be a perfect fit. I would like to go into the medical field, and MSU Billings offers a 5-year master's degree program in Health and Human Performance. Staying in Billings will help me support the youth soccer culture that is being built here."