RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University soccer team has signed five student-athletes in the class of 2018, head coach Nick Flohre announced on Thursday.
 
"This class is a group of athletic, creative soccer players who will add to our returning depth as we work to reach another level this year," Flohre said. "There are players who will be constant threats to score goals as well as players who will help us maintain our organized defensive reputation. We're extremely excited to get them on campus and start building for the fall season!"
 
The five signees set to join the program in the fall of 2018 are Zoe Aguirre, Lauren Barcelona, Michaela Iacono, Baylee Lanter and Molly Mohr.
 
Zoe Aguirre
 
Aguirre is a goalkeeper out of Centennial High School in Corona, California, just outside of Los Angeles. She has played for Mexico's U-20 National Team. She was also a member of Mexico's first-ever beach soccer National Team. Aguirre plays club soccer for Legends Academy.
 
"Zoe will be a great addition to our competitive goalkeeping core," Flohre said. "She comes from Los Angeles with some unique playing experiences, one being named to the first-ever Mexican National Beach Soccer Team. She is a technical player with a great presence in goal. She is also very hungry and driven to develop her skills and play at a high level. We are very excited for Zoe to join the EKU Soccer family."
 
Lauren Barcelona
 
Barcelona is a defender/forward out of East Hamilton High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She scored 26 goals and recorded 13 assists as a senior for the Hurricanes, garnering all-state, all-region and all-district honors. Her play also led East Hamilton to the state semifinals in 2017. Barcelona plays club soccer for FC Alliance ECNL 99/00. She was a state finalist and region semifinalist with the club in 2017.
 
"Lauren is a very athletic player who can impact the game as a forward as well as an outside defender," Flohre said. "She's capable of making long attacking runs and has the ability to take players on 1v1 which will help us keep pressure on the opposition's defense. We're looking forward to seeing Lauren's dynamic, attacking talents create scoring chances for herself and others."
 
Michaela Iacono
 
Iacono is a midfielder out of Cardinal Carter Catholic High School in Aurora, Ontario, a city located 45 minutes north of Toronto. She plays club soccer for Aurora Football Club (AFC). She won the 2015 Club Player of the Year award and was the 2016 Ontario Youth Soccer League (OYSL) leading goal scorer. Iacono helped lead AFC to an OYSL Eastern Division championship in 2016 and 2017.
 
"We're excited to have Michaela (Mica) joining us," Flohre said. "She's a very creative central midfielder who has great vision and her own ability to score goals. She will become another important player in our midfield who will make it tough for the opponent to keep track of our attack. Mica's vision and range of passing are going to excite our returning players as they'll be set up to score goals consistently."
 
Baylee Lanter
 
Lanter is a midfielder/forward out of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington. She was Dunbar's leading scorer as a junior and a senior. She was named to the Lexington Herald-Leader's All-City first team as a senior. Lanter plays club soccer for Lexington FC.
 
"Baylee is a versatile attacking player who is capable of playing in multiple attacking positions," Flohre said. "She has good technique and is extremely quick and tough to defend. Besides her own ability to attack defenders, she has very good vision and will fit in very well with our system. Baylee is going to raise some eyebrows as people see how impactful she can be."
 
Molly Mohr
 
Mohr is a defender out of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Lexington. She was a two-time first team all-state selection and a three-time first team all-region selection for the Bulldogs. She was also a 2017 academic all-state awardee. Mohr plays club soccer for Lexington FC. She helped the club win the Kentucky State Cup Championship in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017.
 
"Molly is an extremely calm and composed defender who will give us more depth in our backline," Flohre said. "She has a tireless work ethic and is tenacious in her defending. Opponents will be very frustrated with having to deal with her. As strong and as tough as Molly is on the field, she's also a great teammate the returning and incoming Colonels will love playing with."
 
The five signees are joining an EKU soccer program that has advanced to the Ohio Valley Conference title game the past two seasons.
 
 
2018 Signing Class Capsules
 
Zoe Aguirre
Goalkeeper
Corona, California
Centennial High School
Club Team: Legends Academy
 
Lauren Barcelona
Defender/Forward
Chattanooga, Tennessee
East Hamilton High School
Club Team: Alliance ECNL
 
Michaela Iacono
Midfielder
Aurora, Ontario
Cardinal Carter Catholic High School
Club Team: Aurora FC
 
Baylee Lanter
Midfielder/Forward
Lexington, Kentucky
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
Club Team: Lexington FC
 
Molly Mohr
Defender
Lexington, Kentucky
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
Club Team: Lexington FC