Soccer Adds Six on National Signing Day
11/13/2024 9:36:00 PM | Soccer
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri soccer inked six athletes on National Signing Day, head coach Stefanie Golan announced on Wednesday.
Missouri officially welcomed its 2025 class of Jasira Gates, Landry Hopkins, Aly Bryant, Kelby Dansby, Addison Colangelo and Ava Lamothe.
Gates, a defender out of John Burroughs School. Gates was a two-time Class 3 All-State Team and three-time First Team All-Metro League member. The signee led John Burroughs to an undefeated season in 2022 and claimed the No. 1 team ranking in the state in 2023.
"Jasira is a really gritty defender who is going to add some depth to our back line," Golan said. "She is tough to beat one-on-one and she throws her body in front of anything in the box to block opportunities from the opponent. Jasira has a fighter's mentality that we look forward to developing in Black and Gold."
A member of St. Louis Scott Gallagher, Gates was a 2024 U17 ECNL All-American and earned ECNL Midwest First Team All-Conference honors in 2022 and 2024.
She led the team to the ECNL National Playoffs in the Champions League the past four seasons including a 2021 ECNL Midwest Conference Championship.
The signee was also a member of the Missouri Olympic Development Program.
Gates's father John played collegiate soccer at SIUE. Her mother Jamila ran track at North Carolina A&T. Her sister Jade is a track and field athlete at Kentucky while her brother John played soccer at Loyola Chicago.
Hopkins, a forward from Incarnate Word Academy, was a First Team MWAA All-Conference member in 2023. The signee was a three-year captain for Incarnate Word and helped lead them to a Class 3 District 3 Championship in 2023.
A member of the Lou Fusz Girls Academy 2007, Hopkins was a three-time player selection at the Girls Academy Talent ID Frontier Conference Event.
She helped lead the team to a U16 Girls Academy National Championship in 2023, three Girls Academy Nationals Final Four appearances and four Girls Academy Frontier Conference Championships.
"Landry is an athletic wide player who brings a competitive mentality to all that she does," Golan said. "She is dangerous in the wide space with the ball at her feet and is a threat to create service any time she is on the ball. She does a great job getting into the box when the opposite-side wide player drives for service and scores gritty goals that way. We are looking forward to having her in a Mizzou jersey."
In the classroom, Hopkins is a member of the National Honors Society.
Bryant, a midfielder out of Timberland High School, was a GAC All-Conference Team recipient.
A teammate of Hopkins at Lou Fusz Girls Academy 2007, Bryant also helped lead the team to a U16 Girls Academy National Championship in 2023, three Girls Academy Nationals Final Four appearances and four Girls Academy Frontier Conference Championships.
"Aly is a very good soccer player who we expect to provide depth in our midfield at the six," Golan said. "She has good size, she is strong, she is excellent with her distribution, and she can strike from distance. We are excited to make her a Tiger!"
In the classroom, she was a four-year honor roll recipient and a member of the National Honors Society.
Off the field, she is a regular volunteer for the Special Needs Soccer Association (SPENSA), Captions Council.
Bryant's mother Lindsey played soccer for Iowa State and her brother Tyler currently plays soccer at Air Force.
Dansby, a center back out of Dr. John Horn High School in Mesquite, Texas, was a three-time All-District player and was named 2024 JHHS Defensive Player of the Year.
A member of Sting Dallas Black 06/07 ECNL, Dansby earned 2024 ECNL Texas-All Conference Team honors and was invited to the 2023 ECNL National Selection Game.
"Kelby has all of the tools to be an excellent center back at this level," Golan said. "She is athletic, physically strong, gritty, and composed with the ball. Kelby can connect a wide range of passes from the back, and we are excited to see how she develops as a Tiger!"
In the classroom, she is a three-time Academic All-District honoree. She is also a member of FCA and Elite Leadership Council.
Off the field, Dansby volunteers at The Jewel Foundation, Sharing Life Outreach, Mesquite Elks Lodge and the Labor Day Sting SC Tournament.
Dansby's brother Keldon played basketball at UNT Dallas.
Colangelo, a goalkeeper out of Broomfield High School in Broomfield, Colorado, was a 2024 All-State Honorable Mention and three-year program letterman.
A member of Real Colorado National, Colangelo helped her team qualify for the ECNL Champions League Playoffs three years in a row and received an invite to the 2023 US Talent ID Center.
"Addy has what it takes to develop into a top goalkeeper during her time at Mizzou," Tigers' assistant coach Kelsey Wys said. "She has all the right physical tools, a growth mentality and is brave. It has been fun watching her develop over the past few years. We are looking forward to getting her on campus and getting to work! We are thrilled that she is a Tiger!"
Academically, Colangelo was selected all four years to the Soccer Spring Academic All-State First Team and was an honor roll student each of the last three years.
Her father Steve played football at West Texas A&M University.
Lamothe is an outside back out of Mill Valley High School in Shawnee, Kansas.
Tabbed a three star by Top Drawer Soccer, she led Mill Valley to a 2023 KSHSAA 6A State Championship, a 2022 KSHSAA 5A second-place finish and a 2022 Sunflower League Championship.
Lamothe is also ranked as KC Metro top-25 player.
"Ava has a lot of potential to grow at this level to provide depth at the outside back position, Golan said. "She has good size, can cover ground, provides quality left-footed service and is gritty. She wants to compete and is always striving to get better, and we are excited that she will be part of Mizzou soccer."
A member of Sporting Blue Valley, Lamothe led her team to a 2024 ECNL North American Cup Championship, 2023 ECNL Champions League qualifier, 2022 ECNL Midwest Conference second-place finish and the 2022 ECNL Champions League Round of 16.
In the classroom Lamothe was an honor roll student and participated in Relay for Life.
Off the field, she volunteered at Westside Church and Coerver soccer youth camps.
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