RICHMOND, Ky. – Following EKU soccer's third consecutive trip to the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament, head coach Matt Cosinuke announced the addition of seven signees to his 2024 class during the fall signing period on Wednesday night.
 
"This class is one of the most talented and athletic groups I have ever been a part of," said Cosinuke. "Our assistant coaches have worked incredibly hard to find the best fit for our program on and off the pitch. Every one of these players is going to make our family better and compete for time immediately.  This entire class is from historically blue-collar and gritty parts of the country, and we feel they are going to be a great fit for our family."
 
EKU will enter the 2024 season with seven incoming freshmen Ana Manning, Brooklyn Larrymore, Ella Grode, Lauren Link, Nicki Klosterman, Peyton Smith, and Ruby Morgan.
 
Of the seven additions, the class is led by three forwards, two midfielders, one defender, and one goalkeeper. Six of the seven incoming student-athletes call Ohio home, including four from the Greater Cincinnati area.
 
As of National Signing Day 2023, EKU's roster stands at 30 student-athletes for the upcoming season.
 
EKU was top five in the ASUN Conference in save percentage, shots per game, shots on goal, and corner kicks last season. The Colonels had two student-athletes in the top five of their respected statistical categories during the 2023 season and had four individual postseason honorees, tying its ASUN record for the third straight year.
 
Ana Manning | Forward | Loveland, Ohio (Milford High School)
One of three forwards in the 2024 class, Manning joins EKU as a highly decorated player in the Cincinnati prep scene where she scored 81 goals and totaled 186 points in four years at MHS. Her goals and points value at Milford set her school's individual career records.
 
Additionally, Manning was a one-time All-American and two-time All-Ohio selection after helping the Eagles to over 64 wins during her time with the program.
 
Manning chose EKU over Western Carolina, Coastal Carolina, and Eastern Carolina and was a three-time ECC Champion in high school.
 
Brooklyn Larrymore | Defender | Centerville, Ohio (Centerville High School)
EKU's only defensive signee in the class, Larrymore joins the program as a high-caliber prospect on the field and in the classroom. At CHS, Brooklyn was a Blue Ribbon Scholar-Athlete and was on the honor roll every semester.
 
On the field, Larrymore helped CHS to a 44-9 record and will depart the school as a three-time conference and sectional champion. In over 53 games on the backline, Larrymore and the Elks' defense only allowed 14 goals and is currently in the hunt for a state championship berth.
 
Larrymore looks to help an EKU defense that allowed 16 goals last season and recorded seven shutouts against ASUN Conference opponents.
 
Ella Grode | Forward | Avon Lake, Ohio (Avon Lake High School)
A highly decorated prep prospect, Grode departs ALHS as the school's all-time leader in goals (127) and points (284) and is coming off a 52-goal, 9-assist campaign her senior season which helped the Shoregals to a Southwest Conference Championship and Sectional Championship.
 
Ella helped Avon Lake to a 60-7-12 record in her four seasons with the program where she was a one-time United Soccer Coaches All-Region member, one-time First Team All-Ohio, two-time First Team All-Cleveland, and two-time All-Southwest selection.
 
Grode looks to bolster the forward group at EKU which combined for 15 goals last season. Her parents, Sarah and Neal, both were student-athletes at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. She departs ALHS with a cumulative GPA of 4.3.
 
Lauren Link | Forward | Cincinnati, Ohio (Saint Ursula Academy)
An exciting forward and winger prospect, Link joins EKU after recording 25 goals and 10 assists in her prep career. She helped Saint Ursula Academy to 24 wins during her three-year career in The Queen City. She was a one-time First Team All-GMC selection.
 
Link's signing marks the 23rd student-athlete from the Greater Cincinnati area to join the Colonels over the past four seasons under Cosinuke.
 
Nicki Klosterman | Midfielder | Cincinnati, Ohio (Lakota West High School)
Standing 5-foot-8, Klosterman joins EKU after a stellar prep campaign at Lakota West High School where she helped the Firebirds to a 43-26-12 overall record in four seasons with the program.
 
Klosterman ended her high school career as a two-time All-GMC selection and was named to the All-Southwest Ohio squad in 2022. She scored 17 goals and 17 assists at LWHS and was a high honor roll student, graduating 33-of-609 in her class. 
 
Peyton Smith | Midfielder | Cincinnati, Ohio (Milford High School)
A winner on the pitch and in the classroom, Smith broadens the Colonels' midfield joining teammate Manning on the 2024 roster. Smith assisted Milford to over 64 wins during her span with the program where she scored 30 goals and padded 28 assists – joining the top 10 in her school's categories.
 
Smith departs her program as a three-time ECC Champion and has a 4.0 GPA while participating in the National Honor Society. Peyton's brother Trey played college soccer for Manchester University and her grandpa, Craig, played collegiate tennis at Northern Kentucky.
 
Ruby Morgan | Goalkeeper | Washington, Pa. (Trinity High School)
EKU's newest member in "The Union," Morgan joins the squad after a standout career with Trinity High School where she was a three-time All-Selection member and was voted All-WPIAL twice.
 
Morgan, standing 5-foot-10, helped the Hillers to two state playoff appearances and becomes the fourth member of EKU's keeper room entering the 2024 season.