PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots women's soccer team is bringing in seven recruits as Kayla Adams (Bellevue, Wash./Eastmont HS), Keeley Dockter (Seattle, Wash./Holy Names Academy), Briana Johnson (Inglewood, Calif./San Pedro HS), Bre Norris (Boise, Idaho/Boise HS), Maya Pellegrini (Littleton, Colo./Colorado Academy), Cally Togiai (Tualatin, Ore./Tualatin HS), and Elianna Wong (Los Gatos, Calif./Los Gatos HS) have all committed to the program, announced head coach Michelle French. All seven recruits will come to Portland as freshmen in the fall of 2021.
"What genuinely excites me the most about the '21 class is knowing, without a doubt, that each student-athlete is going to contribute and enhance our team culture and our team environment, and they'll positively impact the UP community as a whole," said French. "From a soccer perspective, they all have the ability to be game changers at any moment. The future continues to look exceptionally bright with this incredible incoming class!"
Kayla Adams is a forward out of Eastmont High School in Bellevue, Wash. Adams played on the Washington State Elite Player Development '03 team in 2016 and 2017, and she was twice selected to the ODP Region IV travel team. Additionally, Adams participated in the US U-15 National Team camp in 2017. Her Washington EDP squad won the 2016 Region IV Championship and they advanced to the finals in 2017, with Adams landing on the All-Tournament Best XI both years. Adams plays club for Crossfire Premier ECNL U-19, which is guided by UP alum and Athletics Hall of Fame member Justi Baumgardt. In a shortened 2019-20 season, Adams was second on the team with 16 goals in 20 games, and she added six assists. She led the squad in goals during each of the previous four seasons, Crossfire won the DA Northwest Division in 2018-19, and they won the Washington State Cup Championship in 2015-16. Adams landed on the state cup's best XI that same year.
"Kayla is a selfless and tireless player who is often rewarded for her work by successfully delivering a cross or final pass to a teammate, or by using her polished technique to finish," noted French. "Her commitment to get in and around the box is one of her biggest qualities."
Keeley Dockter is a defender who comes to The Bluff from Seattle, Wash., where she attended Holy Names Academy. Dockter played club for Seattle United, anchoring a backline that posted 75 wins and 61 shutouts from 2013-16. She then started 61 games for the Reign Academy (2016-20), scoring 10 goals as a defender, before returning to Seattle United this past year.
"Keeley is a player that we have been tracking for quite a while and that we feel is a perfect fit for us," French said. "She has the ability to play multiple positions and is both extremely consistent and powerful. Wherever Keeley plays, she will operate as a connector to help us keep possession, while also being competitive and reliable defensively."
From Inglewood, Calif., Briana Johnson is a center back/right back who attends San Pedro High School. Her high school career includes three defender of the year awards, and the Pirates won the Marine League Championship with an unblemished 10-0-0 record. San Pedro carried a 16-2 overall record into the CIF- Los Angeles City Section Division I Playoffs. She's tallied 32 career goals as a defender going into her senior season. With the LA Breakers ECNL, Johnson was also named defender of the year in 2019-20. They won the Surf Cup in 2019, and they earned an automatic qualification to the Champions League National Playoffs.
"Bri caught our eye from the first time we saw her play for a number of reasons," added French. "She brings a fierce competitive nature and is physically dominant in 1-v-1 battles all over the field. Bri has the ability to make an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball, while also contributing by flying forward in attacking transition moments."
Bre Norris, an all-state goalkeeper, comes to NoPo from Boise High School in Boise, Idaho. Boise HS finished second in the state two years in a row, and Norris was named to the All-State 5A Team. Her team also won a pair of district titles. She's played for both the Idaho State ODP and West Region Teams, finishing first at the Interregional Championships in 2017 and 2019. Her west region squad also finished first at the International Tournament in Coast Rica. Norris was named MVP at the Interregional championship in 2018 and at the international tournament. She currently plays club for the OL Reign GA, and previously her club team finished second at nationals in 2018 and won the state title in 2016.
"Bre's overall dedication and commitment to her continued growth is one of her biggest strengths," French said. "She is a true student of the game with an incredible focus on the details and the competitive nature needed to elevate her game to the next level. Bre has an incredible shot stopping ability, coupled with the technical ability to jump-start our attack with the ball at her feel or in her hands."
Maya Pellegrini, who hails from Littleton, Colo., is both a forward and midfielder at the Colorado Academy. MaxPreps ranks Pellegrini as the No. 13 recruit in the country and No. 2 out of Colorado. In 2019, Pellegrini was named both first-team all-state and first-team all-conference, and the Colorado Academy was ranked as high as seventh nationally by the United Soccer Coaches. The Mustangs won the state title in 2019, they won league that same year, and they're on pace to reach the playoffs three times. Pellegrini led the state with 18 assists as a sophomore, and she was fifth with 16 goals. During that state final in 2019, she assisted on two of the three goals scored by the Mustangs.
In 2018, Pellegrini participated in the Chilean National Team's World Cup Training Camp. She plays club for the Colorado Rapids, after previously playing with the Colorado Rush, she won the 2019 State Cup.
"Maya has great passion for the game," said French. "She brings tremendous flair on the ball and we look forward to being a part of her continued development. Maya has been flying under the radar a bit, and she has the ability to be a difference-maker to help create chances for herself and the players around her."
Cally Togiai is a local product, starring at Tualatin High School in Tualatin, Ore. A forward, she's a three-time all-state selection, and twice she's been named the Three Rivers League Player of the Year. Togiai has also been selected to the all-league team three times. The Timberwolves won the Three Rivers League Championship in 2019, and they've reached the state quarterfinals twice. She led the team in goals, and she netted a hat trick vs. Sherwood in the state playoffs to help the Timberwolves advance.
Togiai plays club for Crossfire United ECNL, and she's participated in the US Soccer Training Centers in 2016 and 2017, and at the US Soccer Training Combine in 2017. Crossfire won bronze at the 2018 ECNL Nationals and they've won two ECNL Northwest Conference titles. She claims numerous individual honors, including being tabbed as an ECNL All-American in 2019. Togiai also landed on the Best XI at the 2018 Nationals and 2019 National Training Camp, and she's earned all-conference and was voted the conference player of the year twice.
"Cally is the first player that committed to us as a new staff at UP, and it was very fitting given that she grew up coming to UP women's soccer games as a kid," French said. "Cally possesses great technique and unpredictability on the ball, consistent execution of delivery whether to a teammate or finishing on goal, and an undeniable ability to lead."
Elianna Wong comes north from Los Gatos, Calif., where she attends Los Gatos High School. A defender, Wong plays club for the California Thorns, who have reached the DA playoffs twice. She's compiled 17 goals during her career with the Thorns, with seven of those coming in 2018-19.
"Elianna lives for 1-v-1 duels on both sides of the ball," French said. "Her overall toughness, tenacity, and determination has placed her in a position to be able to make an impact in a number of different positions and roles. She will bring an increased level of competitiveness that will benefit our entire roster."
