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NCAA Nov 18, 2021

Ohio State women’s soccer adds nine class of 2022 recruits to roster

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State head coach Lori Walker-Hock has announced the signing of a talented 2022 recruiting class. The class features nine student-athletes who range New York to Hawaii and account for every position on the pitch.

“The 2022 class is going to add tremendous depth to our program,” said Walker-Hock. “They are coming from near and far and bring a diversity of skills that will potentially allow them to contribute right out of the gate. It’s a strong freshman class with players representing each line and I’m excited for them to join the program.”

The class is truly a national class as Mirann Gacioch is from New York while Kira Watase is from Hawaii. Ella Giannola hails from California and Molly Pritchard is from Georgia. Dakota Lyons is an Illinois native while Gabeila “Guzzy” Rotolo, Sophia Louder, Brooke Otto and Nicole “Coley” Sidloski are all from Ohio.

Gabriela Rotolo

Midfielder
OH
  • Serves as a team captain for Ohio Premier and Bishop Watterson
  • Earned an invite to the US Training Center in three different years
  • Three-time YNT Regional Invite
  • ECNL All-Conference by Top Drawer/ Soccer IMG Academy Rankings in 2022
  • Selected for the 2019 ECNL Girls National Selection Game
  • Four-year letter winner at Bishop Watterson
  • Two-time first team All-Ohio as well as a two-time second team selection
  • Three-time All-CCL
  • United Soccer Coaches All-Region and an Academic All-American
  • Academically, has been on the honor roll every quarter all four years and had a 4.0 or above GPA all four years

Coach Jankowski on Gabriela: “Guzzy is a very specific box to box central midfield player that we needed in this class of student-athletes. It turns out that we did not need to go very far to find her. Guzzy has all the tools to be the dynamic, playmaking, physical midfielder who is not only good at getting forward but also excellent in the air and in the tackle”

Mirann Gacioch

Defender
NY
  • Has played for Western New York Flash Academy for 11 years where she has served as a team captain
  • Reached Top 8 in 2018 ECNL National Championship
  • 2021 North American Cup Champions
  • Two-time Ohio Valley Conference Champions
  • Three consecutive appearances in ECNL National Championship
  • Selected to play in the High School All-American Game in 2021
  • Selected for 2021 and 2022 Gothia Cup with FC New England
  • Tallied 136 points in high school career as a defender for Nichols School
  • Two-time Section VI All WNY first team honors
  • MMHSAA Division A All Catholic Team
  • First team All-State Class B
  • Helped lead Nichols School to MMHSAA championship game in four consecutive years
  • Also a member of high school track team where she was team point leader and MVP
  • Record holder for ALL SITA mile time dating back to 2018
  • Two-year starter on the varsity basketball team
  • Elected School President for the 2021-2022 School Year and is the head of the Student Council
  • Invited into National Society of High School Scholars

Coach Jankowski on Mirann: “Mirann is yet another standout player from the Western New York Flash Academy. Developed by Aaran Lines and his staff, Mirann was on our radar for a long time. She is another very specific type of defender in that she is very comfortable on the ball and can play-make from her wide fullback position. Mirann’s fitness is another strength that will allow her to adjust immediately and well to the collegiate game.”

Ella Giannola

Forward Midfielder
CA
  • 2017 USYS National Champion with San Diego Surf
  • Two-time State and Regional Champion
  • Four-year varsity letterwinner at Santa Margarita Catholic
  • Earned All-Trinity League Honors
  • Helped Santa Margarita Catholic win the Trinity League title
  • Served as a team captain

Coach MacLeod on Ella: “Ella is a very clever and creative midfielder. She’s a player that the opposition always has to be aware of because she thrives with time and space on the ball and has been very impactful at the club level. We look forward to Ella coming in and contributing to our midfield roster right away. She has the ability to play with the style that we appreciate here at Ohio State. She sees passes that other players can’t, and on top of the that, she has the ability to get the ball to the attacking players in many different ways. She will be another in a long line of Southern California center midfielders that have been successful at Ohio State.”

Sophia Louder

Defender
OH
  • United Soccer Coaches All Central Region (2017 and 2018)
  • Youth National Team ID Camps
  • Academically, she has earned first honors for four years

Coach MacLeod on Sophia: “She is an athletic defender who can play in a variety of positions. She’s quick and good in the air. She has the ability to play short and long range passes. Her ability to see the field can help launch her team into counter attacks. On top of that, she is a great character player and somebody that we look forward to fitting in well with the culture at Ohio State.”

Dakota Lyons

Forward
IL
  • Helped lead Eclipse Select to an ECNL 2021 National Championship
  • U18/19 Midwest Conference Champions – ECNL 2021 / ECNL 2020 / ECNL 2019 / DA 2017/2018 / ECNL 2017
  • Is also a standout on the track, earning three varsity letters to date
  • School record holder in the 400m and Long Jump
  • State qualifier in 2019 and 2021, finishing 5th at state in the 400m in 2021
  • 1st Place at Sectionals in the 400m and Long Jump in 2021)
  • 1st Place at Sectionals in the 200m in 2019
  • Most Valuable Sprinter Award in 2019, MVP Award in 2021
  • Is a National Honor Society Member and an IHSA North Suburban Conference Academic Award honoree in 2021
  • Has volunteered with AYSO to help kids with disabilities
  • Played on the 2021 Chicago Red Stars Reserves Team

Coach Jankowski on Dakota: “Dakota was one of the first recruits in our 2022 class and hails from the Chicago Eclipse soccer club where she recently won a ECNL national championship! We have been waiting a long time to finally see Dakota on campus in a Buckeye uniform. Dakota will be joining the Buckeye lineage of wide players who are most comfortable dribbling at opponents with the intention of helping get to the goal as fast as possible. Dakota combines both speed and skill and will cause Buckeye opponents many problems in 1v1 situations.”

Brooke Otto

Defender
OH
  • ECNL First Team All Ohio Valley Conference (2017/18,2018/19,2020/21)
  • ECNL SC National Selection Game Roster (2019)
  • Participated in the ECNL Portland National Training Camp in 2019
  • US Youth National Team Regional ID Center (2021)

Coach Walker-Hock on Brooke: “Brooke is a special defender who is capable of playing with either foot and has tremendous range of passing from the back. She is capable of stretching the opposition’s defense and is very accurate on her set piece services from both corners. Brooke has had tremendous success at the youth level and we are anticipating she will have an immediate impact on our back line.

Molly Pritchard

Goalkeeper
GA
  • Played in the ECNL National Game in Greer, S.C. in 2019
  • Named a Player to Watch in 2020
  • Earned first team All-Region Team honors at Greater Atlanta Christian
  • Helped raise funds to start a school in Cameroon with her Atlanta Fire teammates

Coach Walker-Hock on Molly: “Molly is the prototypical goalkeeper size that will dominate the box with her fearless mentality. Her capacity to play with her feet and her range from both the ground and distribution with her hands, will help stretch defenses. Molly has played on the field as a high school player, so she has the ability to deal with anything that comes back to her feet. Her capacity above the bar and her ability to fly will be exciting to watch.”

  • National Finalist with Cleveland FC in 2018 and a semifinalist in 2021
  • Two-time Regional Champions in 2018 and 2021 and five-time state champions
  • Helped Strongsville to a state title in 2020 and a runner-up finish as a freshman in 2018
  • Two-time honorable mention All-State
  • GCC team member 2020
  • Academically, is a three-time Academic Honor Award recipient and was the Algebra/Trig and Chemistry Student of the Year 2019

Coach Jankowski on Nicole: “Coley will join Dakota Lyons as another extremely pacey winger who loves to run at opposing defenders with the ball. Coley comes from two standout programs in Cleveland FC, coached by her dad Dave Sidloski, and also Strongsville High School where she is coached by Todd Church and Jon Felton. Coley’s blend of speed and composure in front of goal should add to the depth of our attacking options and allow us to put immediate pressure on teams when we do not have the ball.”

  • USYA Girls National Camp participant in 2019
  • ODP Region Top 18 Club State Champions
  • ODP West Regional Team – Top 18 in 2018, 2019, 2020
  • Part of four US Club Soccer Hawaii State Cup Championship teams
  • Because of travel restrictions, she has competed for year and a half with, and against, boys teams in Hawaii

Coach Jankowski on Kira: “Kira will be the second Hawaiian player on our roster along with Kitty Jones-Black. Kira is another highly sought-after central midfield player who will play a specific role within our ideal system of play. Kira is a player who values the ball and is very capable of playing under intense pressure. Kira will dazzle Buckeye fans with not only her skill in tight spaces, but also her ability to contribute to the attack from midfield. Kira is another player who values her physical fitness allowing her to compete at the highest standards over long stretches of time.”

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