ST. PAUL, Minn.- The Concordia-St. Paul women's soccer Head Coach Steve Bellis has announced six new additions to the Golden Bears squad on National Signing Day. The 2022 signing class includes Belle Abruzzo (Eagan, Minn. / Eastview HS), Jada Cannady (Blaine, Minn./HS), Caroline Lauinger (Blaine, Minn. / Centennial HS), Kayla Matuzak (South St. Paul, Minn./HS), Jill Nelson (Godfrey, Ill. / Marquette Catholic HS), and Tess Roberts (Wentzville, Mo. / Liberty HS). 

On signing day, coach Bellis took some time to comment on the future of the Golden Bears. "This is always an exciting time of the year: our program is still competing but we are also looking ahead to the future and welcome the new student-athletes to our CSP soccer family."
 
"Each player was selected for a reason," Coach Bellis explained. "Our focus for this class allowed us to bring in top-notch athletes and wonderful personalities. Yet again we strengthened defensively and added some really creative players to the mix. These players will bring many positives both on and off the field to our program." 

BELLE ABRUZZO (D, 5-9, Fr., Eagan, Minn. / Eastview HS)
Eastview High School: Earned All-Conference, was named captain, and was a 2x MVP for the Lightning … lettered in soccer and was awarded the Lightning Award … led her squad to a 6-9-3 overall, 3-5-1 conference record in 2021. 

Personal: Plans to double major in psychology and social work at CSP with future plans to be a psychologist … daughter of Kerry & Nicholas Abruzzo … has two sisters, Ashley & Abby Abruzzo … father played football at Indiana University … two aunts played soccer at Butler … cousin runs track at University of Illinois. 
 
Bellis on Abruzzo: "Belle is an important pick up for us. She's a smart center back, who can distribute well. She heads the ball well and is very hard to beat based on her positional sense and athletic ability."
 
JADA CANNADY (MF, 5-2, Fr., Blaine, Minn. / Blaine HS) 
Blaine High School: Played varsity soccer for the Begals and also ran track … a member of FCA … was awarded MVP … had seven goals and 10 assists while helping Blaine earn an 11-2-2 record in Class AAA conference. 

Personal: Plans to major in criminal justice at CSP … daughter of Donte Brown & Kristine Myrmel … has a sister, Tayana. 
 
Bellis on Cannady: "Jada will make our team tick! She has great vision and can pick out a pass. She understands how to switch play, dictate the speed of play and also get box to box."
 
CAROLINE LAUINGER (D, 5-8, Fr., Blaine, Minn. / Centennial HS)
Centennial High School: Earned two varsity letters in soccer … played two years of JV, captaining her squad her sophomore year … had two goals and two assists on varsity, eight goals and 10 assists on JV … led her team to 2020 and 2021 Northwest Suburban Conference champions, 2020 and 2021 7AAA Section champions, and a 2021 State participant. 

Personal: Undecided major at CSP but plans to earn a Bachelor's degree then a Master's degree … has two sisters, Natalie and Emilia … her mother and father are both graduates of Gustavaus where her father played basketball and they are both teachers.
 
Bellis on Lauinger: "A very good athlete and someone who also has some strong versatility. Her senior HS year is proving to be her strongest and she will be a good addition to our backline."
 
KAYLA MATUZAK (GK, 5-7, Fr., South St. Paul, Minn. / South St. Paul HS)
South St. Paul High School: A four-year member of the varsity soccer and hockey teams (4x letter recipient for both) and a 2020 National Honor Society member … soccer and hockey captain in 2021 … All-Conference soccer selection in 2020 … 435 career saves, 12 career shutouts … REV Soccer Club goalkeeper for two years … finalist for Nationals in 2017 … captain of Salvo Club Soccer, 18 shutouts in 2021 season … USA Cup champion in 2019 … President's Cup champion in 2019 … TCSL Winter champion in 2019 … MYSA Premier I in 2021 … Great Lakes National Premier II in 2021 … State Cup semi-finalist in 2021 … National Cup XX Midwest Regional champion in 2021 … National Cup XX finalist in 2021. 

Personal: Still an undecided major at CSP … daughter of Jay & Angie Matuzak … has two brothers, Ryan & Sam. 
 
Bellis on Matuzak: "A true Goalkeeper! A very strong character, great personality and someone who we will expect to push for minutes from day 1. Kayla reads the game well and organizes her team better than most GK's we have seen."
 
JILL NELSON (D/MF, 5-9, Fr., Godfrey, Ill. / Marquette Catholic HS)  
Marquette Catholic High School: A four-year member of the varsity soccer team, varsity basketball team, Breast Cancer Awareness Club, student council, High Honor Roll, three-year member of Students for Soldiers, two-year member of National Honors Society and Students Offering Support … Prairie State All-Conference team member … varsity soccer captain one year … four goals, eight assists freshman year, sophomore year cancellation due to pandemic, 13 goals, six assists junior year, senior season yet to be played … led her team to be Regional champions in her freshman year, Regional and Sectional champions junior year. 

Personal: An undecided major at CSP … daughter of Brad & Diane Nelson … has a brother, Andrew. 
 
Bellis on Nelson: "Jill is a versatile defender, who can play anywhere across the backline. As a full back she is hard to beat and willing to start attacks. A wonderful athlete and plays at the highest level."
 
TESS ROBERTS (MF/F, 5-4, Fr. Wentzville, Mo. / Liberty HS) 
Liberty High School: A two-sport athlete in soccer and basketball while also participating in student government … played varsity soccer all four years, played JV basketball as a sophomore and varsity as a senior … earned 11 goals, 10 assists, and one game-winning goal in 2019 and 2021 combined … led her squad to being district winners in 2019 

Personal: Plans to major in computer science and minor in psychology at CSP … earned CSP's President Scholarship … daughter to Chad Roberts & Lisa Marren ... two sisters, Claire & Elisabeth Roberts … Claire played for Central Methodist then transferred to Harris-Stowe … Elisabeth currently plays for Missouri S&T. 
 
Bellis on Roberts: "Tess came out to an ID camp at CSP and immediately took our eye. She's a creative, attack minded player. She has a great soccer IQ and will work hard defensively."
 
Coach Bellis closed National Signing Day 2022 by thanking everyone involved in the recruitment process. "From our CSP soccer and admission staff, high school coaches, club coaches, directors, parents and the like: it's certainly a group effort. We can't wait to get rolling with these new Golden Bears!"

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