33 Players & Coaching Staff Ready to Roll for Second Season of Play
Indy Eleven today announced the first 33 players that will be part of the club’s 2023 roster in the USL W League, the national women’s pre-professional league that has grown to 65 member clubs for the circuit’s second season of play beginning in May.
By the time Indy Eleven’s 2023 season kicks off on Wednesday, May 10, in the St. Louis area at St. Charles FC, the squad is expected to reach upwards of 40 players. Additional roster signings will be made as players clear the league’s registration process in the coming days and weeks.
Indy Eleven has also confirmed its coaching staff for the 2023 campaign, led by the return of Head Coach Paul Dolinsky. The Carmel native helmed the squad during a successful inaugural season that saw the Eleven capture the Great Lakes Division title and finish the regular season as one of only three undefeated teams (10W-0L-2D) across the then 45-team league.
Dolinsky’s staff will be filled out by more familiar faces, including Assistant Coach Brandon Kim and Goalkeeping Coach Kelly Freeland back for their second seasons, while Maddy Williams will add to her role as a standout striker by returning as a player/assistant coach. In addition, Head Athletic Trainer Sierra Garber MS, LAT, ATC and Team Administrator Lisa Macdonald will return in their roles, filling out a staff ready to roll over last year’s success seamlessly into season two.
The contingent of nine confirmed returnees from last year’s squad includes All-USL W League forward selectees Katie Soderstrom (First Team, 11 goals/1 assist) and Williams (10 goals/1 assist); midfielders Addie Chester, Becky Dean, Abby Isger, Greta Kraszula, and Ella Rogers; defender Karsyn Cherry; and U.S. Youth National Teams pool goalkeeper Nona Reason.
The players returning this season played an influential role last year and we envision that occurring again this season. We are very excited about the new players added to the team which will allow us not only to stay fresh when we play games in close proximity to one another, but allow us to be more prepared for playoffs if we are fortunate enough to qualify once again.
“The players returning this season played an influential role last year, and we envision that occurring again this season,” said Dolinsky, who led a pair of San Diego Surf teams to youth national titles and Indy-based Lady Victory FC to a WPSL Conference title in his lone season with the club in 2021 prior to joining the Eleven in November 2021. “We are very excited about the new players added to the team, who will allow us not only to stay fresh when we play games in close proximity to one another, but also to be more prepared for the playoffs should we qualify once again.”
As of today’s announcement, the squad consists of 11 Indiana natives and 10 players who have at least one season of collegiate soccer experience inside the Hoosier State under their belts. Eight of the 33 players will be plenty familiar with the squad’s Grand Park home for training and matches after also playing in the Indiana Fire Juniors system during their club soccer careers. Meanwhile, the squad also boasts six international players, featuring two members each from Japan (Kanna Matsuisha and Seira Uko) and England (Amelie Darey and Megan Wilson) in addition to the Australian Kraszula and Colombian Maria Venegas.
Visit indyeleven.com/wleague for more information on the 2023 season as kickoff nears in just three weeks’ time. Right now, the only way to secure tickets for the Eleven’s 2023 USL W League Season at the Grand Park Events Center (indoor facility) is by securing a 2023 Season Ticket Membership for the men’s first team season in the USL Championship, which includes complimentary tickets for all five women’s matches taking place across June. Learn more and secure your membership today at indyeleven.com/season-tickets.
Goalkeeper (2): Sara Kile (Noblesville, Ind.),Nona Reason (Noblesville, Ind.)
Defender (8): Karsyn Cherry (Lafayette, Ind.), Teagan Jones (Cary, Ill.), Nicole Kevdzija (Strongville, Ohio), Greta Kraszula (Sydney, Australia), Rafferty Kugler (St. Louis Park, Minn.), Alia Martin (Carmel, Ind.), Lizzie Sexton (Cincinnati, Ohio), Megan Wilson (Maidstone, England)
Midfielder (17): Addie Chester (Muncie, Ind.), Amelie Darey (Epson, England), Becky Dean (Liberty Township, Ohio), Sam Dewey (Indianapolis, Ind.), Hal Hershfelt (Atlanta, Ga.), Ella Higgins (Roanoke, Va.), Abby Isger (Indianapolis, Ind.), Mollie Kuramoto (Loveland, Ohio), Alli Leonard (Troy, Mich.), Kanna Matsuhisa (Tokyo, Japan), Rhonda Ojongmboh (Smyrna, Ga.), Ella Rogers (Granville, Ohio), Sam Slimak (Troy, Mich.), Susie Soderstrom (Carmel, Ind.), Seira Uko (Toba City, Japan), Alexis Vazquez (Madera, Calif.), Maria Venegas (Cali, Colombia)
Forward (6): Madisyn Hunt (Jasper, Ind.), Maya Lacognato (Granger, Ind.), Katie Soderstrom (Carmel, Ind.), Olivia Simmons (Aldie, Va.), Maisie Whitsett (San Diego, Calif.), Maddy Williams (Perrysburg, Ohio)
Head Coach: Paul Dolinsky
Assistant Coaches: Brandon Kim, Maddy Williams
Goalkeeping Coach: Kelly Freeland
Head Athletic Trainer: Sierra Garber MS, LAT, ATC
Team Administrator: Lisa Macdonald
