UIC women's soccer head coach David Nikolic announced his initial group of signees for the incoming freshman class of 2022.  Having just completed his first season at the helm of the program, Nikolic placed an immediate priority on bringing in players who can compete immediately for playing time.  "I made the main focus for my first recruiting class of Flames Women's Soccer to increase our depth in multiple positions, while adding versatile players that share a similar belief in how the game can be played," Nikolic said.

"Each of these young women will add to our current roster and help to give us balance as we build for the 2022 season. This group has played youth soccer at a high level for years now and will understand the demands required to play Division I soccer."

Nikolic and his staff mined the deep talent pool in the Midwest, singing three players from Wisconsin, where the staff retains deep ties.  One player from suburban Chicago, one from neighboring Indiana, and one from talent-rich California round out the class.

"It is our intent to build a team that will keep the ball and create exciting, attacking soccer for years to come," Nikolic continued.  "With that in mind, we have added attacking and versatile minded players in Hannah Gryzik, Carmella Nowak and Riley Collett while bringing balance with Valeria Da Silva, Makena Maloy and Bella Baker, all of whom have a history of being comfortable with playing further back on the field.  While these young women all possess quality soccer talents, they are equally accomplished in the classroom and wonderful people."

In addition to taking on the challenges of putting their stamp on a program that they inherited in April, Nikolic's staff had to build a recruiting class without the benefit of seeing the athletes play in person.  "This is the first post-COVID recruiting class, and much of the time the class of 2022 played games without coaches in attendance, with video links being the only option to complete our evaluation," he explained.  "It has made the recruiting challenging, but the pool of players has never been deeper in my opinion.  I am excited to bring these players to UIC and our Flames Women's Soccer program."

Read below to get to know the next generation of Flames.


Bella Baker (West Bend, WI- North Shore Soccer Club, WI)
With North Shore United, won the USYS regional championship in 2019…was a USYS national semifinalist, and a USYS National League champion in 2019…National Honor Society and Honor Roll member…father played for the San Diego Chargers…mother was a two-sport collegiate athlete (volleyball and basketball)…older brother plays soccer at Minnesota…daughter of Jeff and Sara Baker.

Nikolic on Baker: "Bella is a standout defender who has competed at a high level for many years. The training that she gets each week from her club coach, former Republic of Ireland and standout at the University of Louisville, Shannon Smyth, has prepared her well for college soccer. She is tough in tackles and has soft feet in possession. Her ability to play forward passes accurately is well known. She is a proven winner and I look for her to immediately compete for time in our back line."


Riley Collett (Fond du lac, WI- North Shore United Soccer Club, WI)
Member of regional finalist…named to All-Conference second team as a freshman, and first team as a junior…earned the Helping Hand award for most assists her first two seasons…awarded the Golden Boot for most goals as a junior…team MVP as a junior…helped her club team to the State Cup final, the National League playoffs, and the Midwest Regional Championship final…named to the state and regional ODP teams…National Honor Society member…mentor for freshmen and student council representative…daughter of Amy and Chad Collett.

Nikolic on Collett: "Riley is a player with a high ceiling for success. She has come into the elite youth club scene recently and has made an immediate impact. She also plays with Baker at NSU under the guidance of Coach Smyth and continues to grow as a soccer player, learning all the time. She is a pacey wide player with high levels of energy and intensity who we expect will challenge for playing time the moment she arrives on campus. Her desire to improve has paid off and she will bring a winning mentality with her from northern Wisconsin."


Valeria Da Silva (Legends SC, CA)
Helped Legends FC win the Surf Cup championship in the summer of 2021…member of National Honor Society and Principal's Honor Roll…named to the academic top five of her class…won the Scholar Athlete Award…daughter of Mayra and Gustavo Da Silva.

Nikolic on Da Silva: "Val is an exciting wide player known for her athleticism and willingness to join in attacks. A shutdown defender who loves the idea of marking the opponent's top player, Val excels at 1 v 1 defending and tackling. So dependable with her effort and desire that she is rarely taken off the field for her club. Her energy and positive, outgoing personality is infectious and will be a great addition!"


Hannah Gryzik (Naperville, IL- FC United SC IL)
With Pegasus F.C., was a State Cup finalist in 2019…won the MRL championship and was a Weston Cup finalist, also in 2019…won the Illinois Premier League championship in 2018…selected for the Global Premier Soccer Bayern Munich National Team…competed in the Gothia Cup and the Surf Cup…captained Pegasus F.C. for seven years…achieved highest academic honors all four years of high school…member of National Honor Society…named a State Scholar…daughter of Dawn and Jim Gryzik.

Nikolic on Gryzik: "Hannah possesses a passion for competition and will to succeed that shows each time that she steps onto the field. She has the ability to be a box-to-box midfielder that can carry other teammates along during key moments of games. She is clean technically with both feet and likes to shoot from distance. Hannah is someone that I have been able to watch grow and improve her game consistently. I know that the work that she is ready to put in with me will take her even further. She is extremely competitive and her will to win is amazing."


Makenna Maloy (Noblesville, IN- Indiana Fire Juniors SC, IN)
Member of two-time state championship team at Noblesville…named to the all-district team three times…two-time All-State first team selection…named to the All-Central Region team…helped the Indiana Fire Juniors to the ECNL Elite Eight…Honor Roll achiever…daughter of Mike and Niki Maloy.

Nikolic on Maloy: "Makena is a polished central midfielder with a proven ability to remain calm in possession and unlock opponents with great vision and quality forward passes. Makena maintains proper positioning through her understanding and awareness of the game as it plays out in front of her. She has been in an exceptional training environment of Paul Dolinsky and the Indiana Fire Juniors program and will understand what will be required to compete at this level from the start. Very competitive!"

 
Carmella Nowak (Waukesha WI, SC Wave, WI)
Helped lead Waukesha Academy to the regional championship in 2020-21…decorated club career saw her team win six Wisconsin state championships…member of the 2019 USYS national champions…was the National League Division champion 2018-2020…qualified for nationals in 2020…made the Girls Academy playoffs in 2021…named to the Best XI, USYS Midwest Conference in 2019-20…named her high school team's MVP as a junior…was all-conference in soccer as a junior, and honorable mention all-conference in basketball…valedictorian of her high school class…National Honor Society and Student Athlete Leadership Team member…has two older brothers, both of whom play college baseball…daughter of Lori and Dennis Nowak.

Nikolic on Nowak: "Carmella plays the game with a clear understanding of how to dictate play with positioning, technique and vision. She is technically sound with both feet, which allows her to be calm while in possession. She has grown up with coaches who have a similar view of the game that I do and have prepared her well. We will look to her to create many attacking actions for us going into the final third of the field. She is also a wonderful person who I am excited to work with this coming fall."