SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Head women's soccer coach Emily Grant announced the addition of six new student-athletes who signed National Letters of Intent or letters of commitment to join the Terriers side in the fall of 2022.
 
The signing class features six players across all areas of the pitch, with a balanced mixture of two forwards, two midfielders, a defender and a goalkeeper. Two new Terriers hail from the Palmetto State, with two others staying within the region from North Carolina and Virginia. The farthest American signing comes from the Lone Star State of Texas. The class features one international signing, as Rugile Auskalnyte will have to travel across the Atlantic Ocean from Dublin, Ireland.
 
Name                          Pos.     Hometown / High School / Club Team
Rugile Auskalnyte      GK      Dublin, Ireland / St. Mary's HFG / Irish National Team
Saachi Bureau             F          Virginia Beach, Va. / Norfolk Christian / Richmond United ECNL
Ellie Gower                 MF      Simpsonville, S.C. / Southside Christian School / CESA ECNL
Eme McQueen            CB       Columbia, S.C. / Hammond School / SC United ECNL
Alexa Pratt                  MF      McKinney, Texas / McKinney North / Sting Dallas Royal ECNL
Bella Steiner               F          Wilmington, N.C. / John T. Haggard / Wilmington Hammerheads ECNL
 
Rugile Auskalnyte is a 6-0 goalkeeper from Dublin, Ireland. Auskalnyte spent time minding the net for Bohemians FC from 2018-20 before joining the DLR Waves in 2020. She has also earned four international caps as the keeper for the underage Irish National Team. She has also secured All-Ireland honors while also winning the Bob Docherty Cup.
 
"A member and starter on the Irish national team, Rugile is a fantastic, well-rounded goalkeeper," said Grant. "Her experience and superb talent will help her compete immediately for us."
 
Saachi Bureau is a 5-5 forward from Virginia Beach, Virginia. Her junior season in 2020-21, Bureau tallied 11 goals and four assists for 26 points. She was named first team All-Tidewater Conference in 2018 after posting 21 goals and five assists for 47 points. With her club side, Richmond United ECNL, Bureau has earned first team All-TCIS Conference honors as well as an ODP State Team selection. She has also received a US Soccer training invite.
 
"Saachi is a fast winger that hails from a very well-respected club," said Grant. "She has a tremendous soccer IQ, and her ability to create off the dribble with her pace makes her very dangerous and fun to watch."
 
Ellie Gower is a 5-6 midfielder from Simpsonville, South Carolina. Gower helped Southside Christian School to a state championship in 2019 and a state finalist finish in 2021. She tallied 12 goals and four assists during the 2019 championship campaign while posting eight goals and three assists in 2021. During the Covid-shortened 2020 season, Gower scored three goals. With her club side, CESA ECNL, Gower totaled two goals and five assists for the U16 squad in 2019-20. The next season, she moved up to the U17 squad, securing six goals and nine assists. During the 2021-22 campaign, she has three goals and five assists for the U19 team. She was named to the 2019 Viking Cup All Tournament Team and the 2021 SCSCA All State Team. Gower has lettered every year in high school, and she also reached the 2019 ECNL National Quarterfinals and won the Jefferson Cup in 2018. With a 2017 SCYSA State Cup Championship, Gower is no stranger to on-field accolades. Off the field, she is also a member of National Honor Society and Beta Club.
 
"Ellie is a local product from Simpsonville, S.C.," said Grant. "Her ability to communicate and her technical ability make her the engine of any team she's a part of. She will be a great addition to our midfield!"
 
Eme McQueen is a 5-7 center back from Columbia, South Carolina. McQueen helped lead Hammond School to a state runner-up finish in 2021, earning all-region honors each year from 2019-21. A member of South Carolina United ECNL since 2014, she earned ECNL All-Conference second team honors in 2021. She was also presented the Leadership Award with SC United in 2021 and participated in an ID session with the USA youth national training camp in 2018 and 19. McQueen has served as a team captain for Hammond's basketball team and both the competition and spirit cheer squads, leading both basketball and competition cheer to state titles in 2018.
 
"Eme is the lone addition to our back line for the class and a great one at that," said Grant. "Her pace is stellar, and her ability to distribute from the back will allow her to adapt seamlessly into the way we like to play. We are really excited about the impact Eme will have."
 
Alexa Pratt is a 5-10 midfielder from McKinney, Texas. Pratt helped lead McKinney North High School to a district victory her sophomore year and guided them to the playoffs each season. She also picked up first team all-district nods two years. In addition to her varsity letter in soccer, Pratt earned one in basketball as well. She also plays as a member of the Sting Dallas Royal ECNL club side.
 
"Alexa is a very exciting attacking player – with great height and prowess in the air while also being technically gifted with the ball at her feet, Alexa has a very high ceiling," said Grant. "Alexa can play multiple positions as well, and we are very excited about her potential to make an immediate impact in our attack."
 
Bella Steiner is 5-7 forward from Wilmington, North Carolina. Steiner helped lead John T. Haggard High School to a conference title in 2019 and her club side, Wilmington Hammerheads ECNL, to the national playoffs in 2018 and 2019. Over three high school seasons, she has tallied 17 goals and 20 assists, with 20 goals and 11 assists over three seasons in the ECNL. Steiner has twice earned ODP Region III Pool Player as well as being a four-time ODP State Team selection. Steiner has led ECNL National Team in goals and assists twice. She was named to the 2021-22 USA Maccabi Women's Soccer Team. A three-time varsity letterwinner, Steiner has twice secured all-conference nods and once earned an all-area selection. She also boasts a hat trick against Crystal Palace's U16 squad in England. Off the field, Steiner has lettered academically all four years in high school while also being a member of National Honors Society, dance, math club and Spanish club and also coaching a U12 YMCA girls' soccer team.
 
"Bella has a real knack for the physical side of the game," said Grant. "She is strong and fast but also has the composure in and around the box to finish. Bella will be a great addition to our attacking group and will add a tenacity that we are very excited about."
 
The eligibility of all student-athletes is contingent upon admission to Wofford College and compliance with all NCAA rules, including registration with the NCAA Eligibility Center.