Six NA Soccer Players Ink Letters Of Intent On National Signing Day
Six members of the North Allegheny girls’ soccer team made their college choices official on National Signing Day. Seniors Sam Braden (Slippery Rock), Libby Earley (Slippery Rock), Abby Lang (Ohio University), Ally Ruiz (High Point University), Abigail Stager (University of Kentucky) and Gracie Strzempek (Kutztown University) all signed their letters of intent on Wednesday.
Braden and Earley will reunite with former Tigers, Briona Rice, Sophia Palermo and Allie Burns, who currently play for The Rock. Braden ranks fifth on the team in scoring with seven goals this season and has 25 goals for her career. Braden earned Big 56 honorable mention recognition this fall, is a four-year Scholar Athlete, a four-year varsity letterman, a member of the National Honor Society and a counselor for the Just 4 Girts Camp and GOLD (Girls Only Leadership Development). Braden will study Elementary Education / Special Education at Slippery Rock.
Earley earned All-WPIAL laurels this season and is a two-time first-team all-section pick by the Big 56 Conference, and was also selected second-team all-section as a sophomore. Earley is a four-year varsity letterman and will major in Elementary Education at Slippery Rock.
Lang is a valuable member of North Allegheny’s defensive back line and has four goals this season. Lang is a four-year Scholar Athlete, a three-year varsity letterman and a member of the National Honor Society. She will major in Engineering at Ohio University.
Ruiz is second on the team in scoring with 12 goals this year and was named second-team all-section this season by the Big 56 Conference. Ruiz is both an NA Scholar Athlete and National Scholar Athlete. She volunteers her time with the North Allegheny Just 4 Girls Camp and Tigerthon. Ruiz is a four-year letterman and selected as a Player to Watch for the Moe Rosensteel Player of the Year Award. A multi-sport athlete, Ruiz is also a member of the NA Girls Flag Football team, which finished as runners-up last season. She is undecided on her major at High Point University.
Stager has been one of the most prolific scorers in program history with 63 career goals and has netted 32 goals this season. Stager is a two-time All-WPIAL selection and is a finalist for the Moe Rosensteel Player of the Year Award, among a bevy of athletic accolades. She will major in Sports Management at the University of Kentucky.
Strzempek is a Scholar Athlete at North Allegheny and has four goals this season. She will major in Elementary Education K-4 with Special Education Certification.
All six players have played pivotal roles in North Allegheny’s success over the past four seasons, including a pair of WPIAL championships and a PIAA championship game appearance in that span.