WKU Soccer 2019 Signing Class: Part One

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The WKU women's soccer team signed seven total players from the Class of 2020 on National Signing Day. Ellie Belcher, Annah Hopkins, Brina Micheels, Shelbi Morrison, Kenlee Newcom, Lily Rummo and Taylor Swartz all signed with the Lady Toppers.

WKUSports.com will be featuring the new signees in a two-part story. Part one will feature the signees hailing from the Commonwealth of Kentucky and part two will highlight the student-athletes coming to WKU from other states.

Ellie Belcher
Bowling Green, Ky. | Greenwood High School | Defender | 5'9"
Belcher won't have to travel far when she comes to college in the fall of 2020 after completing a successful career at Greenwood High School in WKU's backyard. As a senior Belcher earned All-State First Team, All-Region First Team, All-Region Tournament, and All-District Tournament MVP honors. She captained the Gators team that went on to win the 2019 State Championship.

She played with the Kentucky ODP team 2016-18 and was named to the Midwest Region Team in 2018. Belcher also played with the Nashville United Soccer Academy, reaching the finals of the Tennessee State Championship and was a Southern Region finalist with the team.

Neidell on Belcher:
"Ellie is an incredible athlete whose leadership and talent helped guide Greenwood High School to their first-ever soccer state championship. We have watched Ellie grow up in our backyard and could not be happier that she chose to continue her career locally. With the departure of two veteran center backs, we expect Ellie to compete for time right away."

Shelbi Morrison
Ashland, Ky. | Madison Central High School | Forward | 5'5"
Morrison racked up the awards in high school, earning the Golden Boot Award three times, All-District honors three times, two team MVP awards and All-Region honors. With Lexington FC, she led them to a State Cup Championship and to the Midwest Regional. She attended the ODP Midwest Region ID Camp for three years and was a U.S. Development training invitee.

Neidell on Morrison:
"We have been following Shelbi's career with interest for many years. As a very young player, her speed and athleticism made her a force to be reckoned with on the field. When others caught up to her athletically, Shelbi worked to polish the finer technical aspects of her game. Shelbi strikes well with both feet from distance and can be a big handful for defenses."

Kenlee Newcom
Owensboro, Ky. | Daviess County High School | Defender | 5'9"
Another western Kentucky product, Newcom comes to Bowling Green from Owensboro. Newcom was a three-time All-District, three-time All-Region, and two-time All-State honoree. In 2019, she was named District Player of the Year and her team's MVP. She led Daviess County to the Elite Eight in the Kentucky State Championship as a senior after the team went to the Final Four the previous two years. In the classroom, Newcom earned Academic All-State honors three years. She scored 58 goals in high school playing mostly as a defender or midfielder. She holds the Daviess County High School record for most goals in a match with five.

Newcom played club soccer with the Indiana Fire, winning the Indiana State Championship in 2017 and finishing as runners-up in 2018 and 2019. In 2013, she played with the Owensboro United, where she led her team to a Kentucky State Championship.

Neidell on Newcom:
"Kenlee is a fantastic athlete with great pace who has just touched the surface of her ability. She has a great attitude and wants to play the game at the highest possible level. There is no doubt that her game will take off once in an environment playing with and against like-minded athletes. While she has played both attacking and defensive roles, we foresee her making a splash in the college game among the back line."

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