DEKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University women's soccer head coach Julie Colhoff announced her 2019 signing class, featuring eight players from six different states, on Friday.  

The eight newest members of the women's soccer program include: Nicole Barham (Long Beach, Calif./Los Alamitos), Emma Cramblett (Enon, Ohio/Greenon), Nicolette Gossage (Moneka, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central), Hannah Kroupa (New Berlin, Wis./New Berlin West), Abby McHugh (Wauconda, Ill./Wauconda), Julia Neary (Vernon Hills, Ill./Vernon Hills), Isabella Sabo (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) and Allison Whitaker (Bettendorf, Iowa/Bettendorf). 

"We are extremely excited to welcome our 2019 class to the program," said Colhoff. "They're hungry to work and will contribute both versatility and skill as soon as they step on campus. This class adds depth at almost every position and I expect many of them to immediately compete for playing time this fall."

A forward from Long Beach, Calif., Barham helped Los Alamitos High School to a 25-1-5 record as a senior during the 2018-19 season as the Griffins finished as California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Division I runners-up. Los Alamitos was ranked fourth in the Top Drawer Soccer National Fab 50. Barham also plays club soccer with Slammers ECNL. 

Cramblett, a defender from Enon, Ohio, scored 18 goals and had 10 assists during her junior season in 2018 at Greenon High School. Cramblett was a First Team All-Ohio Heritage Conference honoree and was also a Miami Valley Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association Division II All-Area and Division II North First Team recognition. Cramblett has played club soccer with Ohio Galaxies FC. 

A forward at Lincoln-Way Central High School, Gossage was ranked as one of the top 25 players in the area by the Daily Southtown prior to her senior season this spring. As a junior in 2018, Gossage earned all-state honors from Chicagoland Soccer after scoring 22 goals while adding six assists. A four-year player at Lincoln-Way Central, Gossage plays club soccer with FC United. 

Kroupa, a forward from New Berlin, Wis., is a four-year player at New Berlin West High School. As a junior in 2018, Kroupa earned First Team All-Woodland Conference honors, scoring 21 goals with seven assists, after claiming All-Woodland Conference honorable mention recognition the previous season. Kroupa plays club soccer with Polonia SC. 

McHugh, a four-year player at Wauconda High School in Wauconda, Ill., was named one of the top 15 players in Lake County by the Lake County News-Sun prior to her senior season in 2019. A three-year captain, McHugh has helped lead the Bulldogs to a pair of Class 2A sectional finalists finishes, including a 17-2-1 record in 2018, she plays club soccer with the Crystal Lake Force. 

A four-year starter at Vernon Hills High School in Vernon Hills, Ill., Neary, a forward, earned All-Central Suburban League recognition as a junior in 2018 and was also an all-sectional honoree. Neary has helped lead Vernon Hills to back-to-back Class 2A Regional titles in 2017 and 2018. Neary plays club soccer with GLSA FC 1974. 

Sabo, a midfielder from Grand Blanc, Mich., was named one of the top 100 high school players in the State of Michigan prior to the 2019 season. As a junior in 2018, Sabo helped Grand Blanc High School to its second consecutive Division I State runner-up finish as the Bobcats finished with a 27-2 overall record. Sabo plays club soccer with Nationals United. 

Whitaker, a defender from Bettendorf, Iowa, earned First Team All-Mississippi Athletic Conference honors as a junior in 2018 along with First Team All-Area accolades from the Quad City Times and Second Team Class 3A All-State recognition from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association. Whitaker has helped Bettendorf win three consecutive conference championships and plays club soccer with Sporting Iowa East.