EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon has added four transfers – three of whom have NCAA Tournament experience – to the roster for the 2024 season. They will join the soccer program for the winter and spring training sessions along with freshman signee Taylor Person, who graduated high school early and enrolled at Oregon for the winter term.
Among the newcomers is Santa Clara transfer Makoto Nezu who played in four NCAA Tournaments for the Broncos, and started on defense for the 2020 NCAA Championship team. Nezu also played on Japan’s Junior National Team.
Defenders Sydney Cradle (Towson), Sydney Hennessey (Tennessee) and Lexi Lerwick (Washington State) round out the transfers for the upcoming season. Cradle helped Towson win the Coastal Athletic Association title in 2023 to advance to the NCAA Tournament, while Hennessey was a member of two NCAA Tournament teams for Tennessee, including the 2023 squad that advanced to the round of 16.
Cradle and Nezu will be fifth years, Hennessey is a redshirt-senior with an additional Covid year of eligibility available and Lerwick is a redshirt sophomore.
Person, a forward from Frisco, Texas, was ranked No. 75 nationally overall in the 2023 class by TopDrawer Soccer and No. 28 at forward. She is a 10-time participant at U.S. National team pool training camps, including the U16 Girls National Team. She was a member of the team that won the 2015 USA Futsal national championship. Her club team, FC Dallas, was the 2023 ECNL Texas Conference champions and advanced to sweet 16 in the national playoffs. Her father, Stephen Person, played college football at Willamette University, while her mother, Christina Person, played college softball at San Diego State.
“Our priority in adding the transfers to our roster was to find the blend of character, talent and experience,” said Abel. “We feel as though we found a great blend of that with the four individuals we added. They have already hit the ground running and are great additions to our group.
“We are equally excited to have Taylor join us early,” said Abel. “Taylor has fit in with the group right away both on and off the field. She will make great strides over the next few months, ready for her first season here as a Duck.”
Sydney Cradle, D, 5th Year, Brooklyn, N.Y.
The Beacon School / Towson / Louisville, Club: FC Fury NY
Started 57-of-58 games for Towson over the last three seasons. Starting defender on Towson’s 2023 team that won the Coastal…
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