BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford soccer program announced the signing of nine student-athletes for their 2019 signing class Thursday.
 
This year's signing class includes forwards Layla Brown, Morgan Greene, Emma Hyver and Tatum Loveless, midfielders Caroline Donovan, Katie Hoagland and Lacy Jones, and defenders Meg Priest and Ella Simpson.
 
Below is a short bio on each of the team's signees.
 
Layla Brown, F, 5-6, Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern HS
Layla Brown was a three-year starter at Hamilton Southeastern High School . . . she was named first team All-Conference as both a junior and senior . . . she was also named second team All-State, second team All-District and All-Conference honorable mention . . . she was named the recipient of the Golden Boot award, which goes to the team's captain . . . she helped lead her team to a conference championship in 2018, and the Mudsock championship, 2016-19.
 
Caroline Donovan, MF, 5-6, Louisville, Ky./Christian Academy of Louisville
Caroline Donovan was named All-State, All-Region and a team captain as a senior at Christian Academy of Louisville . . . she was second team All-State and first-team All-Region as a junior . . . she was first team All-Region as a sophomore, and second team All-Region as a freshman . . . she played in the Adidas ESP in Lyon, France in 2018 . . . she played for club teams Kentucky Fire Juniors, Indiana Development Academy, Indiana Fire and Chicago Fire Elite SC.
 
Morgan Greene, F, 5-6, Brentwood, Tenn./Brentwood HS
Morgan Greene was named a team captain as a senior at Brentwood High School in Tennessee . . . she was named All-District as a freshman, sophomore and senior . . . she was named her team's best offensive player as a senior, and she was named Rookie of the Year as a freshman . . . she helped lead her team to a state runner-up finish . . . the team also earned district and regional championships.
 
Katie Hoagland, MF, 5-4, Hoover, Ala./Westminster School at Oak Mountain
Katie Hoagland lettered four seasons at Westminster School at Oak Mountain . . . she also played for Alabama FC ECNL club team . . . she also participated in cross-country and track and field in high school.
 
Emma Hyver, F, 5-5, Los Altos, Calif./Los Altos HS
Emma Hyver prepped at Los Altos High School in California . . . she also played for MVLA ECNL (2007-2015), Force ECNL (2015-2017), California Thorns DA (2017-2019) and El Olivar Primera Femenina (2019-2020) club teams . . . her California Thorns team reached he playoffs in 2018 and 2019, and her Force ECNL team won the Mustang Tournament in 2016 and played in the ECNL Showcase Nationals in 2017.
 
Lacy Jones, MF, 5-6, Alpharetta, Ga./Alpharetta HS
Lacy Jones helped lead her Alpharetta High School team to the 2018 state championship . . . she also played for the AFU R3PL club team from 2016-2017, and the AFU ECNL club team from 2017-2020 . . . she also competed in cross-country, qualifying for the state meet and finishing 10^th overall in her region.
 
Tatum Loveless, OB/F, 5-8, Jacksonville, Fla./Providence HS
Tatum Loveless led her team and was among the top 25 goal scorers in Jacksonville in 2017 . . . she was named her team's Offensive MVP in 2017 . . . she played on the Olympic Development Team from 2015-2018 . . . she helped lead her team to a district title in 2017 . . . she played on the Florida Elite, Armada Soccer Alliance and United Soccer Alliance club teams .  . her club teams were state champions, regional champions and National League champions from 2015-17, and Southeast Conference champions from 2017-19 . . . the team reached the DA National Championship quarterfinals in 2019.
 
Meg Priest, D, 5-8, Signal Mountain, Tenn./Girls Preparatory School
Meg Priest averaged surrendering less than one goal per game as a defender for her career . . . she had double figures in both goals and assists, despite playing defender . . . she led a defense that allowed just 10 goals in 19 games . . . she was named All-State and All-Region in 2018 . . . she was also named defensive MVP (2018 and 2017) and team captain (2019) . . . she helped lead her team to a state championship in 2018.
 
Ella Simpson, D, 5-10, Orlando, Fla./The First Academy
Ella Simpson was named All-State and All-District at The First Academy . . . she was named her team's MVP and best player . . . she scored 54 goals . . . she helped lead her team to a district championship . . . the team also had one district runner-up finish.