️⚽️ Kansas Soccer Inks Seven on National Signing Day

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas head soccer coach Mark Francis announced Wednesday that the Jayhawks signed seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. Mackenzie Boeve (Lincoln, Neb.), Kate Dreyer (Tulsa, Okla.), Lexy Farrington (Leawood, Kan.), Mary Shelby Hartweger (Olathe, Kan.), Moria Kelley (Overland Park, Kan.), Brie Severns (Lee’s Summit, Mo.) and Avery Smith (Elkhorn, Neb.) will all suit up in the Crimson and Blue next season.

“I think this is a very good class for us,” said Francis. “I think top-to-bottom we get a lot of athleticism in this group and we get a lot of height, which, in certain matchups, I think is going to be really important for us. We’re going to be a lot better in the air but I think also, in terms of the way we try to play with the ball, they’re comfortable enough with the ball to be able to fit in with our style of play. I think [they] will buy into the culture and philosophy that we have. We look forward to adding them in the summer.”

Mackenzie Boeve Defender // Lincoln, Nebraska
Kate Dreyer Defender/Midfielder // Tulsa, Okla.
Lexy Farrington Defender // Leawood, Kan.
Mary Shelby Hartweger Midfielder/Defender // Olathe, Kan.
Moira Kelley Defender // Overland Park, Kan.
Brie Severns Forward // Lee's Summit, Mo.
Avery Smith Midfielder // Elkhorn, Neb.

Mackenzie Boeve • D • Lincoln, Neb. • Lincoln Southeast HS (Elite Girls Academy)

  • Signs with Kansas as the No. 4 ranked player in the Heartland Region by TopDrawer Soccer
  • A Super State First Team Selection in 2017 by both the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World Herald.
  • Has won three-straight city championships at Lincoln Southeast HS, as well as the District title in 2018.
  • A two-time pick to the ECNL Midwest Conference All-Conference team in both 2016 and 2017.

"Mackenzie is very tall, athletic and good in the air. I think [she] will fit in well with how we want to try and play out in the back. She has good range of distribution and she’s physical defensively. We’re graduating some of our center-backs, so we’ve got some spots to fill there and I think Mackenzie will come in and challenge for sure."

Francis on Boeve

Kate Dreyer • D/M • Tulsa, Okla. • Cascia Hall Prep (TSC Hurricane)

  • Ranked by TopDrawer Soccer as the No. 5 player in the South Region.
  • Helped Cascia Hall Prep to the 2018 District Championship as well as the 5A State Finals.
  • Scored 20 goals and added 13 assists during her junior year (2018-19).
  • As a member of TSC Hurricane, saw her team reach the finals of the North American Cup in 2017 and claim the Oklahoma State Championship in 2015.

"Kate is very tall, I think around 6-1. She has played center-back and has also played center-mid. We consider her either one for us, but it’s good that she has some versatility. She strikes the ball really well and takes all of the set pieces for her team. I think she’ll give us some good depth right away - potentially in the middle of the back and also in the holding-mid spot."

Francis on Dreyer

Lexy Farrington • D • Leawood, Kan. • Blue Valley North HS (KC Athletics)

  • A three-sport athlete (soccer, basketball, track & field) who has helped Blue Valley North to back-to-back Kansas 6A Regional Championships as well as a state runner-up finish in 2017.
  • Named to the All-State All-American as well as the Kansas 6A First Team in 2019.
  • Tallied seven goals, two assists and helped her squad to eight shutouts as a defender during her junior season.
  • A two-time pick as the East Kansas League’s Defender of the Year.

"Lexy is another central player; plays center-back for her team. She is phenomenal in the air. She completely dominates in the air, defensively and on the attacking side, with set-pieces so I think she’s really going to add a lot for us, especially in the Big 12. I would see her probably playing more as a central-back, which is where she plays for her club team."

Francis on Farrington

Mary Shelby Hartweger • M/D • Olathe, Kan. • Blue Valley Southwest HS (Sporting Blue Valley SC)

  • A starter for every match in her first three seasons at Blue Valley Southwest, scoring 28 goals thus far.
  • Helped her squad to the 2017 and 2018 District and State Championships, going undefeated in 2018.
  • Named to the 2019 All-State and East Kansas League First Teams after leading her team with 11 goals and five assists.
  • A selection for TopDrawer Soccer’s All-American Watch List.

"Mary’s a wide player and really athletic. She is quick and has a great motor – can really get up and down the sideline. She’s tough defensively 1v1 but also has the ability to get forward and help in the attack."

Francis on Hartweger

Moira Kelley • D • Overland Park, Kan. • Saint Thomas Aquinas HS (Sporting Blue Valley)

  • Played on US Soccer Development Academy team, Sporting Blue Valley, that finished with a top-10 ranking and allowed the second-fewest goals among all DA teams with 14 shutouts.
  • Selected for Generation Adidas Olympique Lyonnais international team that compete in Lyon, France in 2018.
  • In her one season playing for Saint Thomas Aquinas, helped the Saints to the league, district and regional championships as a freshman in 2017.
  • Only freshman named to Mo-Kan All-Tournament team in 2017.

"Moira’s very versatile and she can play a couple of spots. We probably see her more in the back for us. She’s very composed on the ball with very good distribution and decision making on the ball. We ask a lot out of our marking backs and I think she could fit that spot really well but I think she could also play in the middle."

Francis on Kelley

Brie Severns • Forward • Lee’s Summit, Mo. • Blue Springs South HS (KC Athletics)

  • A two-time All-State selection in 2018 and 2019 and named the 2019 Girls Soccer Player of the Year by The Examiner.
  • Posted the second-most goals in a single season with 27, and enters her senior year eight goals shy of a program record.
  • Also earned spots on the All-Conference first team after both her sophomore and junior seasons.

"Brie is good in the air, very athletic and very versatile. She has played up front, played attacking-mid and she’s played holding mid. I think for us, we see her more as a forward. She is quick enough to get in behind and stretch the other team. I think it just depends on other personnel as to where she plays but has a lot of versatility."

Francis on Severns

Avery Smith • Midfielder • Elkhorn, Neb. • Elkhorn South HS

  • Has helped the Elkhorn South to three-straight district championships as well as the 2019 Class A State Championship.
  • Named to the All-State First Team by both the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World-Herald in both 2018 and 2019.

"Avery is a very physical player and is also really good on the ball. I think in the attacking-mid spot, she will penetrate on the dribble and attack space and can cause problems with the final pass. She can strike the ball well from range. She has a lot of versatility to her game and could be a great piece in the midfield for us."

Francis on Smith