Women's 2024 Roster Announcement

We’re excited to officially release our 2024 women’s roster!

After winning the league last season, we’re looking forward to another year of dominant Delaware Rising soccer. We have some top-notch returners and new signings that you’ll be seeing grace the blue and white this year.

Here is a list of players on the squad this year and a quick blurb about each of them:

Rachel Austin: Rachel is returning to Delaware Rising for her 2nd season. In her first season, she tallied 6 goals and 3 assists. Rachel played club soccer for Ohio Premier and at Olentangy High School, where she was captain of the team that appeared in the 2021 state championship. She was named a Super 12 player for the 2021 season. Rachel currently plays soccer at Captial University.

Rebekah Blair: Rebekah joins Delaware Rising this season as a new signing. A Delaware native, she played her high school soccer at Hayes High School. She has continued her academic and soccer career by playing as a midfielder at Anderson University.

Alexi Bloch: Alexi is kicking off her 1st season with Delaware Rising. She is from Westerville, OH, and currently plays as a defender at Captial University.

Alexandra de Gracia: Alexandra is starting her 1st season with Delaware Rising. She’s from Delaware, OH, and played her high school soccer at Olentangy Berlin High School. She now plays in the midfield for North Central College.

Kindall Duke: Kindall is in her 2nd season with Delaware Rising after leading the team in assists last season. She is currently playing Division 1 soccer at Western Michigan University. She played club soccer at Ohio Premier ECNL, and high school soccer at Marysville High School. She was All-State, 3-time All-District, and 3-time First Team All-League in high school. She holds the goal record and is the leading points holder at Marysville High School.

Kasey Duke: Kasey joins Delaware Rising this season as a new signing. She is from Marysville, OH, and played her high school soccer at Marysville High School. She now holds down the midfield for Capital University.

Molly Ennis: Molly is starting her 1st season with Delaware Rising. She joins us from Cincinnati, OH, where she played high school soccer for Archbishop McNicholas High School. She now plays with a few other Delaware RIsing ladies at Otterbein University.

Rileigh Glassburn: Rileigh is a new signing for Delaware Rising this season. She is from right here in Delaware, OH where she played soccer for Olentangy Berlin High School. She has continued her academic and soccer career at Ohio Northern University.

Ashley Green: Ashley is starting her 1st season with Delaware RIsing this year. She is from Lewis Center, OH, and played her high school soccer at Olentangy High School. She now plays collegiate soccer for Wittenberg University in their midfield.

Sarah Gundler: Sarah returns to Delaware Rising for her 2nd season. In her first season, she contributed 2 goals and 3 assists. She also scored the final goal of our season, the game-winning penalty that crowned Delaware Rising 2023 champions. She played her high school soccer at Watkins Memorial High School, continuing on to play collegiate soccer at Tiffin University.

Reese Hinkle: Reese is joining Delaware RIsing for her 1st season with the club. She graduated from Berlin High School where she was named second-team All-OCC as a senior, scored seven goals and provided four assists. She currently plays as a defender for the College of Charleston.

Roisin Kennedy: Roisin is starting her 1st season with Delaware Rising. She from right here in Delaware, OH, and player her high school soccer at Olentangy Berlin High School. She now plays for Ohio Dominican University and appeared in 17 games with nine starts.

Jamison Murphy: Jamison is kicking off her 2nd season with Delaware Rising this year. She locked down the back line in her first season with the club. Jamison played soccer at IMG Academy DA, GA, and DPL levels. She currently plays for Kenyon College and was awarded Most Improved Player, and Athletic and Personal Development POY when at IMG. Jamison won the 2022 DPL Championship in Dallas, Texas, and was NCAC 2022 season champion with Kenyon College.

Makayla Parry: Makayla is a new signing this season for Delaware Rising. She is from Columbus, OH, playing her high school soccer at Westerville North High School. She now plays soccer at Cleveland State University where she started all 12 games last season.

Paige Pinion: Paige is back with Delaware Rising for her 2nd season. In her first season, she notched 4 goals and 2 assists. Paige played her high school soccer at Findlay High School, where she was selected 1st Team All-Conference, 2nd Team All-District, and 2nd Team All-Conference. She played club soccer at Ohio Extreme and GTFC Ohio North. She currently plays as a midfielder at Ashland University.

Clara Richardson: Clara is kicking off her 1st season with Delaware Rising this year. She is from Columbus, OH, having played her high school soccer at Hilliard Bradley High School. She continued her career by now playing as a midfielder for Ashland University.

Ella Schwertfager: Elle is a new signing this season for Delaware Rising. She is from Lewis Center, OH, and played her high school soccer at Olentangy High School. Ella now plays collegiate soccer at Otterbein University where she started 18 matches and tallied 54 saves.

Katie Scott: Katie joins Delaware Rising for her 1st season with the club. She’s from Lewis Center, OH, and played her high school soccer at Olentangy High School. She’s now playing collegiate soccer at Baldwin Wallace University, appearing in 17 games and starting 15 last season.

Madison Stahr: Madison is coming back for her 2nd season of Delaware Rising soccer. In her first season, she was another one of the ladies to help sure up the back line. Madison is currently playing in the defense for Columbus United’s U18 team. She is from New Albany, OH, and is now playing collegiate soccer at Otterbein University.

Lexie Syroka: This is Lexie’s 2nd season playing for Delaware Rising. In her first season, she lead the back line and the team as a captain. Lexie played varsity soccer all four years at Olentangy Berlin High School, where she was also a captain. Her club career involved playing for Polaris SC and FC42. She’s currently a sophomore playing soccer at Ashland University.

Sydney Thomas: Sydney is joining Delaware Rising for her 1st season with the club. She’s from Columbus, OH, and played her high soccer at Hilliard Darbey HIgh School where she was a two-year captain. She now plays her collegiate soccer at the University of South Carolina - Upstate.

Lindsey Whitmore: Lindsey is kicking off her 2nd season with Delaware Rising. In her first year, she held down the fort as a team captain and was the top goal scorer. She played her club soccer for Westerville United, Sporting Padula Soccer Academy, and Polaris Soccer Club. She attended Olentangy Berlin High School and was a 3-year varsity letterman in soccer, 2nd team All-OCC senior year, 2-year varsity letterman in track, and 1-year varsity letterman in cross country. She currently plays her collegiate soccer for Otterbein University.

Delaware Rising are WNOSL Champs!

DRFC Women celebrating their championship win with captain, Lindsey Whitmore, lifting the trophy

“The quality and ability of these players is evident with how well they’ve performed this season.” - Head Coach, Evan Wherley

The Delaware Rising women’s squad lifted the NOSL Championship after defeating City of Ohio SC 2-1 in extra time.

This NOSL Finals matchup was between two teams that have had strong results in their respective seasons. The two teams have matched up once during the regular season in a 4-2 defeat for DRFC in Cleveland. However, they’ve shown that they’re always up for a good fight bringing back the first trophy in Delaware Rising club history!

Right from the whistle the match was filled with intensity, with both teams producing end to end attempts on goal. Late in the first half midfielder, Kindall Duke, calmly slots home a PK that was called for a handball in the box, placing DRFC up 1-0.

Into the last seconds of the match City of Ohio launch a free kick into the box that finds its way to midfielder, Sandy Findley, and the back of the net. When the fans thought it was all well and done too.

Into extra-time, all players having to put in an extra shift with what has already been an intense and physically demanding match. Late into the second half of extra time, Payje Wilson, turns receiving a ball into the box and is brought down by a COSC defender. Midfielder, Sarah Gundler, steps up and converts her penalty kick. Putting DRFC up 2-1 against City. The Final Whistle blows and DRFC earn themselves a NOSL Championship! Throughout the match goalkeeper, Brianna Rogers, made incredible save after save (11 total saves), earning herself WOTM honors.

Women headed to WNOSL FINALS

Delaware Rising is headed to the first ever Women’s Northern Ohio Soccer League finals!

An impressive season so far to confidently earn their way into playoffs, and defeat Panthers FC in the semi-finals!

Every player on the team has been vital to the success this season. The deadly attack force of Rachel Austin, Lindsey Whitmore, Paige Pinion. The skilled midfield of Sarah Gundler, Kindall Duke, Emma Stanley, Allison Stankus, and Jules Vazquez. The calm and collected defense of Jamison Murphy, Brynn Blackstone, Lexie Syroka, and Madison Stahr. The ability of goalkeepers Brielle Young and Brianna Rogers. And Well-rounded players like Payje Wilson, Sela Whitney, and Catie Dzikowski, who have put in crucial shifts in a handful of positions.

The team has their sights on bringing home the league trophy!

Delaware Rising will take on City of Ohio in the finals at Mount Vernon Nazarene University Saturday, July 22nd at 4:30pm. Come show your support or catch the livestream!

Women's Roster Announcement

It is our pleasure to officially release our 2023 women’s roster!

Our coaches are proud to work with some of the most talented players in central Ohio. There was so much skill present at our tryout sessions, and many of these great players come from our very own Delaware County and even the city of Delaware!

Here is a list of players on the squad this year and a small bio about each of them:

Rachel Austin - Rachel played club soccer for Ohio Premier and at Olentangy High School, where she was captain of the team that appeared in the 2021 state championship. She was named a Super 12 player for the 2021 season. Rachel currently plays division one soccer at Youngstown State University.

Brynn Blackstone - Brynn attended Westerville North High School and played her club soccer at Sporting Padula Soccer Academy. She’s currently a sophomore at Ohio Wesleyan University playing as a defender for the Battling Bishops.

Kindall Duke - Kindall is currently playing Division 1 soccer at Western Michigan University. She played club soccer at Ohio Premier ECNL, and high school soccer at Marysville High School. In high school, she was All-State, 3-time All-District, and 3-time First Team All-League. She holds the goal record and is the leading points holder at Marysville High School.

Jamison Murphy - Jamison played soccer at IMG Academy DA, GA, and DPL levels. She currently plays for Kenyon College and was awarded Most Improved Player, and Athletic and Personal Development POY when at IMG. Jamison won the 2022 DPL Championship in Dallas, Texas, and was NCAC 2022 season champions with Kenyon College.

Paige Pinion - Paige played her high school soccer at Findlay High School, where she was selected 1st Team All-Conference, 2nd Team All-District, and 2nd Team All-Conference. She played club soccer at Ohio Extreme and GTFC Ohio North. She currently plays as a midfielder at Ashland University.

Brianna Rogers - Brianna attended Dublin Scioto High School where she was named First Team All-OCC. She continued her soccer career at Ashland University, where she currently plays as a goalkeeper. She is a 4-time Defensive Player of the Week, All-Tournament MVP, and 2021 & 2022 GMAC Champion. In 2022 she was tied for 5th in the country for shutouts.

Elise Schneller - Elise is a Delaware native having played her high school soccer at Buckeye Valley High School. She was a 4-year varsity starter, 2-time captain, 1st team all MOAC her junior year, 2nd team all MOAC her senior year.

Madison Stahr - Madison is currently playing in the defense for Columbus United’s U18 team. She is from New Albany, OH, and is preparing to continue her soccer career at Otterbein University.

Allison Stankus - Allison is a Delaware native having also played her high school soccer at Buckeye Valley High School. She was a 4-year varsity starter and received an MSL honorable mention her senior year. She played club soccer for the like of Worthington United, OP, and Barca.

Emma Stanley - Emma is a Delaware native, having attended and played for Buckeye Valley High School. She played all four years on their varsity team along with playing club soccer for Columbus United FC, FC42, and Polaris FC.

Lexie Syroka - Lexie played varsity soccer all four years at Olentangy Berlin High School, where she was also a captain. Her club career involved playing for Polaris SC and FC42. She’s currently a freshman at Ashland University, where she was selected as Second Team OCC Cardinal Division.

Brielle Young - Brielle attended and played soccer for Marysville High School, along with a club career at FC 42, Sporting Columbus, and Columbus United. She currently plays as a goalkeeper for the University of Toledo.

Juliana Vazquez - Juliana played 5 years of division one soccer at the University of Pittsburgh. She continued her playing career by signing a professional contract with Puerto Rico Sol FC.

Lindsey Whitmore - Lindsey played her club soccer for Westerville United, Sporting Padula Soccer Academy, and Polaris Soccer Club. She attended Olentangy Berlin High School and was a 3-year varsity letterman in soccer, 2nd team All-OCC senior year, 2-year varsity letterman in track, and 1-year varsity letterman in cross country. She currently attends Otterbein University and earned a varsity letter in her freshman year.

Sela Whitney - Sela attended Buckeye Valley High School and was a 3-year varsity letter winner. She captained the Lady Barons during her junior and senior seasons, while also receiving Mid-State League 2nd Team honors. Her club career consisted of six years as a Classics Eagle.

Payje Wilson - Payje is another local player, having played her high school soccer at Delaware Hayes High School, where she lettered all four years. As a senior, she received the Most Valuable Player award. Payje continued her career playing club soccer for the Classic Eagles Club Soccer team.