CHICAGO (February 7, 2018) – Coming off of one of the top seasons in program history, Loyola University Chicago head women's soccer coach Barry Bimbi announced the additions of five student-athletes to his 2018 signing class on Wednesday afternoon.  The quintet features two midfielders, a forward/midfielder and a goalkeeper. 
 
"We are excited to add these five talented players to our very experienced squad for the fall," Bimbi commented.  "We expect them to come in and compete from day one and add a lot of depth to our program."
 
BAILEY FAULKNER
Forward/Midfielder | Whitefish Bay, Wis. | Whitefish Bay High School | Elm Brook United
 
The only member of the 2018 class to not call the state of Illinois home, Bailey Faulkner makes her way to Rogers Park from Whitefish Bay, Wis. and Whitefish Bay High School, which produced former Rambler Mariah Vichich.  A two-time All-North Shore Conference honoree for head coach Roby Dubinski, Faulkner has found the back of the net 21 times during her career, highlighted by a career-best 11-goal campaign last season that also saw her dish out a career-high 20 assists.  The forward/midfielder also saw action on the club level for coach Troy Dusosky's Elm Brook United.
 
Bimbi on Faulkner: "Bailey is a very creative attacking player that can find the back of the net, but I think her biggest strength is her vision and ability to set up teammates for goal scoring opportunities."
 
 
MADDIE HAUSMANN
Goalkeeper | Naperville, Ill. | Naperville North High School | Chicago Inter Soccer Club
 
A goalkeeper out of Naperville, Ill., Maddie Hausmann has competed exclusively on the club level for the Chicago Inter Soccer Club under the direction of coach Sena Hallovic.  She has backstopped the club to a pair of Capital Athletic Soccer League (CASL) titles en route to claiming a number one ranking in the state of Illinois to go along with a spot in the national top 25.  Hausmann, who will be a recipient of the prestigious Damen Academic Scholarship at Loyola, also helped lead Chicago Inter to a berth in the semifinals of the Illinois State Cup semifinals last season.
 
Bimbi on Hausmann: "Maddie is the type of goalkeeper that commands her box and has a great presence in the air."
 
 
ALY KILBURG
Midfielder | Park Ridge, Ill. | Maine South High School | Sockers FC Chicago
 
Aly Kilburg arrives at Loyola from nearby Park Ridge, Ill., where she competed exclusively on the club level for Sockers FC Chicago and coach David Richardson.  The midfielder has experienced unbridled success with the club, helping lead Sockers FC to an Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) American Cup title.  Kilburg was also a member of an ECNL runner-up side at nationals and played a major role as part of an undefeated ECNL season with Sockers FC.
 
Bimbi on Kilburg: "Aly played on a very competitive club team that competed against some of the best teams in the country, so we expect the transition to the college to be a smooth one for her because of her blue-collar approach to the game."
 
 
BELLA LESTINA
Forward | La Grange, Ill. | Lyons Township High School | La Grange Celtics
 
Hailing from La Grange, Ill., Bella Lestina burst on the scene as a sophomore at Lyons Township High School for head coach Bill Lanspeary, firing home a school-record 32 goals.  She followed that up with 21 goals as a junior, leading the team, to go along with seven assists en route to earning All-State accolades as the Lions captured a West Suburban Silver Conference title following an undefeated regular season.  Lestina featured on the club level for the La Grange Celtics, where she also led the team in scoring.  
 
Bimbi on Lestina: "Bella is the definition of a natural goal scorer.  She puts herself in great positions, has good speed and loves to score goals."
 
 
ABBY SWANSON
Midfielder | Downers Grove, Ill. | Downers Grove North High School | Naperville Soccer Assocation
 
Downers Grove, Ill. native Abby Swanson racked up honors during her time at Downers Grove North High School with coaches Brain Papa and Christine Tomek.  The versatile center midfielder earned All-Conference, All-Sectional and All-State honors as part of a 2017 season that saw her finish with 13 goals and 18 assists.  Swanson, who was named to the Chicagoland Soccer All-State Team and DuPage County All-Area Team, helped lead the Trojans to a fourth-place finish at the state tournament that was highlighted by a super sectional title.  She also experienced success on the club level for coach Greg Muhr's Naperville Soccer Association, where she was a member of an Illinois State Cup Championship team in 2017. 
 
Bimbi on Swanson: "Abby is a competitive as they come.  She has the drive to will teams to victory and makes everyone around her better."
 
The five newcomers will join 21 returning letterwinners, a group that includes four All-Missouri Valley Conference selections, as Loyola looks to build off of a banner 2017 season that saw it finish 13-7-0 and shatter the single-season school record for goals scored.