Youngstown, Ohio – The Youngstown State women's soccer program has added Eli Gonzalez and transfer Maddie Keister to the program for the 2023 season, Head Coach Brian Shrum announced.

Gonzalez, a freshman from San Juan, Puerto Rico, spent her senior season at High Mowing School in Wilton, N.H. During her senior season Gonzalez scored 11 goals with 28 assists in 19 games played between High Mowing and Black Rock FC.

"We are excited to add a player like Eli to our Penguin family," Shrum said. "She brings experience at the international level with the U-17 Puerto Rican national team that will serve her well at the Division 1 level.

"She will be asked to play in a wide position for us this fall, either winger or fullback. She has the speed to get in behind the opposition's defense as well as closing speed to defend in 1v1 situations."

Keister, a junior midfielder from Le Roy, N.Y., spent the last two seasons at the University of Pittsburgh. After sitting out the 2021 campaign, Keister appeared in four games for the Panthers in 2022.

At Le Roy High School, she was named the Livingston County Division I Player of the Year and earned the team's offensive MVP and the coaches' award. Keister scored 25 goals, 23 assists and 73 points during her high school career.

"Maddie comes to us from the University of Pittsburgh and brings a work ethic and winning mentality that fits our team culture and playing style," Shrum said. "She is someone that can assist in connecting players with her passing and ball handling abilities to create goal scoring opportunities."