Coach Ian Carey brought in three players from Denmark and one from Germany to add to his roster. (UK Athletics Photo)
Kentucky women’s soccer coach Ian Carry has added a huge international flavor to his 2021 team. He announced the addition of 11 players Wednesday to bring the roster to 32 players but three of the freshmen are from Denmark. He’s also got one from Germany along with signees from Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Virginia, and Kentucky in hopes of upgrading the talent on a team that finished 1-6-3 last season.
Goalkeeper Laura Nielsen has played for Denmark at the 2018 European Championships with the under 19 national team and also played for the under 15 and under 17 national teams. She was national Danish Cup champion from 2014-19 and was on the winning team at the 2017 Gothia Cup, the world’s largest international youth soccer tournament.
Forward Emilie Rhode has made over 40 appearances in Denmark’s national women’s league, including six with the national team. She was the top scorer playing in the under 14, under 15, and under 16 levels and represented Denmark at the under 15 and under 17 levels.
Defender Sara Makoben-Blessing played for the most prestigious club team in Denmark and was part of Brondby IF’s first-team Champions League roster, the highest level of women’s club soccer in the world. She also represented Denmark at the under 15, 17, and 19 levels.
Carey also went to Germany to add midfielder Lilly Huber who played for FC Bayern Munchen, the most famous club team in Germany. She also played on the German under 15, 17, and 19 teams.
The lone signee from Kentucky is midfielder Emma Nicholason of Louisville. She was an all-state player at Atherton who had 46 goals and 59 assists in her prep career. She won the 2019 state championships with Javanon FC and represented Kentucky at the Olympic development level.
Kentucky opens the regular season August 19 at Purdue.
