MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Nov. 19, 2024) – West Virginia University women’s soccer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown has announced the addition of five student-athletes for the 2025 season.
Joining the Mountaineers are Ava Arnold (Littleton, Colorado), Jozy Barton (Parkersburg, West Virginia), Isabel Ceasar (Lake Villa, Illinois), Kailyn Effah (Bowie, Maryland), Robin Reilly (Latrobe, Pennsylvania) and Layla Thompson (Lewisville, Texas).
“The staff and I are so excited to bring this new class to Morgantown,” Izzo-Brown said. “They are all so talented, hardworking, enthusiastic and competitive. Our whole staff has done a phenomenal job putting this class together, and we can’t wait to work with them.”
Ava Arnold / Midfielder / Littleton, Colo.
Arnold is a native of Littleton, Colo., where she attends Dakota Ridge High School and plays for coach Paul Moline. With her high school team, Arnold is a three-time first team all-conference selection, as well as a two-time first team all-state honoree. She was honored as the 2023-24 Dakota Ridge High School Female Athlete of the Year in her junior year. In the club ranks, she plays for the Colorado Rush 06/07 in the ECNL for coach Luke Meadows. During her time with the Colorado Rush, she was awarded with the 2022-23 GA “Players Player” award. She also was honored as the Colorado Rush U15-U19 Golden Boot Award. The daughter of Nick and Carlin, Arnold plans to enroll in general studies at WVU.
Jozy Barton / Midfielder/Defender / Parkersburg, W.Va.
A Parkersburg, W.Va., native, Barton plays for coach Ron Bucholtz at Parkersburg South High School. During her time at Parkersburg South, she was named to the 2023 WV AAA All-State Second Team after being named first team all-region. In 2022 and 2023, Barton was named to the All-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Team, while she also was honored with the Pete Whitaker Sportsmanship Award in 2023. Barton also helped lead Parkersburg South to the West Virginia AAA State Championship title game during her sophomore and junior years. In the club ranks, Barton plays for Eastern Elite Soccer Academy in Catlettsburg, Kentucky, where she helped her team become Kentucky State Cup Champions in 2024. Before joining Eastern Elite, she played for the West Virginia Futbol Club 05 and was a part of a team that became West Virginia State Cup Champions in 2023. The daughter of Jason and Nicole, Barton plans to major in elementary education at WVU.
Isabel Ceasar / Defender / Lake Villa, Ill.
Ceasar is a native of Lake Villa, Ill., where she attends Grayslake North High School, playing for coach Adam DeCaluwe. During her time playing for Grayslake, she was voted the team’s MVP twice and is a three-time all-conference selection. In addition to being honored on the all-sectional team in high school, she also was named to the all-academic team. In the club ranks, she played for the Rockford Raptors in the ECNL for coach Frank Mateus. Ceasar and the Raptors were the 2022 US Youth Soccer Girls National Champions, while they also were two-time Illinois State Cup Champions in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, Ceasar was named to the 2023 ECNL Midwest All-Conference team and the 2021-22 best XI team. The daughter of John and Jessica, Ceasar plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.
Kailyn Effah / Forward/Midfielder / Bowie, Md.
A native of Bowie, Md., Effah attends St. John’s College High School and plays for coach Allison Diaz. She plays club soccer for coach Matt Dwyer at Maryland United in the ECNL. Her athletic accolades include being named to the WCAC All-Conference Team all four years of high school, including three first-team honors. Effah helped lead St. John’s College to a WCAC Championship in 2021 and 2022. She also was named the WCAC Player of the Year in 2023 and was the 2023-24 DC Gatorade Player of the Year. Additionally, Effah was part of a 2022 DCSAA Championship team, before being named DCSAA First Team in 2022 and 2023. In the club ranks, Effah played in the 2022 ECNL NJ U-15 National Selection Game and was named to the North Atlantic First Team each year from 2022-24. Academically, Effah is a member of the National Honor Society. The daughter of Kwaku and Jennifer, she plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.
Josie Johnson / Defender / Morgantown, W.Va.
Johnson is a native of Morgantown, W.Va., where she attends Morgantown High School and plays for coach Bri Frontuto. She plays club soccer for Beadling Girls Academy and coach Zack Hamilton. At MHS, she helped the Mohigans win a pair of state championship titles in 2022 and 2023. Following the 2023 state championship, she was named first team all-state. Following the conclusion of the 2024 season, Johnson was named an OVAC All-Star. The daughter of Roy and Kimberly, Johnson plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.
Robin Reilly / Midfielder / Latrobe, Pa.
A Latrobe, Pa., native, Reilly plays for coach Jamie Campbell at Greater Latrobe High School. At the club level, she plays for the Riverhounds Development Academy and coach Scott Gibson. A two-time all-state selection in 2023 and 2024, Reilly is the all-time leading scorer at Greater Latrobe High, holding the school record in goals (61) and assists (44). She also was selected to the all-section team every year from 2021-24 and is a three-time All-WPIAL honoree. In 2022 and 2023, she was named to the Olympic Development Program National Teams and was named to the ECNL Ohio Valley All-Conference teams following the conclusion of those seasons. Additionally, Reilly was named a finalist for the Moe Rosensteel Most Outstanding Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024. The daughter of Sean and Laura, Reilly plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.
Layla Thompson / Midfielder / Lewisville, Texas
Thompson hails from Lewisville, Texas, where she attends Hebron High School and plays for coach Robert Vaughn. With her high school team, Thompson was a two-time team captain and was named an all-state selection by the Texas Girls Coaches Association and the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches at the conclusion of her junior year. She also was the Texas 6-6A District Utility Player of the Year and was named first team all-district in 2023. In the club ranks, Thompson played for coach Gareth Evans with FC Dallas in the ECNL. In 2023, she helped lead the team to the ECNL Quarterfinals and was a Texas Cup finalist. The squad was Dallas International Girls Cup champions in 2021 and finalists in 2022. Thompson also was selected as a US Youth National Team ID Center participant in 2021. Academically, Thompson was named to the Texas 6-6A Academic All-State Team in 2023. The daughter of Omar and Courtney, she plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Joining the Mountaineers are Ava Arnold (Littleton, Colorado), Jozy Barton (Parkersburg, West Virginia), Isabel Ceasar (Lake Villa, Illinois), Kailyn Effah (Bowie, Maryland), Robin Reilly (Latrobe, Pennsylvania) and Layla Thompson (Lewisville, Texas).
“The staff and I are so excited to bring this new class to Morgantown,” Izzo-Brown said. “They are all so talented, hardworking, enthusiastic and competitive. Our whole staff has done a phenomenal job putting this class together, and we can’t wait to work with them.”
Ava Arnold / Midfielder / Littleton, Colo.
Arnold is a native of Littleton, Colo., where she attends Dakota Ridge High School and plays for coach Paul Moline. With her high school team, Arnold is a three-time first team all-conference selection, as well as a two-time first team all-state honoree. She was honored as the 2023-24 Dakota Ridge High School Female Athlete of the Year in her junior year. In the club ranks, she plays for the Colorado Rush 06/07 in the ECNL for coach Luke Meadows. During her time with the Colorado Rush, she was awarded with the 2022-23 GA “Players Player” award. She also was honored as the Colorado Rush U15-U19 Golden Boot Award. The daughter of Nick and Carlin, Arnold plans to enroll in general studies at WVU.
Jozy Barton / Midfielder/Defender / Parkersburg, W.Va.
A Parkersburg, W.Va., native, Barton plays for coach Ron Bucholtz at Parkersburg South High School. During her time at Parkersburg South, she was named to the 2023 WV AAA All-State Second Team after being named first team all-region. In 2022 and 2023, Barton was named to the All-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Team, while she also was honored with the Pete Whitaker Sportsmanship Award in 2023. Barton also helped lead Parkersburg South to the West Virginia AAA State Championship title game during her sophomore and junior years. In the club ranks, Barton plays for Eastern Elite Soccer Academy in Catlettsburg, Kentucky, where she helped her team become Kentucky State Cup Champions in 2024. Before joining Eastern Elite, she played for the West Virginia Futbol Club 05 and was a part of a team that became West Virginia State Cup Champions in 2023. The daughter of Jason and Nicole, Barton plans to major in elementary education at WVU.
Isabel Ceasar / Defender / Lake Villa, Ill.
Ceasar is a native of Lake Villa, Ill., where she attends Grayslake North High School, playing for coach Adam DeCaluwe. During her time playing for Grayslake, she was voted the team’s MVP twice and is a three-time all-conference selection. In addition to being honored on the all-sectional team in high school, she also was named to the all-academic team. In the club ranks, she played for the Rockford Raptors in the ECNL for coach Frank Mateus. Ceasar and the Raptors were the 2022 US Youth Soccer Girls National Champions, while they also were two-time Illinois State Cup Champions in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, Ceasar was named to the 2023 ECNL Midwest All-Conference team and the 2021-22 best XI team. The daughter of John and Jessica, Ceasar plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.
Kailyn Effah / Forward/Midfielder / Bowie, Md.
A native of Bowie, Md., Effah attends St. John’s College High School and plays for coach Allison Diaz. She plays club soccer for coach Matt Dwyer at Maryland United in the ECNL. Her athletic accolades include being named to the WCAC All-Conference Team all four years of high school, including three first-team honors. Effah helped lead St. John’s College to a WCAC Championship in 2021 and 2022. She also was named the WCAC Player of the Year in 2023 and was the 2023-24 DC Gatorade Player of the Year. Additionally, Effah was part of a 2022 DCSAA Championship team, before being named DCSAA First Team in 2022 and 2023. In the club ranks, Effah played in the 2022 ECNL NJ U-15 National Selection Game and was named to the North Atlantic First Team each year from 2022-24. Academically, Effah is a member of the National Honor Society. The daughter of Kwaku and Jennifer, she plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.
Josie Johnson / Defender / Morgantown, W.Va.
Johnson is a native of Morgantown, W.Va., where she attends Morgantown High School and plays for coach Bri Frontuto. She plays club soccer for Beadling Girls Academy and coach Zack Hamilton. At MHS, she helped the Mohigans win a pair of state championship titles in 2022 and 2023. Following the 2023 state championship, she was named first team all-state. Following the conclusion of the 2024 season, Johnson was named an OVAC All-Star. The daughter of Roy and Kimberly, Johnson plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.
Robin Reilly / Midfielder / Latrobe, Pa.
A Latrobe, Pa., native, Reilly plays for coach Jamie Campbell at Greater Latrobe High School. At the club level, she plays for the Riverhounds Development Academy and coach Scott Gibson. A two-time all-state selection in 2023 and 2024, Reilly is the all-time leading scorer at Greater Latrobe High, holding the school record in goals (61) and assists (44). She also was selected to the all-section team every year from 2021-24 and is a three-time All-WPIAL honoree. In 2022 and 2023, she was named to the Olympic Development Program National Teams and was named to the ECNL Ohio Valley All-Conference teams following the conclusion of those seasons. Additionally, Reilly was named a finalist for the Moe Rosensteel Most Outstanding Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024. The daughter of Sean and Laura, Reilly plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.
Layla Thompson / Midfielder / Lewisville, Texas
Thompson hails from Lewisville, Texas, where she attends Hebron High School and plays for coach Robert Vaughn. With her high school team, Thompson was a two-time team captain and was named an all-state selection by the Texas Girls Coaches Association and the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches at the conclusion of her junior year. She also was the Texas 6-6A District Utility Player of the Year and was named first team all-district in 2023. In the club ranks, Thompson played for coach Gareth Evans with FC Dallas in the ECNL. In 2023, she helped lead the team to the ECNL Quarterfinals and was a Texas Cup finalist. The squad was Dallas International Girls Cup champions in 2021 and finalists in 2022. Thompson also was selected as a US Youth National Team ID Center participant in 2021. Academically, Thompson was named to the Texas 6-6A Academic All-State Team in 2023. The daughter of Omar and Courtney, she plans to major in exercise physiology at WVU.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUWomensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
