Syracuse Signs Five Transfers To NLI

Blythe Braun (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Florida Atlantic), Cierra Collins (Louisville, Ky./Mississippi State), Julia Dening (Siena/Remsen, N.Y.), Mia Klammer (Mahopac, N.Y./Saint Rose) and Dalani Stephens (Round Hill, Va./North Carolina Greensboro) have signed National Letters-of-Intent (NLI) to enroll and play soccer at Syracuse, according to Coach Nicky Thrasher Adams.

Here is a run-down of the five student-athletes:

Blythe Braun | Goalkeeper | Downers Grove North H.S. | Florida Atlantic University
Braun saw the field eight times during her sophomore season with the Owls in 2023, and she posted a goals- against-average of 1.39 and a 0.677 save percentage. She recorded a season high of seven saves against Florida Gulf Coast. A prep standout at Downers Grove North High School (Ill.), Braun was a two-time team captain. She was named an Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA) All-State Team honoree and was recognized on the 2021 All-Area Team by My Suburban Life. She was a two-time team captain with the Trojans. Braun played for Lyons Township (2019-21), Team Chicago (2018-19) and Road Runners SC (2014-18) club teams and earned international experience.

Cierra Collins | Defender | Male H. S. | Mississippi State University
Collins redshirted her sophomore season with the Bulldogs in 2023, her second with the program. She competed for Male High School (Ky.) and was a team captain in 2020. The Bulldogs finished second in the district her senior year. She was named to First Team All-Region and Second Team All-State and All-District, during her high school career. Collins played club soccer with Racing Louisville.

Julia Dening | Forward | Remsen Central H.S. | Siena College
Dening started 16 matches and participated in all 17 contests with the Saints. She tallied four goals this season, scoring against Western Kentucky, Manhattan, Fairfield, and Iona. In her freshman year, Dening recorded 34 shots. She earned a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Rookie of the Week honor (10/30/2023) and was one of the top ten MAAC goal scorers in 2023. Dening was a three-year starter for Remsen Central and was a 2022 New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Class D First Team All-State selection after earning fourth team All-State the previous year.

Mia Klammer | Forward | Mahopac H.S. | College of St. Rose
Klammer was named the 2023 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Player of the Year Award from the United Soccer Coaches Association (USCA) and the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA). She led Division II in scoring with 53 points and averaged 2.52 points per game to set a St. Rose record. In 2023, Klammer recorded 18 goals and 17 assists and was named a first team USCA and D2CCA All-American for her third straight season. She was selected the Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year. Klammer earned All-State recognition twice and was a team captain as a senior at Mahopac High School.

Dalani Stephens | Midfielder | Woodgrove H.S. | University of North Carolina Greensboro
Stephens started in all 19 games for the Spartans in 2023. She posted two goals and eight shots this season, scoring against Coastal Carolina and Virginia Military Institute. Stephens ranked second in minutes for the Spartans, logging 1,579. Stephens was named to the 2022-23 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team. She was a 2022 Southern Conference All-Tournament Team pick and was named to the Spring 2021 All-Southern Conference Honor Roll. Stephens was with the starters in 60 of her 67 games at North Carolina Greensboro. She played on the 2019 state championship team at Woodgrove High School.

For complete coverage of Syracuse women's soccer, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Women's Soccer), Twitter (@CuseWSOC) and Instagram (@CuseWSOC).

The National Letter-of-Intent program was started in 1964. Administered by the Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA), the program was designed with prospective student-athletes in mind. A signed letter-of-intent indicates a prospective student-athlete agrees to attend the designated college or university for one academic year. Institutions agree to provide athletics financial aid for one academic year to the student-athlete, provided the student-athlete is admitted to the institution and is eligible for financial aid under NCAA rules.

Syracuse University Athletics

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