DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's soccer program has added six student-athletes for the 2020 season, head coach Lindsey Horner announced Thursday. The six players joining the Bulldog family next year are Amelia Crabtree (Burlington, Wisc.), Blake Morrow (West Des Moines, Iowa), Emma Nagel (Green Bay, Wisc.), Lily Overstreet (West Des Moines, Iowa), Sydnee Sagal (Oconomowoc, Wisc.), and Bella Smith (Council Bluffs, Iowa).
 
Crabtree, a defensive midfielder, earned all-conference honors her junior year after serving as team captain for the Demons of Burlington High School. The Demons won the conference championship during Crabtree's freshman year, and they earned the regional championship the next year. Crabtree played club soccer for FC Wisconsin, helping lead the team to the ECNL Nationals North American Cup in 2018.
 
Morrow is awaiting her senior season at Valley High School in West Des Moines, where Coach Horner starred for the Tigers. A defensive midfielder, Morrow earned all-state honorable mention accolades as a junior. She has earned three varsity soccer letters and will serve as team captain in her upcoming senior year. Morrow played for Sporting Iowa on the club circuit and contributed to three Iowa State Cup championships. She is also a standout student, garnering first-team Academic All-State honors and an AP Scholar Award as a junior.
 
Nagel is a two-sport star for Bay Port High School in Green Bay, Wisc. As a junior, she earned the Wisconsin High School Sports Player of the Year Award in both basketball and soccer. In her three years playing varsity soccer, Nagel has recorded 84 goals and 43 assists with her senior year still upcoming. Nagel competed for the United Hurricanes as a youth, helping the club win the U-14 state championship.
 
Overstreet plays alongside Morrow at Valley High School and with Sporting Iowa. She has helped Valley to the state tournament in each of her three years playing varsity soccer for the Tigers. As a junior, Overstreet earned Academic All-State First-Team and an AP Scholar award. She also won the 2019 state championship with the Iowa Rush.
 
Sagal plays a key role for Arrowhead Union High School in Oconomowoc, Wisc. A two-time all-state honoree, Sagal has led Arrowhead Union to top-25 national rankings in each of the last two seasons. While competing for Strike FC, Sagal helped the club reach the state championship game last season.
 
Smith excels in basketball, cross country, and soccer for Lewis Central High School. She was tabbed as a first-team all-state selection as a junior and led Lewis Central to the state championship as a freshman. In 2018, Smith earned the Defender of the Year award. Smith claimed Sporting Omaha FC's player of the year award after helping the club qualify for the National Premier League.
 
 
Why They Chose Drake
 
"I chose Drake because I love the team atmosphere. I felt very welcomed by the amazing coaches and team the first time I visited Drake. I instantly knew it was the perfect school to further myself both academically and athletically." – Amelia Crabtree
 
"I've been attending Drake soccer camps with Coach Horner since I was seven years old, and Coach Brennan worked at my club. So when it came time for the recruiting process, the decision to choose Drake seemed natural. From the challenging academics to the competitive soccer team, I knew that I could see myself being happy at Drake, and I can't wait to get started!" – Blake Morrow
 
"I chose to attend Drake University because of its exceptional academics and its outstanding soccer program. The amazing coaching staff also made the choice to pick Drake very easy. As soon as I stepped onto campus I saw the family-like atmosphere that I wanted to be a part of." – Emma Nagel
 
"I committed to Drake because of its excellent Actuarial Science department and its soccer program. The coaches and the team were very friendly and welcoming, which only made me want to commit even more. In addition, I always wanted my family to be able to attend some of my soccer games in the future, and the distance is perfect for my family to come to home games. I'm so happy to officially be a Bulldog!" – Lily Overstreet
 
"I committed to play at Drake because the coaches and players have made a hardworking and fun environment that I can't wait to play in! Everyone was extremely welcoming and it instantly felt like I was at home." – Sydnee Sagal
 
"I committed to Drake because of the excellent academics, athletics, and coaching staff. The Drake environment is very welcoming, and I knew it would be the perfect fit for me to succeed both athletically and academically. In addition, the size and location of the school were exactly what I was looking for. I cannot wait to be a Bulldog!" – Bella Smith
 
What Their Coaches Said
 
"Amelia Crabtree is a tough and aggressive defensive midfielder who will be a strong, ball-winning presence in the middle of the field. Her ability to disrupt the opponent's attacks and win balls in the air will add important grit to the team, and her constant work rate will ensure great consistency from game to game." – Christian Lavers, FC Wisconsin ECNL
 
"I've known Blake Morrow for a long time now, and I have nothing but good things to say about her. As a player, she is always very calm, but can be very tough. Blake has a brilliant mentality and it shows on the pitch. She is someone that has represented Sporting Iowa perfectly on the field and even more so off of it. She's a brilliant student and a lovely teammate, and I know she will do great things at Drake! I can't wait to see what she accomplishes!" – Sam Weeks, Sporting Iowa
 
"Emma Nagel is a fun-loving, humble, and dedicated individual. Emma brings a spirited, unrelenting work ethic, a results-driven mindset, and an impressive soccer IQ to the field of play. Emma's technical skill, power, and speed of thought—coupled with her level of awareness on the field—punishes even the most well-equipped defenses. Emma is confident and poised on the ball and exploits reactive opponents. She anticipates beautifully and finds space when there is little space to be found. Emma is precise and purposeful in distributing the ball, and her shots find the back of the net with ruthless regularity. Emma's style of play combines fierceness, finesse, and intelligence. In recruiting Emma, Drake has secured a markedly skilled player with the capacity to influence a game; I guess it's fitting to state that Emma Nagel is a bulldog on the pitch." – Coach Brooke Mraz, Bay Port HS
 
"In Lily Overstreet, I think Drake is getting one fantastic soccer player. She is clean on the ball, has a high soccer acumen, but most importantly she is an unbelievable leader. She not only leads by example with her effort and competitiveness, she also is one of the best communicators on our team. She is always talking, giving instructions, and encouraging her teammates. Lily's impact will go far beyond just the soccer field. Drake, you are getting an amazing person." – Daryl Brazeau, Iowa Rush
 
"Drake is lucky to have a versatile player like Sydnee Sagal, who has an extremely high soccer IQ. Syd has the capability to make any play on the field with her skill set. Her technical skills make her very dangerous with the ability to makes plays happen when they seem impossible. Drake has received a hard working winner that will be successful on and off the field!" – Paul Sikinger, Strike FC
 
"Isabella Smith will be joining Drake University with confidence as she has become instrumental in our DA team. Her calmness under pressure and her ability to maintain composure is great to see. Sporting OFC is excited to see Bella become a Bulldog knowing she will be a great addition to the program." – Alex Mason, Sporting Omaha FC DA