Ricciardi inks signature on LOI to play for BU

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Bellevue University head women's soccer coach Tom White has announced the signing of Alessia Ricciardi (Milan, Italy) to a letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic careers at Bellevue beginning next fall.

The daughter of Giuseppe and Elena Ricciardi, Alessia attends IIS Paolo Frisi High School.

Alessia started her soccer career at FC Internazionale Milano where she won back-to-back titles. Ricciardi started gaining experience with the first team and then moved onto play in Serie C and B to gain first team experience.

Coach White on Ricciardi:

"We are very excited that Alessia will be joining us this fall. Through the years we have had some fantastic goalkeepers come through the ranks and believe Alessia has the potential to grow within our program.  She will compete for the number on spot with Eliza and Thea. Her work rate and her will to push herself is exactly what we were looking for so we are eager to see he grow under the guidance of DD (assistant coach Haley Shelton)."

Engen joins earlier signees Alaina Meads (Glenwood, Iowa), Lauren Chetty (Aldershot, England), and Thea Engen (Lillehammer, Norway) in the Bruins' 2023 recruiting class.

Bellevue concluded the 2022 season with a 13-4-2 overall record and won both the CAC Regular-Season and Tournament Championships. The Bruins made their second-straight trip to the NAIA National Tournament and seventh overall, putting up a spirited performance against #2-ranked Marian University.