SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls Women's Soccer program and head coach Andy Janssen have announced five additions to the 2027 signing class, welcoming a group of student-athletes with championship experience, leadership qualities and a commitment to excellence on and off the field.

The newest Cougars include Peyton Surgenor (Lake Elmo, Minn.), Haedyn Aamodt (Hudson, Wis.), Avery Anderson (Nevada, Iowa), Evelyn Anderson (Nevada, Iowa) and Lawsen Quist (Cheyenne, Wyo.). The class features two incoming freshmen and three transfers, bringing experience from successful high school, club and collegiate programs.

With all five newcomers having served in leadership roles throughout their careers, the class reflects USF's emphasis on recruiting student-athletes who demonstrate competitiveness, character and a commitment to team success.

"The most important part of recruiting is adding the right people," said head coach Andy Janssen. "Our vision for USF Soccer is for our players to 'shine bright,' meaning they will excel on the field, in the community and in the classroom. Ultimately, we want the people in our program to be the 'salt and light' on this earth. I love this group and what they will contribute immediately on and off the field."

"This signing class brings championship experience and competitiveness," Janssen continued. "Anyone who plays for USF Soccer believes we can beat anyone we compete against. They bring a competitive mentality that will help elevate our program into a title contender in the near future. They have all been trusted with captain roles on their respective teams and understand how to treat their teammates well while holding themselves to a high standard. I can't wait to have them all join us."

---

Surgenor joins the Cougars following a successful career at Stillwater High School, where she was a four-year varsity starter and letterwinner while helping her team capture the 2025 state championship. A two-time team captain, she earned All-Conference recognition in 2024, 2025 and 2026 and received the team's Best Defender Award in 2026. Her success extended to the club level, where she was part of an NPL National Championship team in 2024 and earned ECNL Regional League All-Region recognition in 2026. She also received four academic letters during her high school career.

"Peyton has a great mix of technical ability and grittiness," said Janssen. "MN Foot Tech and St. Croix SC did a great job developing her touch, passing and ball-striking skills. She will help us maintain possession while bringing the competitive mentality needed to work hard and win the ball back. Peyton is the type of person you want to be friends with off the field because of how she treats people and makes them feel important."

Stillwater Area High School coach Mike Huber also expressed confidence in Surgenor's transition to the collegiate level, stating, "Peyton was a four-year starter and a captain her senior year. She has all the tools to be successful at the next level, and I can't wait to follow her journey."

Aamodt arrives from Hudson High School following a decorated career that included Total Soccer Wisconsin All-State Honorable Mention, First Team All-Big Rivers Conference honors and three Wisconsin State Top 11 selections. A team captain and Defensive MVP, she helped Hudson capture conference and regional championships while contributing to a defensive unit that recorded 11 shutouts, including five consecutive clean sheets. Despite playing primarily at center back, Aamodt also contributed seven goals and eight assists. Her club accomplishments include a 2024 North American Cup Championship with Minnesota Thunder Academy, ECNL Regional League championships and selection to the Midwest Regional Olympic Development Program team. Academically, she is a National Honor Society member and Academic All-Conference honoree with a 3.8 GPA. She plans to major in exercise science.

"After every conversation and meeting, it has been very obvious that Haedyn wants to be a Cougar, and I love that," said Janssen. "Her ability to win 50/50 battles and aerial duels is elite. She is the type of player who can disrupt an opponent's offense and allow our team to get back on the offensive side of the ball."

St. Croix SC coach Jesse Campos added his perspective on Aamodt's abilities, stating, "Haedyn is a hardworking, gritty midfielder. She has great vision and composure to support build-up play. She makes strong, well-timed challenges on the defensive end. I am excited to see what Haedyn can do at USF."

Anderson joins the Cougars after a successful career at Laramie County Community College, where she earned Second Team All-Region honors in 2025 and Honorable Mention All-Region recognition in 2026. She was also selected to the 2026 All-Tournament Team, received Team Offensive MVP honors and served as a team captain. Prior to LCCC, Anderson helped Nevada High School capture the 2024 Iowa State Championship and earned three consecutive IAGCA First Team All-State, All-District and All-Conference selections from 2023-25. She also received IHSSCA First Team All-State recognition in 2025 and was named to the 2024 State All-Tournament Team. Anderson plans to major in elementary education at USF.

"She can score goals and has done it at every level she has played," said Janssen. "She has a calmness about her that allows her to make good decisions and create chances for the team. It was fun to see her score the only goal on Saturday to earn a bid to the NJCAA National Tournament."

Laramie County Community College coach Lugo Arenas emphasized Anderson's ability to perform in important moments, stating, "Avery holds herself to such a high standard, and it has helped mold her into the clinical goal scorer she is today. Throughout her career, she has stepped up in the biggest moments for our program, and I know she'll carry that into her Sioux Falls career."

Anderson comes to Sioux Falls following a standout collegiate career at Laramie County Community College, where she earned Second Team All-Region honors in both 2025 and 2026. She also received Region Player of the Week recognition and served as a team captain. At Nevada High School, Anderson helped lead her team to the 2024 Iowa State Championship while earning First Team All-Conference honors in three consecutive seasons and First Team All-District recognition in 2024 and 2025. She was also a two-time First Team All-State selection, earned a spot on the Des Moines Register Class 1A All-Iowa Team and was a 2024 finalist for Girls Soccer Player of the Year at the Des Moines Register's All-Iowa High School Sports Awards. Anderson plans to major in elementary education.

"Evelyn is a rare defender who can play anywhere along the backline and excel," said Janssen. "She is very athletic and competitive, which gives her an edge over her opponents when it comes to winning the small battles on the field. She has a championship mentality that will make her very successful here at USF."

Arenas also recognized Anderson's leadership and determination throughout her collegiate career, stating, "She is a true lead-by-example captain. There was never a challenge too tough for her to take on, and her accolades showcase that. Ev's presence will be missed at LCCC both on and off the field."

Quist brings collegiate experience from Laramie County Community College and Black Hills State University to the Cougar midfield. At LCCC, she earned Region Player of the Week recognition and served as a team captain, while at Black Hills State she appeared in all 18 matches with two starts. During her prep career at Cheyenne South High School, Quist established school records for both single-season and career goals while earning four All-Conference selections and two Second Team All-State honors. She was also a three-time team captain, three-time Cheyenne South High School Athlete of the Year and the 2025 WyoSports Female Soccer Player of the Year. Academically, she earned Wyoming Coaches Association 4.0 Honor Roll recognition all four years and plans to study communication and creative arts, public relations and marketing.

"Lawsen does all the small things in a game that might go unnoticed by the average fan," said Janssen. "She is going to cover more ground than most players and work hard to get into the right positions on the field to help the team. She has the touch and composure to get the team out of tight spaces and build the attack. The thing that stood out to me most during the recruiting process was her ability to celebrate her teammates' success. She has been a captain on every team she has played for, and I can't wait to add her to our culture."

Arenas highlighted the qualities that made Quist a valuable contributor at LCCC, stating, "Lawsen's energy and attention to detail are what make her such an amazing asset. She has impacted many games throughout her LCCC career, and I'm excited to see her journey continue at the next level."

---

Looking Ahead

The five additions provide Sioux Falls with a combination of collegiate experience and emerging talent across the midfield, defensive unit and attacking third. With championship backgrounds, individual accolades and extensive leadership experience, the newcomers bring qualities that align with the program's competitive goals and commitment to developing student-athletes beyond the field.

The class also features three student-athletes from Laramie County Community College in Avery Anderson, Evelyn Anderson and Lawsen Quist. Reflecting on their departures, Arenas shared, "All three, Lawsen, Avery and Evelyn, will be amazing in their own ways. I'm grateful to have them represent LCCC."

As the Cougars prepare for the upcoming season, the newest additions will look to contribute to a program focused on raising its competitive standard within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference while continuing to emphasize leadership, academics and community involvement.

---

Stay Connected

For all things USF Soccer, be sure to download the USF Cougars app as well as follow along on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! Be the first to know what's going on inside USF Athletics by subscribing to our Weekly Newsletter!