CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte women's soccer team has announced the addition of two midyear transfers and an international talent who will join the team in the spring, as well as the promotion of Assistant Coach Austin Rios to Recruiting Coordinator.

"It's always exciting to add personal at the mid-year. It's truly the beginning of what we are building for the fall, so adding these three-quality people and players is a benefit to starting our efforts. We are lucky to have them and know they will bring greatness to the Queens Women's soccer program," said head coach Shannon Neely Noel.

Hailing from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Morgan Kaiser joins Queens from Oakland University. As a versatile midfielder and winger, she brings extensive experience, including 32 appearances and 18 starts in two seasons with the Golden Grizzlies, logging 1,756 minutes on the field. A former captain and four-time varsity letter winner at Homestead High School, Kaiser boasts an impressive prep resume, highlighted by leading her teams to two Indiana State Cup titles, an Indiana High School State Championship, and a Midwest Regional U19 Finals appearance. Her strong defensive skills earned her back-to-back Defensive MVP honors and a spot on the All-District Team in 2021 and 2022.

"Morgan joins us after earning two years of collegiate experience playing at Oakland University. An addition to our midfield; her ability to distribute, direct the field, and lockdown the defensive side of the ball will bring knowledge and control in an extremely important position on the field," said Neely Noel.

Erin Coleman, a defender from Wake Forest, North Carolina, transfers to Queens from the University of Cincinnati. Known for her leadership on and off the field, Coleman earned All-Conference and All-Region honors twice during her high school career. Coleman also captained her Heritage High School team to a conference championship in her senior year. Her club experience with NC Courage has further solidified her reputation as a reliable defender. A stellar student, Coleman graduated Heritage High School in the top one percent of her class and served as Senior Class President.

"Erin comes home to the Carolinas after starting her college years at the University of Cincinnati, an athletic center-back with an all-around impact on the game. Her personality and joy for play comes out every day, we are excited to see her impact on our back line," said Neely Noel.

From Hamilton, New Zealand, Shion Hwang adds international flair to the Royals squad. A dynamic attacking midfielder and striker, Hwang has an eye for goal, scoring 10 goals in 19 matches this season with Eastern Suburbs AFC. Hwang was a runner-up for the U18 National Youth League Golden Boot and participated in a New Zealand women's U17 camp. Hwang also has a history of success in futsal, capturing multiple national championships. Academically, she has excelled with numerous accolades, including the prestigious NCEA Level 1 and Level 2 Excellence endorsements, a main qualification for secondary school students in New Zealand.

"Shion joins us midyear from playing in some of the highest levels in New Zealand. We have high expectations of her immediate impact, as an extreme technical player with a high aptitude to threaten to goal. Her style, energy, and competitive nature will fit in and add perfectly to the momentum this program has built," said Neely Noel.

Alongside the exciting additions to the roster, Queens also announced the promotion of Austin Rios to Recruiting Coordinator. Rios, who joined the Royals' coaching staff in 2024, has quickly made an impact with his expertise and dedication to player development. As the Recruiting Coordinator, he will lead efforts to identify and recruit top-tier talent, further strengthening the program's competitiveness.

"In a short time, coach Rios has made an immediate impact on our program and team, his involvement on field is one that uplifts all things in our space. This is particularly true for our recruiting efforts, he has a clear picture of who we are and where we are headed, he's done a great job aligning this with recruiting and committing elevated talent to drive us towards our continued goals. Because of this, we are excited to announce his promotion on the staff as our Recruiting Director. This comes in a response to the work and commitment he has already invested; we are fortunate to have his efforts propelling our program forward," said Neely Noel.

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