CHARLESTON, S.C. – College of Charleston women's soccer head coach Christian Michner has announced the signing of five newcomers for the 2024-25 academic year.

Two of the five additions hail from South Carolina, including local product Ainsley Chunn, a goalkeeper from Oceanside Collegiate Academy, and defender/midfielder Maggie Heffernan from Lexington High School. 

Rounding out the class are midfielders Millie Cluxton and Sienna Petro and defender Casey Malone. Cluxton is the niece of Cougar men's basketball coach Pat Kelsey.

"The 2024 class is an incredible group that will come to Charleston and do some amazing things during their time at The College," said Michner. "It's a class that hails from near and far and chose CofC for a variety of reasons. The talent level is off the charts, and that will continue to push us forward as we chase a CAA Championship. 

"But, even more than their playing ability, we know we are signing absolutely incredible people who will represent CofC and the women's soccer program with class and integrity. We're so excited to welcome this group to Charleston in 2024."

Ainsley Chunn | Goalkeeper | Mount Pleasant, S.C. | Oceanside Collegiate Academy

• Junior season honors included team MVP, South Carolina Class 2A Player of the Year and all-state 
• Chosen Post and Courier All-Lowcountry first team and all-region by the United Coaches Association 
• Was also All-Lowcountry first team and all-region as a sophomore
• Helped Oceanside win three state titles and team was ranked No. 10 in the nation last season
• Played four years with South Carolina United and was an ECNL Southeast first team selection
• Four-year starter on the basketball team at Oceanside

Michner on Chunn: "Ainsley is a very good goalkeeper and someone we think will immediately push our returners for playing time. She is an absolute beast in training, and she'll add intensity and competition to that position. She's an incredible athlete and holds school records in most Olympic lift categories. We always want to recruit the best people, and when they're local kids it makes it even better."

Millie Cluxton | Midfielder | Cincinnati, Ohio | Seton HS

• Niece of Cougar men's basketball head coach Pat Kelsey
• Has career totals of 44 goals and 45 assists with senior season still in progress
• Named first team all-league and all-city this fall with other honors not yet announced
• Chosen first team all-league, all-city and all-region and to the all-state team as a junior
• Helped team go 20-3-1 and capture Ohio Division I state title last year
• Plays for Ohio Elite club team after spending seven years with Kings Hammer
• Member of the ECNL all-region team in 2022 and 2023

Michner on Cluxton: "Millie is one of the most talented and hardest working players you'd ever dream of coaching. She's a natural leader, and the intensity she plays at is off the charts. She's a difference maker at attacking midfield and is always involved when her team scores goals and we love that about her. She's a winner and someone we think will come in and make us exponentially better in different ways."

Maggie Heffernan | Defender/Midfielder | Lexington, S.C. | Lexington

• Two-time all-state and three-time all-region selection
• Named for SC United ECNL and named Girls Player of the Year 
• Earned second team All-ECNL honors and chosen to play in the ECNL National Selection Game

Michner on Heffernan: "Maggie is another exceptional player who has the versatility to play either on the backline or in the midfield. She's extremely good on the ball and creative with it going forward. Maggie also plays with an intensity and toughness that will suit her at the next level. She will make her presence known from Day 1, and I know she will be ready to compete for a starting spot right away."

Casey Malone | Defender | Bedminster, Pa. | Pennridge HS

• Senior season still in progress and team has won conference championship for fourth straight year
• Earned first team all-area honors as a junior after being named to the second team her sophomore season
• Also selected Suburban One all-league second team and Colonial Division second team in 2021
• Member of Class 4A state championship team in 2020 and state finalist last fall
• Team was ranked No. 2 in the nation at the beginning of the 2023 season
• Played seven years for FcBucks ECNL/Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals
• Chosen to play in the 2022 Continental Tire National Selection Game

Michner on Malone: "Casey is a fantastic player who will be ready to step in and make us better on the backline. She has so many great qualities both in and out of possession. She is a dangerous attacker coming out of the back, and her athleticism and defensive presence makes her tough to beat out wide. She's been playing at the highest level of youth soccer in a great club and it's prepared her for the college game. We think Casey will come in and immediately challenge for a starting spot."

Sienna Petro | Midfielder | Florham Park, N.J. | Hanover Park

• Has career totals of 24 goals and 35 assists with senior season still in progress
• Holds school career assists record and set season record with 17 her junior year
• Named team MVP and first team all-county and all-conference last fall
• Voted one of the top 10 players in New Jersey by NJ.com and chosen to county all-star game
• Helped team win 54 games during her career and a state title in 2020
• Played eight years with FC Copa Academy in the Elite 64 League
• Selected to Best 11 Players in the Elite 64 League and had two assists to help team win national title in 2023

Michner on Petro: "Sienna is a creative central midfielder. She has the technical ability to keep the ball under pressure and the awareness in her game to play in quick combinations to move the ball forward. We know she has the game that will translate very well at the next level. We're so excited to add her to a great core of midfielders and know she will make a huge impact."