The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
11.13.2026 | Soccer
Bates unveils first high school recruiting class since arriving on The Forty Acres
PENSACOLA, Fla. — University of Texas head soccer coach Margueritte Bates announced the signing of six high school standouts to the Longhorns' 2027 signing class on Friday afternoon.
Texas has officially added Maddie Freeman, Landry Gannon, Avery Popejoy, Citlalli Reyes Vazquez, Paige Rueffer and Raelyn Young to its 2027 signing class.
"This is a foundational class for us in our first year at Texas," Bates said. "These are players who will come in and compete for playing time immediately, while elevating the athleticism and competitiveness of our group. As we continue to establish our identity in the Southeastern Conference, it's important that we bring in players who can match the speed and intensity of our opponents, as well as embrace our style of play and value possession. Every player in this class brings something unique to our program, and we're really excited about what this group can help us build as we work to make Texas Soccer something truly special."
A 5-foot-10 goalkeeper from Torrance, Calif., Freeman attends South High School and competes for FRAM SC. This past season, she earned All-Pioneer League MVP honors after recording seven clean sheets. A four-year letterwinner, Freeman did not allow a goal during the 2025 campaign while collecting All-Area recognition and Defensive Player of the Year honors. She also helped guide the Spartans to a pair of league championships during her high school career.
"Maddie is an extremely talented goalkeeper who combines tremendous athleticism with a competitive edge," Bates said. "She has all the physical tools to be successful at the collegiate level, but just as importantly, she has the confidence and courage to match. She'll immediately add another level to our goalkeeping group, and we can't wait to see her continue to develop under Molly Poletto. Welcome to Texas, Maddie!"
Gannon established Aubrey High School's single-season records with 62 goals and 33 assists during her final interscholastic campaign. The 5-foot-6 forward/midfielder was named the District 11-4A Offensive Midfielder of the Year and garnered TASCO Second Team All-State recognition. At the club level, Gannon was selected to the 2026 ECNL All-Conference First Team as a member of Solar SC. She helped the club capture the 2022 ECNL National Championship and reach the semifinals on three additional occasions. Gannon has also earned multiple United States Youth National Team invitations from the U-14 through U-17 levels. In each of the last two years, she participated in the NWSL Youth Combine.
"Landry will join us this spring and immediately add another dimension to our attack," Bates said. "She's thoughtful in her movement and has a natural understanding of the rhythm and tempo of the game. She's established herself as one of the most well-rounded attacking players in the class of 2027, and we're thrilled to welcome her to Texas and get to work with her!"
A 5-foot-6 defender/midfielder, Popejoy hails from Carmichael, Calif. She attends Rio Americano High School and plays for San Juan SC ECNL. With the NorCal Premier Player Development Program, Popejoy won a pair of titles at the 2024 Gothia Cup in Sweden and the 2026 Oshima Cup in Japan. She has participated with the U.S. Youth Soccer national teams at the U-15 and U-17 stages.
"Avery is a versatile player in every sense of the word," Bates said. "She brings great speed, technical ability and a natural understanding of the game that will allow her to compete for playing time at a variety of positions. Every time we watch her play, we see another element of her game that we know will translate well to the college level. We're excited to welcome her to Texas!"
Reyes Vazquez brings extensive international experience to The Forty Acres after representing Mexico at the U-17 level over the past three years. The 5-foot-2 midfielder has tallied nine goals and five assists on the international stage. Earlier this year, she set Concacaf tournament records with five goals and 14 appearances. A native of Las Vegas, Reyes Vazquez also guided Las Vegas Diversity to the 2024 ECNL league championship.
"Citlalli is a global talent and an exceptional midfielder with tremendous vision and attacking ability," Bates said. "Her final ball is among the best in her age group, and she has the ability to change a game in an instant. What's even more impressive, though, is her humility and her drive to continually become a better player. We're looking forward to welcoming her to campus this spring and getting her prepared for next season!"
A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Rueffer attends Bill Crothers Secondary School and suits up for AFC Toronto Academy. The 5-foot-10 defender has represented Canada's Youth National Teams at the U-15, U-16 and U-17 levels across the past three cycles. Earlier this year, Rueffer was part of her Canada's squad at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. In 2024, she helped her country earn bronze at the Concacaf U-15 title. Rueffer was also a member of the 2023 Gary Miller Charity Shield championship team.
"Paige is an intelligent and composed center back who brings a tremendous understanding of the game," Bates said. "She has the ability to play through pressure with a variety of passes and possesses the tactical awareness that we value in our defenders. We're excited about what she will bring to our backline and can't wait to welcome her to The Forty Acres."
Young, a 5-foot-10 forward from Farmers Branch, Texas, scored 40 goals over the last three seasons for Solar SC. She has steered her club to three consecutive ECNL Texas Conference crowns and a pair of national semifinals appearances in 2024 and 2026. At the Greenhill School, she was tabbed an All-Southwest Preparatory Conference selection and the team's MVP twice.
"We're thrilled to welcome Rae to The Forty Acres in January," Bates said. "Her attacking ability is among the best in the country, and she pairs that with an incredible competitive drive. Her athleticism and efficiency in the final third will allow us to remain dangerous in a variety of ways, which we've learned is especially important in our conference. We can't wait to get to work with her!"
