Cloverleaf's Riley Evans to play soccer at Northern Kentucky

WESTFIELD TWP. — The Gazette's reigning MVP in girls track and field and a two-time All-Gazette pick in soccer made two decisions Monday — where she is going to go to college and what sport she's going to pursue. Cloverleaf junior Riley Evans announced she will continue her soccer career at Division I Northern Kentucky University, which is coached by Bob Sheehan and finished 2-11-2 overall and 2-7-1 in the Horizon League in 2022. "I really liked the coaches and the atmosphere," the 17-year-old Evans said. "I got a chance to be on campus and around some of the players, and it really was a positive environment." Evans, who carries a 3.97 grade-point average, is leaning toward majoring in biology at Northern Kentucky, which is located in Highland Heights, but she still has two track postseasons and another soccer season remaining at Cloverleaf. "I've had a long time to think about it," she said of her verbal commitment. "It just felt right in the moment. I was ready. Now I can enjoy my senior year and have everything set ahead of me." A 5-foot-5, 115-pound midfielder/forward, Evans scored a Medina County-high 65 points on 26 goals and 13 assists while earning All-Gazette honors as a junior. She had 43 points on 17 goals and nine assists while earing All-Gazette accolades as a sophomore and compiled 19 points on eight goals and three assists as a freshman. "As of right now, I'm planning on just playing soccer (in college)," Evans said. "I've enjoyed both, the relationships I've been able to to make and the friends I've made, but I've played soccer longer. There's a deeper love for it." Evans' accomplishments on the track have been just as impressive as her performance on the pitch. As a sophomore, she finished second in the 400 meters at the D-I state meet and also reached Columbus in the 200 and 4x200 relay. Evans set school records in the 100 (12.40 seconds), 200 (25.48), 400 (55.99) and sprint medley (1:52.28) in 2022 and was part of the record-setting 4x2 (1:44.73) as a freshman, when she qualified for state in the 400 and missed making the finals by one spot and 0.01 seconds. She improved her personal record in the 100 this season with a hand-held time of 12.3. "I'm hoping to be (Metro Athletic Conference) champs again this year," she said. "I want to try to make it far in the postseason. Hopefully, I can break some of my PRs and have fun with my teammates." Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4046 or rnoland@medina-gazette.com. Follow him @RickNoland on Twitter.