Upcoming Event: Women's Soccer versus UTSA on September 11, 2025 at 7 p.m.
7 p.m.
Women's Soccer
vs. UTSA
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Women’s Soccer Welcomes Three New Members to 2020 Squad
11/14/2019 3:27:00 PM | Women's Soccer
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University women's soccer team and head coach Patrick Baker are proud to announce the first three signees for the 2020 squad, one on each line, in forward Gabi Cimino, midfielder Katie Houston and defender Madeline Crowe.
"The FAU women's soccer team has signed three terrific student-athletes and we are excited for each of them to join our program in 2020," said head coach Patrick Baker. "Gabi Cimino, Maddy Crowe and Katie Houston have all signed to further their academic and soccer careers in Boca Raton. Quality recruiting has been the key to our success in elevating our program and we feel the start of this class improves us in some key positions. We graduate 10 talented seniors that have accomplished so much individually and collectively, and Gabi, Katie and Maddy have real soccer qualities to help fulfill some of our needs with this graduating class. The pieces added are in each line of our system; Maddy as a talented defender, Katie as a big-time midfielder and Gabi as a gamechanging forward. These young ladies are dedicated students, have strong academic backgrounds and will excel in the classroom at FAU. The recruiting class also has achieved great individual and team success in the game of soccer, at the high school, club and ODP levels. Recruiting good people has been a pillar of ours since 2013 and this year is no different; our foundation is strong and they are another great piece to our overall picture. We are excited for next fall and feel with our returners, and once this year's recruiting class is completed, we will have the potential for another tremendous season in 2020."
Here is the bio info on the three newcomers, followed by a breakdown of each:
Cimino has had a sensational career thus far at Miami Springs Senior, with 100 goals to this point, including a school-record 52 as a freshman. She was First Team All-County as a freshman and sophomore, and Player of the Year in the latter year. Additionally, she has played for the Puerto Rico U17 team, scoring her first international goal against Cuba in the Caribbean Cup, and her penalty kick against Jamaica helped lead the team to a third-place finish and qualification into the 2018 CONCACAF Championship in Nicaragua. She also took part in two friendlies for the Puerto Rican Senior Team, starting in both.
Why Cimino chose FAU:
"I chose FAU to fulfill my dream of playing Division I soccer at an elite level and to enjoy my college experience playing the sport I love. Coach Baker along with the other staff were very welcoming and made me feel like I was home. I am extremely excited to begin my journey in Paradise! Go Owls!"
Coach Baker on Cimino:
"We are fortunate to have Gabi follow her father's footsteps to play soccer at FAU next fall. Gabi is one of the top attacking prospects in the state of Florida and is an extremely talented forward. She is good back to goal, on the line and very capable of getting into back space. Gabi can change the complexion of a game with one run and we needed that dimension in this recruiting class. She is also a consistent goal scorer and we feel she will fit right into our current system. Her ability to create chances and score goals will be a big asset to our 2020 squad. Losing three talented forwards to graduation, Gabi is going to be a great addition to our attack."
Giovanni de la Rosa, Coral Gables Storm club coach, on Cimino:
"I am so excited about Gabi Cimino's commitment to Florida Atlantic University. I would like to wish her all the best in the next four years. She is such a wonderful person with a great work rate."
Madeline Crowe
Crowe has been a four-year starter at Kellam High School, including leading the Knights to the state championship match in 2017 and state semis in 2019. For her club team, she has earned three VYSA State Cup championships (2016-17, 2018-19 and 2019-20) and a finals appearance in 2017-18. The team was also Eastern Region finalists twice, in 2016-17 and 2018-19. Outside of soccer, Crowe has also swam and ran track at Kellam, including being part of the school-record sprint medley relay team.
Why Crowe chose FAU:
"I chose FAU because it is clear to me that Coach Baker has built an amazing program, and it shows in his players and their love of the game. He is totally invested in his team, not just as players, but as people. I had a chance to be with the team on gameday and it was just an amazing experience that I can't wait to be a part of. I'm excited to join the team and contribute all I can to the FAU family. Go Owls!"
Coach Baker on Crowe:
"We are very excited to have Maddy join our women's soccer program. She is a talented student-athlete and will be a valuable addition to our back line. Maddy is a tall, athletic defender that plays both side of the ball extremely well. She is an excellent 1v1 defender, good tackler and strong in the air. Offensively she has a great comfort level on the ball and play makes out of the back very well. Maddy loves to compete and we like her mentality when she plays, she will be a wonderful addition to our defensive group. We lose five defenders to graduation and Maddy helps us begin to fill those needs in 2020."
Karl Greaves, Beach FC club director, on Crowe:
"Maddy is a dynamic personality who loves a good laugh and can laugh at herself. She is a wonderful team personality and a great teammate. Maddy is a fast, athletic defender who looks to make smart passes and also likes to get on the ball incoming out of the back to get involved in the attack. On the defensive end she is very good in one-on-one situations and is a fearless ball winner."
Katie Houston
Houston has been a member of the Lone Peak High School squad for four years, including leading them to the USHAA 2018 6A State Championship. She was voted team captain in 2019 as well. She was a member of the Utah ODP Team in 2016, 2017 and 2018, and was named to the Region IV ODP All-Tournament Team in 2016. And for her Celtic FC 01 club team, she has earned three State Cup Championships (2016, 2017 and 2018), three Far West Region Championships (2017, 2018 and 2019) and attended the USYSA National Championships three times (2017, 2018 and 2019).
Why Houston chose FAU:
"I am super excited to have the opportunity to attend and play soccer for Florida Atlantic University. FAU has a very successful and experienced coaching staff, a program with a winning tradition, and a style of play that I felt would be a great fit for me. I look forward to being able to work hard and I hope to help the program win many future conference and tournament championships. I fell in love with Florida on my visit and of course I can't wait to 'Win in Paradise.'"
Coach Baker on Houston:
"Katie is one of the most talented soccer players we have seen in the past two years and we look forward to seeing her abilities in our 2020 midfield. Three straight years she has played for the USYS National Championships and has also proven her worth through the Utah and West Region ODP programs. She has good size, athleticism and a tremendous fitness base, as she covers a lot of ground. Katie is very good on the ball, possesses a strong soccer IQ and has fantastic vision. She connects the game well and makes others around her better. We lose two tremendous central midfielders and Katie has the abilities to impact our engine room immediately."
Scott Anderson, Celtic FC 01 club coach, on Houston:
"Katie Houston, from a very young age, has stood out with her performance on and off the field. Her work rate, technical proficiency, tactical understanding of the game, balanced composure and relentless pursuit of perfection has allowed her to perform and execute at the highest level. She leads by example and continually finds ways to unite her team. Her passion to compete and win has led to tremendous success at a national level. I have been very blessed to be her coach and am very excited for her future with Florida Atlantic University."
FAU, the two-time defending Conference USA regular season champions, can return as many as 20 players from this most recent title-winning squad, as a storied group of 10 seniors has departed. The returnees will return for the spring schedule, and this trio will join them for the summer and into 2020 campaign that will begin in August.
"The FAU women's soccer team has signed three terrific student-athletes and we are excited for each of them to join our program in 2020," said head coach Patrick Baker. "Gabi Cimino, Maddy Crowe and Katie Houston have all signed to further their academic and soccer careers in Boca Raton. Quality recruiting has been the key to our success in elevating our program and we feel the start of this class improves us in some key positions. We graduate 10 talented seniors that have accomplished so much individually and collectively, and Gabi, Katie and Maddy have real soccer qualities to help fulfill some of our needs with this graduating class. The pieces added are in each line of our system; Maddy as a talented defender, Katie as a big-time midfielder and Gabi as a gamechanging forward. These young ladies are dedicated students, have strong academic backgrounds and will excel in the classroom at FAU. The recruiting class also has achieved great individual and team success in the game of soccer, at the high school, club and ODP levels. Recruiting good people has been a pillar of ours since 2013 and this year is no different; our foundation is strong and they are another great piece to our overall picture. We are excited for next fall and feel with our returners, and once this year's recruiting class is completed, we will have the potential for another tremendous season in 2020."
Here is the bio info on the three newcomers, followed by a breakdown of each:
- Gabi Cimino – 5-6 Forward – Miami Springs, Fla. – Miami Springs Senior High School – Coral Gables Storm
- Madeline Crowe – 5-8 Defender – Virginia Beach, Va. – Floyd E. Kellam High School – Beach FC
- Katie Houston – 5-9 Midfielder – Cedar Hills, Utah – Lone Peak High School – Celtic FC 01
Cimino has had a sensational career thus far at Miami Springs Senior, with 100 goals to this point, including a school-record 52 as a freshman. She was First Team All-County as a freshman and sophomore, and Player of the Year in the latter year. Additionally, she has played for the Puerto Rico U17 team, scoring her first international goal against Cuba in the Caribbean Cup, and her penalty kick against Jamaica helped lead the team to a third-place finish and qualification into the 2018 CONCACAF Championship in Nicaragua. She also took part in two friendlies for the Puerto Rican Senior Team, starting in both.
Why Cimino chose FAU:
"I chose FAU to fulfill my dream of playing Division I soccer at an elite level and to enjoy my college experience playing the sport I love. Coach Baker along with the other staff were very welcoming and made me feel like I was home. I am extremely excited to begin my journey in Paradise! Go Owls!"
Coach Baker on Cimino:
"We are fortunate to have Gabi follow her father's footsteps to play soccer at FAU next fall. Gabi is one of the top attacking prospects in the state of Florida and is an extremely talented forward. She is good back to goal, on the line and very capable of getting into back space. Gabi can change the complexion of a game with one run and we needed that dimension in this recruiting class. She is also a consistent goal scorer and we feel she will fit right into our current system. Her ability to create chances and score goals will be a big asset to our 2020 squad. Losing three talented forwards to graduation, Gabi is going to be a great addition to our attack."
Giovanni de la Rosa, Coral Gables Storm club coach, on Cimino:
"I am so excited about Gabi Cimino's commitment to Florida Atlantic University. I would like to wish her all the best in the next four years. She is such a wonderful person with a great work rate."
Madeline Crowe
Crowe has been a four-year starter at Kellam High School, including leading the Knights to the state championship match in 2017 and state semis in 2019. For her club team, she has earned three VYSA State Cup championships (2016-17, 2018-19 and 2019-20) and a finals appearance in 2017-18. The team was also Eastern Region finalists twice, in 2016-17 and 2018-19. Outside of soccer, Crowe has also swam and ran track at Kellam, including being part of the school-record sprint medley relay team.
Why Crowe chose FAU:
"I chose FAU because it is clear to me that Coach Baker has built an amazing program, and it shows in his players and their love of the game. He is totally invested in his team, not just as players, but as people. I had a chance to be with the team on gameday and it was just an amazing experience that I can't wait to be a part of. I'm excited to join the team and contribute all I can to the FAU family. Go Owls!"
Coach Baker on Crowe:
"We are very excited to have Maddy join our women's soccer program. She is a talented student-athlete and will be a valuable addition to our back line. Maddy is a tall, athletic defender that plays both side of the ball extremely well. She is an excellent 1v1 defender, good tackler and strong in the air. Offensively she has a great comfort level on the ball and play makes out of the back very well. Maddy loves to compete and we like her mentality when she plays, she will be a wonderful addition to our defensive group. We lose five defenders to graduation and Maddy helps us begin to fill those needs in 2020."
Karl Greaves, Beach FC club director, on Crowe:
"Maddy is a dynamic personality who loves a good laugh and can laugh at herself. She is a wonderful team personality and a great teammate. Maddy is a fast, athletic defender who looks to make smart passes and also likes to get on the ball incoming out of the back to get involved in the attack. On the defensive end she is very good in one-on-one situations and is a fearless ball winner."
Katie Houston
Houston has been a member of the Lone Peak High School squad for four years, including leading them to the USHAA 2018 6A State Championship. She was voted team captain in 2019 as well. She was a member of the Utah ODP Team in 2016, 2017 and 2018, and was named to the Region IV ODP All-Tournament Team in 2016. And for her Celtic FC 01 club team, she has earned three State Cup Championships (2016, 2017 and 2018), three Far West Region Championships (2017, 2018 and 2019) and attended the USYSA National Championships three times (2017, 2018 and 2019).
Why Houston chose FAU:
"I am super excited to have the opportunity to attend and play soccer for Florida Atlantic University. FAU has a very successful and experienced coaching staff, a program with a winning tradition, and a style of play that I felt would be a great fit for me. I look forward to being able to work hard and I hope to help the program win many future conference and tournament championships. I fell in love with Florida on my visit and of course I can't wait to 'Win in Paradise.'"
Coach Baker on Houston:
"Katie is one of the most talented soccer players we have seen in the past two years and we look forward to seeing her abilities in our 2020 midfield. Three straight years she has played for the USYS National Championships and has also proven her worth through the Utah and West Region ODP programs. She has good size, athleticism and a tremendous fitness base, as she covers a lot of ground. Katie is very good on the ball, possesses a strong soccer IQ and has fantastic vision. She connects the game well and makes others around her better. We lose two tremendous central midfielders and Katie has the abilities to impact our engine room immediately."
Scott Anderson, Celtic FC 01 club coach, on Houston:
"Katie Houston, from a very young age, has stood out with her performance on and off the field. Her work rate, technical proficiency, tactical understanding of the game, balanced composure and relentless pursuit of perfection has allowed her to perform and execute at the highest level. She leads by example and continually finds ways to unite her team. Her passion to compete and win has led to tremendous success at a national level. I have been very blessed to be her coach and am very excited for her future with Florida Atlantic University."
FAU, the two-time defending Conference USA regular season champions, can return as many as 20 players from this most recent title-winning squad, as a storied group of 10 seniors has departed. The returnees will return for the spring schedule, and this trio will join them for the summer and into 2020 campaign that will begin in August.
Inside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 #4
Thursday, September 04
Women's Soccer: Florida Atlantic vs Lipscomb
Sunday, August 31
Inside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 #3
Friday, August 29
Hometown Team Series - Sloane Young
Monday, August 25