COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs women's soccer head coach J. B. Belzer announces the signing of three student-athletes as Chloe DeShazer, Gabrielle Laipenieks, and Bea Meier join the Mountain Lions.

From Raytown, Mo., Chloe DeShazer transfers to UCCS from Metropolitan Community College- Blue River as a goalkeeper. During her freshman year at MCC, DeShazer helped the Wolves to their second regional championship in program history as she earned all-region second team and team MVP with a 1.83 goals against average (GAA), .716 save percentage, and 75 saves in 15 games. In 2019, DeShazer was voted team captain as she helped lead the Wolves to their second consecutive championship game appearance. As a sophomore, DeShazer earned all-region first team honors and was voted team MVP for the second straight year as she posted a 1.03 GAA, .825 save percentage and 97 saves in 14 games. Before playing at MCC, DeShazer was a 2017 graduate of Raytown South High School where she held the most saves by a goalkeeper in school history as a freshman and sophomore, while also breaking the GAA school record for a freshman and sophomore. The four-year varsity letter winner earned honorable mention her freshman year and was voted team MVP as a freshman and a sophomore. DeShazer also helped Raytown South to their first ever conference championship as a freshman. Academically, DeShazer graduated with her Associates in Arts at MCC as she made the Deans List twice, while also making Honor Roll three times in high school.

"Adding a goalkeeper with college experience who also earned post-season honors from votes by other coaches was a necessary step to protect the competitive balance within our team defending philosophy," stated Belzer. "Chloe will use that experience to challenge for the number one job, and all three goalkeepers must give high quality and honest effort each and every day to earn their role within this competitive, great team." 

A 2020 graduate from West Anchorage High School, Gabrielle Laipenieks is a four-year varsity letter winner from Anchorage, Alaska. As a goalkeeper, Laipenieks is a two-time Cook Inlet Conference (CIC) All-Conference Second team selection (2017, 2019) and also a CIC All-Conference First Team selection (2018). Voted Most Valuable Player (2018) and team captain, Laipenieks has helped lead the West Anchorage Eagles to a second place finish in the CIC (2018) as they've been Alaska State Soccer Championships participants from 2016-19, including a third place finish at state in 2019. In the classroom, Laipenieks made Honor Roll from 2016-20 and received an academic letter in 2018 as she was a member of the West Anchorage High School Highly Gifted Program from 2016-18. Outside of soccer, Laipenieks was a member of the National Honor Society, the secretary for the Gender-Sexuality Alliance Secretary, member of the Freshman Mentor Program, and a You Are Not Alone Club board member.

"Gabby brings athleticism, leadership, and a great mentality to improve through training to our goalkeeper corps," Belzer said. "Her Alaskan High School, Club, and ODP success and experience will give her confidence to compete as a freshman."

A Colorado Springs, Colo. native and 2020 graduate of Rampart High School, Bea Meier comes to UCCS as a forward who helped the Rampart Rams to a great amount of success. In 2017, Meier and the Rams made their first playoff appearance in six years as they again made an appearance in the first round of the playoffs in 2018 after becoming Colorado Springs Metro League (CSML) Champions. A year later in 2019 the success persisted as Meier helped the Rams to back-to-back CSML Championships and advanced to the third round of playoffs. As a four-year varsity letter winner in women's soccer, Meier posted 17 goals and 13 assists to total 47 points while she registered 63 shots in her varsity career. Off the soccer field, Meier is a three-time Honor Roll selection (2017, 2018, 2019) who was involved in Sources of Strength (2017, 2018) and Elevated Program (2016-20).

"Bea's subtle change of pace with the ball will challenge the best RMAC defenders," Belzer said. "Her creativity in the attacking third is something all coaches seek. As her personality grows within this talented team, Bea's influence will increase and opponents will find great difficulty in limiting her."

DeShazer, Laipenieks, and Meier finish the 2020 signing class that includes Makayla Merlo, Kelsey Takahashi, and Marissa Garcia. Click HERE to read about the rest of the UCCS women's soccer 2020 signing class.