Thatcher & Cayelli re-sign for second season
January 3, 2023 (Greenville, SC)- The Greenville Liberty has announced the re-signing of Carly Thatcher and Autumn Cayelli pending League and Federation approval. Both are Upstate natives and are set to return for their second seasons with the Liberty following the club’s inaugural campaign in 2022.
Thatcher, a Riverside High School grad, was one of the first signings for the Greenville Liberty in 2022 along with JL Mann star, Caroline Conti. Thatcher contributed significantly to the team in her first season, helping the club win the South Atlantic Division and make a run to the USL W League semifinals. In just nine matches, she tallied five goals and two assists, the second-most goals on the team and tying for the second-most total points.
“We are excited to open our player announcements with the return of Carly. Carly was instrumental in Liberty’s 2022 success,” said Greenville Liberty Head Coach Julie Carlson. “She built confidence and tenacity in her game style. Her 1v1 creativity created goal scoring opportunities that ultimately impacted game results.”
The midfielder recently completed her sophomore season at Auburn University, where she logged 926 minutes in 13 matches, starting the final seven matches. A savvy attacker, Thatcher tallied two goals and two assists last fall, including a three-point match with a goal and an assist against Southern Miss, and a game-winning goal against Mississippi State in the 80th-minute. Thatcher adds to her 17 appearances from her freshman season, earning her a total of 30 matches played, 7 starts and 1362 minutes on the pitch. In 2021, she was named SEC Freshman of the Week in September and also became the second freshman in Auburn history to record a hat-trick.
“Her 2022 Liberty campaign really set a great foundation on her return to Auburn and making it into their line-up throughout the fall season. We are delighted to have her back in her hometown, in front of her home fans and family and the opportunity to help continue her player development,” said Carlson.
A Greer local, Thatcher competed for CESA, was twice voted to the Mid-Atlantic All Conference Team, participated in the 2018 ECNL National Training Camp and named a Generation Adidas Olympique Lyonnais selection during her club career. While playing high school soccer at Riverside, Thatcher was a four-time All-State and 5A Region 2 Player of the Year honoree. She also was named 2020-21 All-Upstate Girls Soccer Player of the Year by the Greenville News and was nominated for SC Gatorade Player of the Year.
Autumn Cayelli’s return marks the club’s second signing of 2023. The striker joined the Liberty at the tail end of 2022 following the ECNL National Playoffs. Cayelli appeared in three matches for 223 minutes but made her mark with one assist in a 2-0 quarterfinal win against the Long Island Rough Riders. In addition to her time with the Liberty, Cayelli also competed at the USL Academy Cup in 2022 and is the second in her family to play for the Greenville club, after her older brother Patrick Cayelli appeared with the Triumph prior to the start of his college career at Penn.
“Bringing Autumn back into the squad this year is pivotal. She will be involved with the Liberty through the core of the season,” said Carlson. “She will set a new stage of preparation for self-training and match preparation with the Liberty, raising game energy and tenacity as well as teach her ways to solve tactical problems in game situations to help advance her player intellect at a high level.”
She also boasts club soccer experience from CESA ECNL, where she was invited to the Continental Tire National Selection Game on January 8th, 2023 and named to the U17 ECNL Mid-Atlantic First team for 2021-2022. In 2022, the Anderson native scored 49 goals and 4 assists to help lead T.L. Hanna High School to the state finals in the 5A Classification. Cayelli earned multiple honors for her performance, clinching Region Player of the Year, her second SC Girls Soccer Player of the Year award and the Gatorade SC Girls Player of the Year. The T.L. Hanna senior signed her letter of intent last November as part of the University of South Carolina’s early signing day among the 19th ranked 2023 recruiting class rated by Top Drawer Soccer. Cayelli will be joining the ninth-ranked USC team this fall after the school concluded their 2022 season with a 15-4-5 record and run to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
Thatcher and Cayelli signify the start of signings for the 2023 Liberty season. The club will host its final open tryouts this Saturday, January 7th from 9:30-11:30 AM and 2:00-4:00 PM at MESA Soccer Complex and anticipates filling more roster slots across the coming weeks. The team will kick off its sophomore season this summer hoping for another chance at the division title and W League trophy. Season ticket deposits are on sale now and can be purchased here.
