(St. George - Nov. 13, 2025) – Utah Tech women's soccer head coach Lexi Brown announced her 2026 recruiting class on Thursday. The Trailblazers are set to welcome seven student-athletes from three states next season.

"We are thrilled to announce our Class of 2026," Brown said. "This is a class with so much talent and experience at high levels of club and high school soccer – We know that they'll be players who can make an immediate impact on our program. They are versatile players with a variety of strengths that we will need as we enter a new chapter in the Big Sky Conference. Overall, they'll bring high levels of athleticism, technical ability and Soccer IQ to continue to build on our style of play. We also know that they'll be exactly what we need to continue the culture we have been building in our time here at Utah Tech. We can't wait for them to represent Trailblazer Athletics."

Brie Hilliker - Midfielder - Brighton, Colorado
Brie Hilliker joins the Trailblazers after a successful career at Riverdale Ridge High School in Thornton, Colorado. Hilliker was a team captain and named academic all-state her senior year. In 2024, Hilliker was named Midfielder of the Year, helping the Ravens to the Colorado Class 4A State Tournament. In the classroom, Hilliker has earned several honors, including three academic letters and high academic honors, the Benjamin Franklin Persistence Award, and awards in sports medicine, English and world language. 

Taylee Hughes - Forward/Midfielder - Syracuse, Utah
A product of Syracuse High School, Taylee Hughes comes to St. George after winning the 2025 Utah Class 6A State Championship and Region 1 title. Hughes totaled 46 goals and 20 assists in her prep career, earning Deseret News Second Team honors in 2024 and Standard Examiner First Team All-Area and Freshman of the Year honors in 2022. Hughes was named team MVP in 2023 and team Offensive Player of the Year in 2024. Off the pitch, Hughes has made the cumulative high honor roll. 

CC Malohifo'ou - Forward - Saratoga Springs, Utah
A four-year varsity squad member at Westlake and Skyridge High Schools, CC Malohifo'ou has signed on the dotted line. Malohifo'ou represents Tonga on its international team, playing in the 2025 U19 Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) World Cup Qualifiers. She logged a hat trick to help the Kingdom secure a spot in the championships. In 2024, Malohifo'ou led Tonga's U16 squad to its first-ever medal, taking bronze in the OFC World Cup Qualifiers. She was recognized as player of the match twice in the tournament. Malohifo'ou was also selected to the Olympic Development Program in 2021, making the final 18-spot roster and regional invitationals. In the classroom, Malohifo'ou has been an honor roll student throughout high school. 

Elle Rafajko - Goalkeeper - Sandy, Utah
The reigning back-to-back Scenic West Athletic Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, Elle Rafajko, joins Utah Tech after two strong seasons at Salt Lake Community College. A 2024 NJCAA Second Team All-American, Rafajko posted 8 shutouts with a 0.44 goals against average and a .901 save percentage. She was named to the 2024 NJCAA All-Tournament Team, helping SLCC to the semifinals. In 2025, Rafajko has logged seven shutouts with a 0.37 goals against average on a .887 save percentage. A product of Brighton and Mountain Ridge High Schools, Rafajko also played lacrosse in high school. 

Gianna Tomasello - Midfielder - Henderson, Nevada
Gianna Tomasello heads to Utah Tech from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tomasello was a varsity squad member for the Gaels for four seasons. She totaled 16 goals and 12 assists during her prep career. Tomasello also played club soccer for Albion SC in Las Vegas. 

Kate Wood - Forward - Cottonwood Heights, Utah
Kate Wood comes to St. George after earning four letters at Brighton High School in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. She helped the Bengals to a 2024 Region Six Championship and a Utah Class 5A State Championship appearance. Wood was a 2025 academic all-state honoree, tallying seven goals and eight assists during her senior season.

Channing Wuest - Defender/Midfielder - Draper, Utah
A three-time letter winner at Corner Canyon High School in Draper, Utah, Channing Wuest joins the Trailblazers after totaling 27 goals and 11 assists for the Chargers. A two-time Midfielder MVP, Wuest also earned the Playmaker Award and Most Impactful Award during her time at CCHS. Off the pitch, Wuest was a member of the National Honor Society and HOSA - Future Health Professionals, and plans to pursue nursing at Utah Tech.