ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies continued a busy offseason, revamping their roster with six high-profile transfer student-athletes, adding immense talent to a roster that could shape up as a contender in the Horizon League very soon.

Ready for the new group of girls to get to work, Head Coach Devin Zvosec said, "I'm excited to welcome this fantastic class of transfer student-athletes to Oakland! I'd like to thank my assistant, Jessica Newton, for all her help in bringing these amazing student-athletes from all across the United States. They each bring a wide range of experience, from Power Five to Group of Five schools. This class adds depth to every position and includes many versatile players who can step into multiple roles to make a significant impact on the field. We are so excited to see them hit the ground running this spring season!

See the new additions to the squad below:

Carrina Wiseman-Esparza | GK | R-So. | Bowling Green, Oh. | Via Ball State

Wiseman-Esparza brings record-holding talent to the Golden Grizzlies in goal. At Bowling Green High School, she is the all-time career leader in goalkeeper wins, playoff wins, shutouts, and saves. She was also a three-time NLL selection and three-time all-time all-district selection as well over her historic career.

"Carrina is another fantastic addition to our goalkeeper union. We set out to bring in goalkeepers who are vocal, competitive, and supportive of one another, and Carrina embodies all of those qualities," said Zvosec. "She communicates effectively with her teammates, confidently owns her 18-yard box, and celebrates her fellow goalkeepers' successes. Highly competitive, she is driven to be her best while also lifting up those around her. She has a deep passion for the game and a strong technical foundation. We are excited for her to contribute to our GK Union and can't wait to see her in net this spring."

Norah Schmidt | GK | R-Fr. | Whitefish, Mt. | Via Gonzaga

Schmidt spent last season in the WCC with the Bulldogs, helping the team place third in the conference.

Prior to Gonzaga, Schmidt was a four year varsity starter in high school, earning a pair of All-State and All-Conference honors, as well as a Montana state championship title victory in 2023. She also was named 2024 Montana Defensive Player of the Year.

When asked about the new keeper, Zvosec said "Norah is an incredibly athletic goalkeeper with an impressive ability to make difficult saves look effortless. Comfortable in high-pressure situations, she thrives when it comes to making the big-time saves when they're needed most. On the technical side, Norah is very strong with the ball at her feet and can help break pressure when building out of the back. She brings a competitive mentality and has a lot of potential. We're excited to see her step into goal this spring and make an impact."

Bailey Giddings | MID | Jr. | Broomfield, Colo. | Via University of Louisiana Lafayette

Giddings joins Oakland after an impressive run with the Ragin' Cajuns, accumulating 28 matches played and accumulating over 930 minutes played.  She shined in her freshman season in 2023 as she played in 18 matches, earning a goal and an assist during the season.

In high school at Broomfield High she was a two-time All-State and three-time All-Front Range League and All-Region selections. She helped her squad to the 2021 Class 5A state title by scoring a pair of goals and earning MVP honors. Her success ranges to the national level, where as a sophomore in high school she was named to the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships Best XI roster.

"I'm really excited about the addition of Bailey to the team. I had the chance to coach against her in the Sun Belt Conference. She's a versatile attacking player who can excel in multiple positions on the field," said Zvosec. "Bailey thrives in 1v1 situations, is confident in taking players on, and has a real nose for the goal. On and off the field, she has a big personality, and she truly enjoys being with her teammates. With her mindset and technical ability, she's more than ready to hit the ground running this spring and will transition smoothly into what we're building here."

Olivia Norton | MID | Jr. | Atlanta, Ga. | Via Middle Tennessee State

Norton arrives at Oakland after a pair of seasons with the Blue Raiders, appearing in 10 matches and dishing out an assist over her career, while helping Middle Tennessee reach the CSUA Championship Semifinals in 2024.

She was prolific at the club level in high school, playing for Southern Soccer Academy and compiling club honors including Piedmont Conference Best XI in 2020, being named to the OPD Regional Pool in 2021 and 2022, as well as an ODP Regional Team nod in 2022.

"Olivia is an exciting attacking player. She's a very technical player who thrives on either the flank or in the half-space," said Zvosec. "She is extremely quick, and she loves taking on defenders in 1v1 situations. Defensively, she's relentless in pressing her opponents and winning the ball high up the field. We're excited to see her technical ability shine within our system and make an impact on both sides of the ball.

Bella Haynes | DEF | R-Fr. | Canton, Mich. | Via University of Pittsburgh

Haynes returns home after a redshirt season at Pitt. She will bolster Oakland's defensive line. At the club level she was elite, being named as ECNL Phoenix Best Performance in 2023. She was also listed on Soccer Wire Player that impressed,  and was included in the  ECNL Girls Florida National Event in 2023.

When asked about Haynes, Zvosec said, "Bella is a local talent who developed as a youth player with the world-renowned Michigan Hawks. She brings valuable Power Four experience and an ultra-competitive mindset from her time at the University of Pittsburgh in the ACC. She is a tough, no-nonsense defender. Bella doesn't shy away from a tackle. She's fearless and excels in 1v1 moments. Offensively, she loves to get forward when her team has the ball, making an impact on both ends of the field. Her tough mindset will play a key role in helping us continue to build a strong, and competitive team culture."

Brae Cole | DEF/MID | R-Jr. | Louisville, Colo. | Via Washington State/University of New Mexico

Cole comes to the Golden Grizzlies with power four experience, spending two seasons at Washington State before playing the 2024 season with the Lobos. Last season she appeared in 16 games, registering 330 minutes, helping her team give up more than two goals only twice all season.

"I'm extremely excited about the addition of Brae to the team. She brings a wealth of high-level experience both on and off the field from her time at New Mexico," said Zvosec. "She leads by example, and her ability on the ball sets her apart from her competition. Brae has an uncanny ability to control the rhythm of the game and drive the midfield. She possesses elite ball-striking ability and can break lines both on the ground and in the air. She is a highly intelligent player on both sides of the ball. We are thrilled to see how her mindset and talent will elevate both our play on the field and our team culture."