ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University women's soccer coach Katie Shields has announced the addition of four transfer student-athletes who will begin competing for the Billikens in 2026.
 
The additions are goalkeeper Pepper Escher, midfielder/forward Jeanette Fieldsend, defender/forward Caroline Fowlkes and defender/midfielder Gillian Poiesz.
 
Escher has three years of eligibility remaining, while Fieldsend, Fowlkes and Poiesz each have two.
 
"We are excited to add this talented group of women to our program this spring," Shields said. "During this transfer recruiting window, our program goals were to add experience, talent and elite competitors to our program. We believe this group of four does that tremendously well. Each of these women brings unique experience and background to help our program prepare to compete for and win championships next fall while elevating the culture of the program to a higher standard."
 
Escher (Brewster, Mass./Worcester Academy) played in one game as a freshman at Massachusetts during the 2025 season and spent time in the U.S. under-20 training camp in October. She was a 2024 United Soccer Coaches high school All-American and a four-year starter at Worcester Academy. Escher played club soccer with FC Stars Blue National, which captured the 2023 and 2024 New England Conference titles.
 
Fieldsend (Indian Trail, N.C./K12 Private Academy) arrives after spending three years at James Madison, where she was a member of Dukes teams that played in two NCAA Tournaments and won the 2024 Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament crowns. She missed the 2024 season due to injury but returned this year to earn All-Conference second-team honors, recording three goals and five assists. Fieldsend tallied three goals and two assists and made the Sun Belt All-Tournament team as a freshman. She was Top Drawer Soccer's No. 76 recruit in the class of 2023 and a three-time ECNL first-team All-Conference selection. Additionally, Fieldsend is a member of the U.S. Women's Futsal National Team and a finalist for U.S. Futsal Women's Player of the Year accolades.
 
Fowlkes (The Woodlands, Texas/Tomball H.S.) missed most of her freshman campaign at College of Charleston due to injury but saw action in 37 games the past two years, including 14 starts in 2025. She posted five goals and an assist in 2024 and contributed four assists this season. Fowlkes netted 24 goals – including a district-high 17 as a senior when she was named District 6A Most Valuable Player – and added 14 assists during her prep career. She played club soccer for the Houston Dash.
 
Poiesz (New Providence, N.J./New Providence H.S.) appeared in five games over a two-year stint at Memphis, where she played on teams that won two American Athletic Conference regular-season titles and reached the 2025 NCAA Tournament. She totaled 28 goals and 16 assists during her high school career. Poiesz was a member of Match Fit Academy ECNL and was named to the 2021 ECNL All-Conference first team.