8 Star Freshmen in College Women’s Soccer You Need to Know

College soccer is afoot, and there’s already much to discuss! There are some players we’ve been looking forward to as they continue their education and soccer careers, but today, we’re going to talk about some brand-new names you’ve probably never heard of. These are some of the freshmen in women’s college soccer to watch this upcoming season.

Taylor Suarez, Florida State

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Taylor Suarez (@taylorsuarez_)

Advertisement
The Seminoles got a good one when they brought Taylor Suarez on for her freshman year. This forward already has points on the board after her first game and the season opener for Florida State, which is quite the send-off since she will be heading to Columbia to compete for the US in the U-20 FIFA World Cup. She is one of those classically well-rounded forwards who can set up a goal as effectively as she can score one.

Izzy Engle, Notre Dame

Notre Dame has an incredible crop of freshmen this season, so Izzy Engle is a special player. Engle has scored five goals in three games, three of which were part of a hat trick against Stanford. A midfielder and forward, Engle is really strutting her stuff as the new kid in town. She seems to be doing everything right, creating problems for the other team and opportunities for her own.
ย 

Charlotte Kohler, Stanford

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by charlotte (@charlottekohler.5)

Advertisement
Stanford had a big incoming freshman class, but Charlotte Kohler has stood out. This all-around offensive player won just about every California championship you could during high schoolโ€”often multiple times. Kohler is a Pan American Games bronze medalist and a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year. And now that she’s at Stanford, she is picking up where she left off. She won the Cardinals’ opening game by netting their only point. Her versatility has served her well up to this point, and she’s just getting started.
ย 

Aubrey Kulpa, Penn State

Penn State is a stacked team, but Aubrey Kulpa has started to pull ahead of the rest of her class. She scored her first goal as a Nittany Lion in their opener against Texas Tech fresh off the bench. So far, she has converted half of her shots on goal and has seen a total of 90 minutes. Kulpa didn’t play high school soccer because she was committed to her club team but she came to Penn State specifically for their soccer program, it’s good to see that this choice is paying off so far.
ย 

Katie Shea Collins, South Carolina

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by katie shea (@katie.collins4)

The Gamecock’s season opener could not have gone better for Katie Shea Collins. In a 5-1 victory over Furman Collins, she was responsible for over half of those points with a hat trick in her first collegiate game. It’s even more impressive when you look at the timestamps on those goals. Her first came in the first 34 seconds of the game, and the following two were within minutes or less of other pivotal game moments. So far, she has scored every shot she’s taken for South Carolina.
ย 

Presley Freeman, BYU

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by PRESLEY FREEMAN (@presleyyfreeman)

Advertisement
Presley Freeman is coming to the Cougars as a Gatorade Player of the Year and a 2022 Most Valuable Defensive Player titleโ€”and she is living up to those accolades. She helped BYU maintain a shutout in their opening game and has integrated so well into their backline. Freeman seems to have never-ending energy and will run the ball from line to line. She’s one of those defensive players who is also a bit of trouble when she crosses the midline, which is helpful on those fast breaks and moments of opportunity.
ย 

Anna Castenfelt, Clemsonย 

Clemson has a much smaller freshman class than others on this team, making standing out that much more cutthroat. However, the standout so far seems to be midfielder Anna Castenfelt. Clemson has had some stiff competition in the first three of their season, but Castenfelt is rolling with the punches. Though she has yet to score a goal, she is all over it with shots on and assists.
Featured image via @clemsonwsoccer on Instagram

_

GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS