2025 Women's Soccer Season Preview
2024 record: 3-8-6 (1-7-3 Heart)
Starters returning/lost: 4/7
Letterwinners returning/lost: 14/13
Notable returners:
Lilly Cote, Sr., Sioux City, Iowa
(All-Heart, 3 goals)
Sian Bah, Sr., London, England
(Letterwinner, 2 goals)
Joy Pagel, Sr., Maring-Noviand, Germany
(Letterwinner, 1 goal)
India Foger, Sr., Las Vegas, Nev.
(Letterwinner, 1 goal and 1 assist)
Notable losses:
Madeline Danielson
(Letterwinner)
Luca Szucs
(Letterwinner)
Emma Brandt
(Letterwinner)
Lacie Kirkle
(Letterwinner)
Notable newcomers:
Poppy Alderson, Fr., Durham, England
Anna Museler, Jr., Dresden, Germany
Heidi Gill, Fr., Buncrana, Ireland
Cristina Velazquez Miranda, Fr., Antequera, Spain
The William Penn women's soccer team is seeking to continue its growth from last year as it looks to make the Heart Tournament in 2025.
The Statesmen, who were 3-8-6 last season (1-7-3 Heart), are led by second-year head coach Kaleb Preston. His squad features a mix of returning and new players, led by 2024 all-Heart honoree Lilly Cote (Sr., Sioux City, Iowa, Psychology).
Forward
Four individuals with deep knowledge of the program will head the navy and gold up top. Cote,who started 11 games in 2023, tops the group with four goals.
Sian Bah (Sr., London, England, Political Science), with nine starts (two goals, one assist), and Elycia Cooley (Sr., Galveston, Texas, Biology), with 10 games played (one goal), are also back on the pitch.
Alessia Piombo (Jr., Traverse City, Mich., Business Management) comes back with experience from the 2024 season with 16 starts and one goal.
Newcomers Kereece Hutchinson (Fr., Manchester, Jamaica, Sports Management) and Rakiya Morgan-King (Jr., Gloucestershire, England, Kinesiology) are set to also provide depth for the Statesmen.
Midfielder
WPU looks to bring back experienced players in the middle of the field with Joy Pagel (Sr., Maring-Noviand, Germany, Psychology) (one goal in six starts) and Grace Strong (So., Council Bluffs, Iowa, Biology) (played in 15 contests); both players are returning from injuries.
Incoming junior Anna Museler (Dresden, Germany, Undecided) and the freshman duo of Poppy Alderson (Durham, England, Exercise Science and Kinesiology) and Heidi Gill (Buncrana, Ireland, Undecided) look to make an impact in their first Statesmen campaigns.
Defender
William Penn's backline is flush with returners, beginning with India Foger (Sr., Las Vegas, Nev., Exercise Science), who managed one goal and one assist in 14 starts a season ago.
A starter in 10 games last fall, Madison Soratos (Murrieta, Calif., Psychology) recorded one goal and one assist, while Olivia Walker (Jr., Caro, Mich., Biology) started in nine contests in 2024.
Newcomers Nemesis Leon (Fr., Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Business Management), Cristina Velazquez Miranda (Fr., Antequera, Spain, Exercise Science), and Eline Wijdicks (Fr., Bennerbroek, Netherlands, New Media) will also look to strengthen the defensive half.
Goalkeeper
Returning sophomore Emma Billings (Salt Lake City, Utah, Psychology) will push for the starting goalkeeping nod after gaining some experience on the field in the 2024-2025 season.
Alison Van Schaik (Sr., Waterloo, Ontario, Biology) and Adelyn Robinson (Fr., Donnellson, Iowa, General Accounting) are also competing for the top spot after turning in strong preseason performances.
Schedule/Conference
William Penn's 2025 season begins Saturday with a home matchup against Harris-Stowe State at Drost Field. It is one of nine home contests this fall. The Statesmen open their Heart schedule on September 6 on the road at Culver-Stockton.
