JMU women’s soccer program welcomes 8 incoming freshmen for 2026

HARRISONBURG, VA – James Madison women’s soccer has revealed the addition of eight incoming freshman to its 2026 roster, Head Coach Joshua Walters, Sr. announced.

“Our staff worked incredibly hard over the past 2 years to put this class together,” said head Coach Joshua Walters, Sr. “We have sought the best players in Virginia, our region, and globally. So much credit goes to David and Rob for identifying quality players and especially great fits for our culture and style of play. I am excited about the impact and resumes of the entire class. It addresses every position on the field and brings in a lot of technical quality.”

“Our goal is to create competition and depth at every position! With the changes in college athletics over the past 18 months, this has not been an easy task,” Walters continued. “The way to put this puzzle together, of adding the right pieces inside the new rules, caps & how scholarships are put together, changed, and we had to adapt. We want to be one of the best teams in the Sun Belt and, in turn, one of the best teams in the nation. That takes a clear coaching philosophy, vertical alignment in all the staff and players who believe in what makes us uncommon. We are all excited about how this class fits and grows us.”

The eight newcomers will begin their JMU careers on Aug. 12 when the Dukes host NC State at Sentara Park to open the 2026 season.

See below for a look at each member of JMU’s signing class:

Bianca Raskin

Hometown: Sunrise, Fla.
Height: 5-3
Position: Defense
High School: St. Thomas Aquinas

Coach Oakes’s thoughts: “Bianca is an exceptional midfielder who fits perfectly into the JMU DNA. She combines a balance of composure and competitiveness that has allowed her to compete at the highest levels of youth soccer. We are very excited to have the Florida State Player of the Year join our program.”

Gloria Luo

Hometown: Palatine, Ill.
Height: 4-11
Position: Midfielder
High School: Palatine

Coach Oakes’s thoughts: “Gloria is a very versatile player who has played in almost every position on the field. Her technical quality and high work rate stand out in any environment she is in. She has an infectious positivity and competitive nature that we are very excited to add to the team.”

Malorie Tremblay

Hometown: St-Bruno, Quebec, Canada
Height: 5-2
Position: Midfielder
High School: Ecole secondaire De Mortagne

Coach Oakes’s thoughts: “Malorie is a high-level defensive midfielder who excels at helping her team control the game, both with and without the ball. She is comfortable progressing the ball by driving forward in midfield and playing line-splitting passes. Her tenacity in defending keeps her team pushing forward, allowing her teammates to shine in the attacking third.”

Amina Bibossynova

Hometown: Almaty, Kazakhstan
Height: 5-5
Position: Forward
High School: Almaty High School for Girls

Coach Oakes’s thoughts: “Amina is a very technical attacking midfielder from Kazakhstan who is coming in as a graduate student with lots of elite-level experience. She is equally proficient with her right foot as she is with her left and uses that rare ability to create and score chances for every team she has been with. She has consistently been called up to represent her country’s first team and is looking to bring that experience here to JMU.”

Natalie Muniz

Hometown: Cary, N.C.
Height: 5-7
Position: Goalkeeper
High School: Cary

Coach Oakes’s thoughts: “Natalie is a high-level shot stopper who has excelled in an environment where she has a lot of responsibility in her team’s build-up play. She is a very ambitious player who has grown up in an elite environment with the NC Courage academy and first-team. We are excited to have such an accomplished goalkeeper and playmaker join us at JMU.”

Mackenzie Gathers

Hometown: Mechanicsville, Virginia
Height: 5-6
Position: Defender
High School: Atlee

Coach Oakes’s thoughts: “Mackenzie is a relaxed and confident person off the field, and that personality shows on the field. She is rarely phased by pressure and can play passes at every level with great technique. Her ability to communicate and cover ground defensively will be an asset in her career here at JMU.”

Holly Minshull

Hometown: Stockport, Manchester, England
Height: 5-7
Position: Defender
High School: Hazel Grove

Coach Oakes’s thoughts: “Holly is an England youth international with a lot of experience playing with and against some of the best young players in Europe. She has a very good range of passes, which helps her progress the ball at a high level. Her ability to cover ground defensively and consistently win duels will make her a great addition to our backline. We are very excited to add someone who has been a mainstay for Manchester United’s youth teams over the past few years.”

Karly Majeski

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Height: 5-6
Position: Midfielder
High School: Seneca Valley

Coach Oakes’s thoughts: “Karly is a high-energy player who makes an impact in every game in many different positions. She consistently shows her leadership qualities in every phase of the game for one of the best GA teams in the country. Her quick decision making and bravery on the ball will allow her to make an impact in our program.”