Cornell women’s soccer program signs seven incoming freshmen for 2025

ITHACA, N.Y. — Cornell women’s soccer head coach Rob Ferguson announced the addition of seven players to the Class of 2029. All seven players will join the program as freshman and be eligible to play in the upcoming 2025 campaign.

“We are very excited about our incoming class and are excited to see how they adapt both short and long term,” Ferguson said. “From front to back, we are adding quality players and people, who we hope can come in and make a big impact on the field from day one, and who we are certain can impact our program over the next four years and help take us to the top.

“A big step for all these players, as with classes before them, is how quickly they can adapt to the speed of play and physicality, and how quickly they can be ‘all in’ on a culture level. Both are things we talk a lot about in the recruiting cycle, but ultimately need to play out. These are exciting times for Cornell women’s soccer. We bring back a really good squad of players, who have made excellent progress in the off-season, and add in some young, dynamic, technical, and physical talent.”

Those that will join the Big Red this fall include two defenders (Madison Guiry and Madeline Park), one midfielder (Chloe Benik), one forward (Andrea Wilson), one goalkeeper (Samantha Qureshey), and two players who can play multiple positions (Jessica Alessi – forward and defender; Raya Leikin – defender and midfielder).

INCOMING PLAYER BIOS
Sorted alphabetically

Jessica Alessi
Forward / Defender • 5-4 • Syosset, N.Y. • Syosset HS • Long Island SC

• Four-year letterwinner at Syosset HS in both soccer and track and field.
• Two-time All-County honorable mention (2023 and 2024).
• Named team captain for 2024 campaign, where she earned All-State honors and received team award for highest GPA.
• Member of Newsday‘s list of top 100 girls soccer players in 2024.
• Two-time Nassau County indoor track champion (2021-22 and 2022-23), winning in three disciplines (individual 1500- and 3000-meter events and 4×800 relay).
• Earned All-American honors in 4×800 relay at Nike Indoor Nationals in 2023.
• Placed 10th in 3000-meter at 2023 New York State Outdoor Championships.
• Four-time Nassau County champion in track, placing first in 1500- and 3000-meter events (2023 outdoor) before winning 3000-meter event during 2024 indoor and 2024 outdoor seasons.
• Honored by Newsday on three occasions by being named one of top 50 girls track athletes (spring 2024, winter 2025, spring 2025).
• Three-time class president (2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25).
• Named to high honor roll all four years of high school.
• Members of both National and Spanish National Honor Socities.
• Played club soccer for Long Island SC, where she was Girls’ Academy Northeast Regional ID selection and National Talent ID selection in 2024.
• Enrolling in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Chloe Benik
Midfielder • 5-7 • Garden City, N.Y. • Garden City HS • SUSA FC

• Four-year letterwinner in soccer at Garden City HS, where she captained team to Nassau County Power Conference championship and NYSPHSAA Section VIII title in 2024.
• First Team All-New York State selection and Newsday‘s Nassau County Player of the Year in 2024.
• Two-time Newsday All-Long Island First Team and two-time All-Nassau County selection (2023 and 2024).
• Honored with Mike Clarke Award in 2024, awarded to Nassau County’s Most Oustanding Player.
• Tabbed Nassau County’s Power Conference Player of the Year in 2024.
• Named to Newsday‘s Preseason Top 100 list for girls soccer players in 2024.
• Received Second Team All-New York State honors in 2023.
• Member of three honor socities (National, National Art, and National Spanish).
• Played club soccer for SUSA FC, finishing as four-time qualifier for ECNL National Playoffs Champions League.
• Father, John, was four-year member of baseball program at Duke (1995-99) … mother, Tara, played softball at Fordham (1995-99)
• Second member of family to attend Cornell, joining her cousin, Samantha.
• Enrolling in the SC Johnson College of Business.

Madison Guiry
Defender • 5-7 • Hardwick, N.J. • Blair Academy • Match Fit Academy FC

• Four-year letterwinner in soccer at Blair Academy, where she captained team for three years and was a two-time First Team All-League (2022 and 2023) and First Team All-State (2021 and 2022) selection.
• Earned the Hammer Award for grit, a school community-based award.
• Received 2024 Blair Soccer Award, despite missing entire season due to injury.
• Five-year captain for club team, Match Fit Academy.
• Enrolling in the College of Industrial and Labor Relations.

Raya Leikin
Defender / Midfielder • 5-6 • Mill Valley, Calif. • Marin Academy • Mountain View Los Altos SC

• Earned four letters in girls soccer at Marin Academy, leading team in goals scored each of last two seasons.
• Two-time First Team Bay Area Conference (BAC) honoree.
• Named team captain and was selected team MVP following senior season.
• Aided Marin Academy to trio of BCL championships, as well as NCS championship (2022-23) and CIF state title (2021-22).
• Four-time NCS Scholar-Athlete selection.
• Also lettered in cross country for three seasons, finishing as a top-three runner each year and aiding team to qualify for states.
• Honor roll student and leader of five different student clubs.
• Completed an internship within the medical field, volunteered in numerous community initiatives, and was Marin Academy admissions fellow.
• Played club soccer with Mountain View Los Altos Soccer Club (MVLA SC), where club was ranked in top 6 ECNL clubs in nation and ranked in top 10 ECNL team in nation,
• Appeared in round of 16 of ECNL National Championship in 2023 and 2024.
• Older brother, Adam, is member of Pomona-Pitzer men’s soccer team.
• Enrolling in the SC Johnson College of Business.

Madeline Park
Defender • 5-7 • Palos Verdes, Calif. • Chadwick School • FRAM SC

• Served as four-year captain of Chadwick School girls soccer team, where she was a three-time All-Prep League selection (2021-22, 2022-23, 2024-25) and guided program to four consecutive CIF playoff appearances.
• Also earned three letters in volleyball, serving as a setter, and captaining 2023-24 team, and aided program to CIF playoff appearances in all three seasons.
• Played club soccer with FRAM Soccer Club, earning National Cup championship in 2020.
• Received National Charity League Presidental Volunteer Service Award.
• Member of Chadwick School’s Community Service, Sustainability Council, Athletic Council, and Peer Mentors clubs.
• Served as leader of Morgan’s Message club and was council member of Girls Academy Advisory Council.
• Enrolled in the SC Johnson College of Business.

Samantha Qureshey
Goalkeeper • 5-7 • Macungie, Pa. • Episcopal HS [Texas] • Albion Hurricanes

• Played soccer for four years at Episcopal High School in Texas, where she aided team to SPC championship in 2024 and was named to All-SPC Team during 2024-25 season.
• Two-time All-SPC South Zone honoree in 2023 and 2024.
• AP Scholar with Distinction and member of National, Math, and Science Honor Societies.
• Played club soccer for Albion Hurricanes, where she served as a co-captain between 2021-25.

Andrea Wilson
Forward • 5-7 • Fairport, N.Y. • Fairport HS • WNY Flash

• Three-time Section V champion (2022, 2024, 2025) and two-time regional champion (2024, 2025) at Fairport HS.
• Received Section V all-star and All-Greater Rochester First Team honors in 2025.
• Earned AP Scholar with Distinction honors, as well as being named a Scholar Athlete … member of High Honor Roll.
• Played club soccer with WNY Flash, earning Second Team Ohio Valley honors in 2023.
• Enrolling in the College of Engineering.