NCAA D1 Men’s and Women’s Soccer Defenders to Watch for 2025

(Pictured Above: Marshall defender Takahiro Fujita enters his junior season.)

KANSAS CITY, MO – United Soccer Coaches has announced Defenders on its NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Players to Watch lists for the 2025 season.

The lists are compiled and released by the Division I All-America Committees to promote college soccer leading up to the official start date for the regular season later this month. The lists include United Soccer Coaches All-Americans and All-Region players from 2024 who are scheduled to return for the 2025 season.

“Entering the 2025 season, these previous honorees represent some of the best at their positions,” said Ralph Polson, Senior College All-America Administrator. “As pre-season training opens, we are pleased to recognize these outstanding student-athletes from our member schools. I would like to thank Jennifer Rockwood, DI Women’s All-America Chair, Ryan Hopkins, DI Men’s All-America Chair, and their respective committees for their efforts in compiling these lists.”

2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Players to Watch – Defenders

Name Class School Hometown

• Jasmine Aikey Sr. Stanford University Palo Alto, Calif.
• Bella Ayscue So. Penn State University Apex, N.C.
• Natalie Bain Sr. Xavier University Alexandria, Ky.
• Hailey Baumann Jr. University of Wisconsin South Lyon, Mich.
• Macy Blackburn Sr. Texas Tech University Keller, Texas
• Ava Bramblett Jr. Ohio State University  Noblesville, Ind.
• Carolina Castans Jr. University of Kansas Flower Mound, Texas
• Anna Champine Sr. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee St. Charles, Ill.
• Karsyn Cherry Jr. University of Louisville Lafayette, Ind.
• Quinn Cornog Sr. TCU Dallas, Texas
• Elise Evans Sr. Stanford University Redwood City, Calif.
• Gracie Falla Sr. University of South Carolina Hattiesburg, Miss.
• Avery Frishknecht Jr. BYU Mapleton, Utah
• Sallie Garner Jr. Liberty University Mathews, N.C.
• Heather Gilchrist Sr. Florida State University Boulder, Colo.
• Jayde Holley Jr. University of California Davis Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
• Maggie Illig Sr. Michigan State University Troy, Mo.
• Kyra Karfonta Sr. University of Dayton South Lyon, Mich.
• Leah Klenke Sr. University of Notre Dame Houston, Texas
• Maddie Kolb Sr. University of New Hampshire Tolland, Conn.
• Ashlynn Kulha Jr. Old Dominion University Holly Springs, N.C.
• Faith Leyba Jr. University of Colorado Phoenix, Ariz.
• Katana Norman Sr. TCU Arcadia, Calif.
• Cameron Roller Jr. Duke University Sherman, Texas
• Ellie Simmons Sr. University at Buffalo Arlington, Va.
• Kolo Suliafu Sr. University of Washington Ontario, Calif.
• Heidi Thomasma Sr. Western Michigan University Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Mimi Van Jr. Florida State University Buffalo Grove, Ill.
• Kaelyn Wolfe Jr. Penn State University West Chester, Pa.
• Brooklyn Woods Sr. Indiana State University Waukee, Iowa          

2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Players to Watch – Defenders

Name Class School Hometown

• Jefferson Amaya Sr. High Point University Charlotte, N.C.
• Elijah Bishop Jr. University of Central Arkansas Aurora, Colo.
• Dren Dobruna So. University of Dayton (Siena) Waterbury, Conn.
• Jace Foster Sr. Oakland University Mississauga, Ont. Giuliano
• Fravolini Whitchurch Sr. Princeton University San Diego, Calif.
• Takahiro Fujita Jr. Marshall University Nara, Japan
• Jackson Gilman Sr. University of Pittsburgh Schwenksville, Pa.
• Eskil Gjerde Sr. Drake University Egersund, Norway
• Noah Gold Sr. College Of Charleston Germantown, Md.
• Jack Jasinski Sr. Princeton University Charlotte, N.C.
• Andrew Johnson Sr. Cornell University Philadelphia, Pa.
• Aidan Kelly Sr. University of Massachusetts Belfast, Northern Ireland
• Zack Lillington Sr. University of California Davis Fairfax, Calif.
• Clarence Loriot Sr. University of New Hampshire Creteil, France
• Alex Matthews Sr. Missouri State University Derbyshire, England
• Nolan Miller Sr. University of Michigan Troy, Mich.
• Calle Mollerberg Jr. University of California Santa Barbara Stockholm, Sweden
• Luka Nikolai  Jr. University of North Carolina Kaarst, Germany
• Parker Owens Jr. Cal Poly Southlake, Texas
• Rai Pinto Jr. Marshall University Porto, Portugal
• Christian Shannon Sr. Western Michigan University St. Joseph, Mich.
• Casper Svendby Sr. University of Pittsburgh Drammen, Norway