UMass women’s soccer team bolsters 2025 roster with 11 signings

AMHERST, Mass. – Head coach Jason Dowiak and the University of Massachusetts women’s soccer announced the addition of 11 newcomers.

Ella Casagrande-Stevens, Peyton Costello, Skye Cuscuna, Amelia Deren, Pepper Escher, Chloe Kundra, Kayla Nohasiarisoa, Piersen Rawlin, Kaila Steen, Lexi Terry and Aline Traber are among the 2025 signing class.

Ella Casagrande-Stevens • Goalkeeper • Parkland, Fla. • Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

• Club Team: FC Prime
• Intended Major: Health Sciences
• Member of the U15 and U17 National Team Pool
• A two-time First Team All-County honoree
• Named to the ECNL First Team All-Conference
• Helped team to back-to-back-to-back District Championship titles (2021; 2022; 2023)
• Aided team to a 2023 Regional Championship
• An honor roll student

Casagrande-Stevens on UMass: “I chose UMass because of the amazing soccer program and the sense of community I felt when I visited. Not only the coaches, but the players made me feel like I was part of the team, and it felt like a place I could grow as a player and individual.”

Peyton Costello • Defender • Stony Brook, N.Y. • William & Mary • Ward Melville High School

• Club Team: SUSA 06 ECNL
• Competed at William & Mary during the 2024 season
• Started in 16 of 18 games played for the Tribe
• Registered eight points on three goals and two assists
• Totaled 17 shots with 11 on target
• Was named Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Rookie of the Week (September 2024)
• A four-year letterwinner at Ward Melville HS in Long Island
• Tabbed the 2023 New York State Player of the Year
• Earned 2023 United Soccer Coaches Association All-American honors
• Helped team to back-to-back championships, garnering the New York State Final MVP award in both championships
• A two-time NYS First Team All-State member
• The 2023 Long Island Player of the Year
• Team ranked fourth in the nation to conclude the 2023 season
• Tallied 15 goals with four assists as a senior
• Was a team captain for the SUSA 06 ECNL club team

Costello on UMass: “I decided to transfer to UMass because of its strong academics, dedicated coaching staff, ideal location and competitive team atmosphere, all of which allow me to grow not only as a player, but as a person.”

Skye Cuscuna • Forward • St-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec • Heritage Regional High School/Dawson College

• Club Team: AS Laval
• Intended Major: Sports Journalism
• A 2023 U16 PLSJQ Golden Boot recipient
• The U17 top goal scorer at the 2023 Toyota Canadian National Championships as a U16
• 2024 U17 Team Quebec Captain
• 2024 RSEQ Collegiate Player of the Week
• Helped team to a bronze medal at the 2023 U17 Toyota Canadian National Championships as a U16
• Aided team to second-place at the 2024 PDP U17 Canadian National Championships
• 2023 RSEQ High School Futsal Provincial Champions
• Earned Principal’s Honor Roll List five consecutive years
• Was a 2023 Jim Martin Award honoree (Student-athlete recognition for character, leadership and dedication

Cuscuna on UMass: “In all aspects, both academically and athletically, UMass was the perfect fit for me. The environment, facilities, team and staff with whom I will be in contact with all had an impact on my decision.”

Amelia Deren • Midfielder/Defender • Northville, Mich. • Northville High School

• Club Team: Michigan Hawks ECNL
• Intended Major: Double major in Marketing and Kinesiology
• A three-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer
• Member of the Michigan ODP team and the ODP Midwest Regional team
• Named to the ODP Interregional Pool
• Tabbed to the Michigan Top 10 in 2025 Class by Prep Soccer
• Selected to the ECNL Florida Best Performances of the 2025 class
• Competed with Rush National Team in Italy for an international tournament
• Team was a three-time ECNL Champions League Qualifier
• Team consistently ranked in the top 10 in the nation
• Member of the Michigan Hawks International Team and competed in Japan
• A Scholar-Athlete
• An Academic All-State honoree

Deren on UMass: “I chose UMass because of the strong academic reputation. I was excited to travel away from home and experience a new part of the country during my college years. Stepping on campus for the first time, I immediately felt at home with the team culture the coaching staff and team created, and could see myself thriving in this environment.”

Pepper Escher • Goalkeeper • Brewster, Mass. • Worcester Academy

• Club Team: FC Stars Blue National
• Intended Major: Kinesiology
• A four-year varsity letterwinner and starter
• 2023 NEPSAC Junior All-Star
• 2023 All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention
• Helped the FC Stars to the Round of 16 in 2024
• Aided team to two New England Conference Championship titles (2023; 2024)
• An honors student

Escher on UMass: “I chose UMass because I felt a sense of belonging, I strive for greatness with anything I do, and I am proud to be a new member of this team that does everything to be the best they can and continues to make a difference within the program.”

Chloe Kundra • Midfielder • Moorestown, N.J. • Holy Cross Prep Academy

• Club Team: Players Development Academy (PDA) South ECNL 2007/06
• Intended Major: Business
• A four-year starter for Holy Cross Prep
• Notched the game-winning goal to send team to ECNL postseason in 2023
• Aided team to two State Semifinals Non-Public B
• 2022 BCSL Undefeated Champions
• A two-time All-Burlington County Scholastic League member
• Named to the National Honors Society

Kundra on UMass: “I chose UMass because I felt right at home from the moment that I stepped on campus. I am excited to be given the opportunity to play for a top rated women’s soccer team and to study at such a highly respected university.”

Kayla Nohasiarisoa • Midfielder • London, England • Itchen Sixth Form

• Club Team: Southampton FC
• Intended Major: Sports Management
• Made professional debut against Tottenham
• Earned first professional start against West Ham

Nohasiarisoa on UMass: “I chose UMass as it offers a good balance between a high level of sports and education, which will allow me to continue to grow as a person on and off the pitch.”

Piersen Rawlin • Midfielder/Defender • Longwood, Fla. • Bishop Moore Catholic High School

• Club Team: Orlando City 2007 ECNL
• Intended Major: Business
• A three-time Florida high school State Champion
• Helped team qualify for the three straight years for the ECNL National Championship Cup

Rawlin on UMass: “I chose UMass because of the welcoming environment and supportive community that makes it feel like home. I loved watching the growth of the soccer program in reaching the conference finals this year, and I’m excited to help build on that success.”

Kaila Steen • Defender • Ashburn, Va. • Independence High School

• Club Team: Northern Virginia Alliance
• Intended Major: Public Health
• A member of the high school First Team
• A Second Team and Honorable Mention
• Aided team to a conference championship title in 2023-24

Steen on UMass: “I chose UMass because of the amazing team culture, supportive environment and winning attitude. UMass has an amazing campus and great academic programs that will help me be successful.”

Lexi Terry • Midfielder • Annapolis, Md. • McDonogh School

• Club Team: Maryland United FC
• Intended Major: Biology
• A 2024 All IAAM “A” Conference member
• A 2024 First Team MACS All-State honoree
• Team ranked No. 1 in the nation in 2023
• Helped team to qualify for the ECNL playoffs for two consecutive years (2022; 2023)
• A three-time Dean’s List member

Terry on UMass: “I chose UMass because of the great community they have; from the time I first visited I felt welcomed and knew it was somewhere I could see myself.”

Aline Traber • Forward • Zürich, Switzerland. • Kantonsschule Zürich Nord

• Club Team: Grasshopper Club Zürich
• Intended Major: Kinesiology
• Competed in the U15 Women National Partnership tournaments for three years (2019; 2020; 2021)
• The U17 National League top scorer in 2023
• Selected for the Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup in back-to-back years with the Grasshopper Club Women Team (2023; 2024)
• Helped team rank third in the 2023 U17 Women Championship playoffs

Aline on UMass: “Being so far away from home, it’s important for me to have a strong sense of community. UMass is the perfect place for that, and I’m confident that I can grow here both athletically and personally.”