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Excitement and optimism abound as the Youngstown State women’s soccer program preps for the start of the 2025 campaign.
The Penguins begin their 30th season of competition in 2025 and are under the direction of first-year Head Coach Rich Wall.
Youngstown State returns 16 letterwinners from last year’s squad, and the Penguins added 14 newcomers for the upcoming campaign. That experience will be needed as the Penguins take on five teams from the power conferences in non-league action.
Tough Slate
After an exhibition game at Buffalo, the Penguins visit Big Ten foe Indiana, Big XII member Texas Tech, and SEC member Missouri to open the slate. YSU also visits St. John’s from the Big East and Michigan out of the Big Ten.
Top Scorers Return
One of the top advantages for Youngstown State entering the season is the Penguins’ top four scorers from the 2024 season return. Senior forwards Taylor Berry, and Chloe Weiland, and sophomore striker Sara Felder and senior defender Emma Rigone are all back for YSU.
Berry, who ranks 10th all-time with 27 career points, led the Penguins with nine points after scoring a pair of goals and dishing out five assists. Her assists were the most in a season since Ernestina Abambila had eight in 2016.
Weiland, who has scored seven goals in the last two seasons, posted three goals and added an assist for seven points. Felder, who was named to the Horizon League All-Freshman Team, also scored three goals for the Penguins.
Rigone, a defender, notched two goals and added two assists for six points.
Defend the Net
Another important piece back for the Penguins is the return of sophomore Maya Naimoli in the net. Naimoli, a Horizon League All-Freshman Team selection, was a two-time Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week selection, and she tallied five wins, three shutouts, 96 saves, 1.72 goals-against average, and a .756 save percentage during her rookie campaign.
Forwards
Along with the trio of Berry, Felder and Weiland, the Penguins will look to senior Sophia Blankenship and newcomers Natalia Rivera Lorenzo, Kamryn Rosa, Baylee Williams, and Ghita Haouzi for added scoring punch. Blankenship has scored eight goals with five assists for 13 points during her collegiate career.
Midfielders
The Penguins have both talent and depth at the midfield position in 2025. Juniors Emma Berdiner and Kailey O’Brien, and sophomore Lenea Guerrero and Teagan Wahle all return to solidify the middle of the pitch. Junior transfer Camille Bultel, who has played in 37 games and scored eight career goals, along with newcomers Leah Weiland and Kendalyn Umbel will boost the position.
Defenders
The back line of the Penguins’ defense provides the most experience and depth on the squad. Youngstown State boasts 12 players listed as defenders and seven have seen action at the Division I level.
Leading the way are seniors Rigone, Mara Jaracz, redshirt junior Marissa Masano, junior Eva Sunjevaric, sophomores Grace Nellas, Makayla Thinger and Kate Makkas. Those seven players have combined for 180 appearances and 89 starts.
Newcomers Rylee Sorrell, Ava Paris, Gwen Schulman, Madison Bazylewicz, and Ava Yurko will be called up to bolster the back line.
Goalkeeper
The Penguins are fortunate to have one of the top goalkeepers in the Horizon League returning to tend the net in Naimoli. Youngstown State strengthened the depth of the position with the addition of junior Aimee Benton and freshman Nikki Whyte.