Navy women’s soccer program welcomes nine newcomers for the Class of 2026

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy women’s soccer team has welcomed nine new members to its program, as the Class of 2026 took its oath during Induction Day on June 30.

The Mids’ class of newcomers consists of Mimi Abusham, Talley Applewhite, Kirsten Baxa, Marlee Heaven, Sarah McCarthy, Bella Romano, Emma Romano, Mori Sokoloff and Jordan Townsend. This class hails from across the country ranging from California on the West Coast and Texas and Arizona in the Southwest to New York and Maryland on the East Coast.

Mimi Abusham – FWD – Los Alamitos, California

A four-year varsity letter-winner at Los Alamitos High School … played on the club circuit with Slammers FC … concluded her high school career in 2021-22 as the Orange County Player of the Year after scoring 21 goals with 14 assists; additionally she was selected as Sunset Conference MVP and All-CIF … helped lead Los Alamitos to Sunset League titles all four seasons she played with the team … served as co-team captain as a senior … five Los Alamitos teammates will be playing DI collegiate soccer… daughter of Mike and Jill … older sister, Kayla, served in the U.S. Marines.

Talley Applewhite – GK – Midlothian, Virginia

Earned four varsity letters as a goalkeeper at St. Catherine’s School; also played goalie with the Richmond United club … named the 2021 Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) Player of the Year … garnered First Team All-State (VISAA) all three seasons (2019, 2021, 2022) that soccer was played in Virginia (COVID forced the cancellation of 2020 campaign) … as a senior in 2022 was the League of Independent Schools (LIS) Conference Player of the Year; was named All-LIS Conference all three years … led St. Catherine’s to the 2021 LIS Conference Championship and VISAA State Championship … daughter of Dan and Julie

Kirsten Baxa – GK – Katy, Texas

Played goalkeeper all four years at Mayde Creek High School … augmented her play with Albion Hurricanes FC … collected First Team All-District 19-6A honors in each of her four seasons with Mayde Creek; named the District 19-6A Goalkeeper of the Year as a freshman in 2019 and as a junior in 2021 … honored on the 2019 All-Texas Class 6A Second Team … following her sophomore and junior seasons was named Second Team All-Region and First Team All-Region, respectively … elected as team captain for Mayde Creek her final three seasons  … eight former teammates are playing DI soccer … daughter of Kenneth and Justine … brother, Garrett, played soccer at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in 2017 and 2018

Marlee Heaven – FWD – Rockville, Maryland

Garnered four varsity letters at Richard Montgomery High School for soccer … additionally, honed her skills with the Bethesda Soccer Club … began high school career by being named one of the 17 best players in Montgomery County as a freshman (the only underclassmen) … after tying the Richard Montgomery HS scoring record with 22 goals and 6 assists as a sophomore, earned First Team All-State, Second Team Washington Post All-Met and Team MVP honors … COVID forced the cancellation of her junior season and was sidelined as a senior with a season-ending injury … daughter of Astor and Marquette; father played four years of football at the Naval Academy and graduated with the Class of 1997

Sarah McCarthy – MF – Phoenix, Arizona

Played throughout her four years in high school on the Desert Vista HS varsity team, as well as with the Phoenix Rising ECNL club … was twice named Desert Vista’s Midfielder of the Year, in addition to her nod as the team’s Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore … named First Team All-6A Central Region as a senior in 2022, also garnered a spot on the All-6A Conference First Team … previously was an all-conference second team honoree as a junior … led Desert Vista to the 2021-22 AIA 6A Central Regional Championship … three teammates are played DI collegiate soccer … daughter of Brian and Dian

Emma Romano – D – Syosset, New York

Collected three varsity letters as a defender on the Syosset High School team … played club soccer with East Meadow SC (ECNL) and Albertson Fury (DA) … selected to participate in the 2021 Girls Soccer High School All-American game (one of 43 players selected nationally; with her twin sister Isabella, they became the first set of twins ever to play in the game) … recognized as one of TopDrawerSoccer’s Top-150 players nationally from 2017 through 2021 … earned All-New York State Class AA honors as a senior in 2021 … named a Newsday Top-100 Long Island Girls Soccer Player in 2018, 2019 and 2021 … helped lead Syosset to the Nassau County AA Championship in 2018 and a conference title in 2019, as well as East Meadow SC to the 2021 ECNL National Playoffs … daughter of Vincenzo and Diana … older sister Maria played four years of collegiate soccer at NY Tech … cousin Michael Romano graduated from the Naval Academy as a member of the Class of 2016

Isabella Romano – FWD – Syosset, New York

Earned three varsity letters at Syosset High School for soccer … additionally, she honed her skills on the club level with East Meadow Soccer Club (ECNL) and Albertson Fury (DA) … selected to participate in the 2021 Girls Soccer High School All-American game (one of 43 players selected nationally; with her twin sister Emma, they became the first set of twins ever to play in the game) … attended the U.S. National Training Center on four separate occasions … noted as one of TopDrawerSoccer’s Top-150 players nationally each year, 2017 through 2021 … selected to All-New York State Class AA in 2018, 2019 and 2021 (COVID forced the cancellation of the 2020 season) … named a Newsday Top-100 Long Island Girls Soccer Player in 2018, 2019 and 2021 … helped Syosset earn the Nassau County AA Championship in 2018 and a conference title in 2019, as well as East Meadow SC qualify for and compete in the 2021 ECNL National Playoffs … daughter of Vincenzo and Diana … older sister Maria played four years of collegiate soccer at NY Tech … cousin Michael Romano graduated the Naval Academy with the Class of 2016

Mori Sokoloff – MF – Arnold, Maryland

Transferred into the Naval Academy after spending the 2021-22 academic year at the University of Maryland in 2021; played in four games for the Terrapins and totaled 112 minutes of action … started and scored first career goal versus Penn on Sept. 9, 2021 … prior to Maryland was a three-sport student-athlete at the Severn School; lettered in soccer (4), basketball (3) and track & field (2) … played club soccer with Maryland United FC … earned All-Anne Arundel County and All-IAAM Conference honors over her final three seasons with Severn; twice was named Team MVP … served as team captain … was an All-IAAM First Team conference performer in track & field as a senior, competing in discus and 4x800m events … 2021 Severn Athlete of the Year … 13 former teammates are playing DI collegiate soccer; two more are DI women’s lacrosse players … daughter of Alan and Marie Sokoloff and Michele and Gennaro DiMeo

Jordan Townsend – D/M – Marriottsville, Maryland

Lettered in varsity soccer at Liberty High School four times … suited up on the club circuit with Pipeline Soccer Club … earned All-Carroll County honors in each of her four years playing at Liberty, going from All-County Second Team as a freshman to All-County First Team each of her next three seasons … following her senior season, she was named Carroll County Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 … served as team captain as a senior and led Liberty to the 2A West Regional Championship … pair of Liberty teammates are playing collegiately … daughter of Torie and Tom; mother played field hockey at Temple University