Columbia University women’s soccer welcomes 10 newcomers

NEW YORK — Another talented group will join the Columbia University women’s soccer program on Morningside Heights in 2020, as seventh-year head coach Tracey Bartholomew officially unveiled the program’s 10 newcomers to the roster.

The class includes players from six different states, stretching from coast to coast, in Annie Diaz-Silveira (Miami, Fla.), Mia Ferrentino (Newport Beach, Calif.), Ashlyn Fulgham (San Antonio, Texas), Liva Helt (Little Silver N.J.), Grace Hurren (Moorestown, N.J.), Kat Jordan (Sarasota, Fla.), Kendall McBride (Falls Church, Va.), Paige Nurkin (Charlotte, N.C.), Madi Pilla (Martinsville, N.J.) and Nata Ramirez (Elizabeth, N.J.).

“We have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of this outstanding recruiting class to our program,” said Bartholomew. “We feel we have recruited one of the top classes in the country. These players bring a wealth of competitive experience from youth National League Championships, to top ECNL and DA club teams. They have also had impressive youth experiences having played for the US Youth National Team, invites to national camps, representing international youth national teams and playing in World Cup Qualifiers for their country. These student-athletes possess outstanding technical skills, the pace and athleticism necessary to stand out, the ability to score goals and the competitive mindset of a champion.

“I would like to thank Josh Osit and Amphone Keovongmanysar for their tireless efforts and continued determination to identify such an extremely talented group of student-athletes. The class of 2024 is also well-rounded and outstanding in the classroom and in their communities. They believe in our vision and culture and they will make the alumnae proud.  We cannot wait to get this group with our talented returners to chase the Ivy League Championship and NCAA’s.”

More information on the incoming class can be found below, while fans can access the full 2020 roster here.

Annie Diaz-Silveira
Miami, Fla. – Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart
Forward/Midfielder

Named team’s MVP in junior and senior seasons as a four-year varsity letter winner at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart … Team captain in 2019 and 2020 … 2019 First Team All-County … Helped the Cyclones the 2020 state title game … Received Golden Boot for team’s most goals scored in 2019 … Accumulated 48 goals and 57 assists through high school career … Won National League title in 2019 with Sunrise Sting … Played for ECNL Sunrise Prime FC in 2019-20 … Honor roll … Member of English, Social Studies, Science and Math National Honor Societies.

Mia Ferrentino
Newport Beach, Calif. – Corona del Mar High School
Defender

Two-time letter winner at Corona del Mar High School as a defender … 2019 Second Team All-League … Helped the Sea Kings to back-to-back Best in the West Winter Classic Championships in 2019 and 2020 … Named school’s 2017 Offensive Player of the Year … Played club with ECNL LAFC Slammers … ECNL finalists and Southwestern champions in 2019 … ECNL national semifinalists in 2017 … Invited to U.S. Soccer workout in 2018 … Also earned a letter in track as a freshman … Honor roll … California Scholarship Federation Scholar.

Ashlyn Fulgham
San Antonio, Texas – Boerne Champion High School
Defender

A three-year team captain and four-year letter winner for Boerne Champion High School … 2017, 2018 and 2019 First Team All-District selection … 2018 and 2019 Second Team All-State … 2017 Texas UIL 5A All-Tournament Team … 2017 All-State Honorable Mention … 2018 and 2019 District Defensive MVP … Helped the Greyhounds to back-to-back district titles in 2018 and 2019 … 2018 Area Champions … 2017 Regional Champions and State Semifinalists … Also received two letters in track, setting a school record and regional meet record in the 1,600m relay in 2018 … Played club with ECNL Classics Elite.

Liva Helt
Little Silver, N.J. – Red Bank Regional High School
Midfielder

Danish Soccer National Team prospect … Invited to Denmark U20 National Camp … Two-time soccer letter winner, playing on her high school’s team in 2016 and 2019 … Named team’s MVP in 2019 …  2019 All-Division and Class B North Player of the Year … Attended Vicente Del Bosque Training Camp in 2017 … Played club with Players Development Academy (PDA) … Played in AP2T College Summer Girls League from 2017-19 … Varsity letter in football in 2018 as a kicker … National Girls & Women in Sports “Lead Her Forward” Award winner in 2019 and 2020 … High Honor Roll … Spanish, English and Math National Honor Society member … Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish.

Grace Hurren
Moorestown, N.J. – Moorestown High School
Midfield/Defender

Four-year letter winner at Moorestown High School … 2018 Group III State Finalists, Liberty Division Champions and South Jersey Group III Champions … 2018 and 2019 All-State … 2018 and 2019 All-County … 2019 BCSL Senior All-Star … 2018 and 2019 All-Conference … 2019 First Team All-South Jersey … 2018 All-State ‘Top 20 Players in South Jersey’ list … 2018 Second Team All-South Jeresy … Named team’s MVP in 2019 … Played club for Players Development Academy (PDA) … 2019 NPL National Champion … 2018 and 2019 State Cup Champions … Four-time NPL Northeast Champions (2016-19) …  AP Scholar with Honors … National Merit Scholar with Distinction … 2018-19 Outstanding Community Service award … Volunteer assistant coach for middle school track team.

Kat Jordan
Sarasota, Fla. – Pine View High School
Midfielder

2019 ECNL National Camp selection … Played club with ECNL Tampa Bay United … 2019 ECNL National Runner-up … Four-time ECNL Southeast Conference Player to Watch … U.S. Soccer National Training Center selections (2013-17) … Decorated four-year soccer letter winner and three-time team captain at Venice High School … 2020 Florida State Runner-Up after helping the Indians to Regional and District Championships … Posted 17 goals and 14 assists as a senior in 2019-20 after tallying 15 goals and 32 assists her junior campaign … 2020 State All-Star Team … 2020 All-Star Classic MVP … 2020 Monteverde WIST All-Tournament Team … 2019 District Champions and Regional Runner-Up … 2019 Best of HT Preps Player of the Year … 2019 and 20 Best of HT Preps All-Area First Team … 2019 Best of HT Preps 2019 Sun All-Area Player of the Year … 2019 and 2020 Sun All-Area First Team … Four-time Judo national champion … AP Scholar with Honor … National Honor Society member … National Writing Contest Award Winner … FHSAA State Student-Athlete Leadership Delegate and 2020 SAAC Nominee.

Kendall McBride
Falls Church, Va. – Bishop O’Connell High School
Forward

Three-time All-WCAC selection and four-year letter winner at Bishop O’Connell High School … 2018 and 2019 team captain … Tallied 31 goals and 12 assists in her career for the Knights … Named team’s MVP in 2017 and 2018 … 2017 Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention … Played club for McLean ECNL, garnering three Mid-Atlantic Conference titles … 2018 ECNL Mid-Atlantic All-Conference … Founded the Student Athlete Advisory Council at Bishop O’Connell … National Merit Scholar … AP Scholar with Honors … Distinguished Honor Roll … Member of National Honor Society.

Paige Nurkin
Charlotte, N.C. – Charlotte Latin School
Goalkeeper

Earned two varsity letters at Charlotte Latin School before playing her junior and senior seasons with Charlotte Soccer Academy DA … Made 88 saves, tallied 12 shutouts and had a 0.584 goals against average her sophomore season to earn 2018 All-State, All-Region and All-Conference selections … 2018 Southern Coast Cup Top Drawer Soccer Best IX … All earned two letters in volleyball … U16 State Champion … Qualified for 2020 DA Cup Elite Eight … Recorded 0.46 goals against average senior season … National Merit Semifinalist.

Madi Pilla
Martinsville, N.J. – The Pingry School
Forward

U15 US National Team member … Played club for Players Development Academy (PDA) ECNL … Set The Pingry School record for most goals scored in a single season in 2019, registering a state-leading 48 goals with 12 assists … Helped the Big Blue to back-to-back Non-Public A State Championships in 2018 and 2019 … 2018 and 2019 First Team All-Conference, First Team All-Non-Public and First Team All-State… Academic Honor Roll.

Nata Ramirez
Elizabeth, N.J. – The Pingry School
Forward

Current U20 Colombian National Team member … Played on the U17 Colombian National Team and competed in both the World Cup Qualifiers and the 2018 U17 World Cup … Two-year letter winner at The Pingry School, playing on the varsity team her freshman and sophomore years … 2016 First Team All-Conference … Played club for Players Development Academy (ECNL, 2017; DA, 2018) … Honor Roll student.

For the latest on the Columbia women’s soccer program, follow @ColumbiaWSoccer on Twitter and Instagram, on Facebook at Facebook.com/ColumbiaWSoccer and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.