Columbia women’s soccer welcomes 10 newcomers for Fall 2021 season

NEW YORK — Excitement continues to build for the upcoming 2021 season as eighth-year head coach Tracey Bartholomew announced the addition of 10 newcomers to the Columbia University women’s soccer program on Wednesday.

The class includes players from across the country: Audrey Byrne (San Francisco, Calif.), Sophia Cavaliere (Bernardsville, N.J.), Sam Cohn (Atlanta, Ga.), Stephanie Jung (San Jose, Calif.), Marcia Ojo (Rahway, N.J.), Claire Pinnie (West Chester, Pa.), Ania Prussak (Glen Ridge, N.J.), Lauren Rodriguez (Hamilton, N.Y.), Ola Weber (Warren, N.J) and Ava Zlatchin (Berkeley, Calif.).

“Recruiting outstanding young female leaders who BLEED BLUE and possess outstanding abilities on the field and in the classroom is one of the most fulfilling parts of our job,” said Bartholomew. “I want to thank Josh Osit and Amphone Keovongmanysar for working diligently to help me recruit student-athletes that match our passion, drive and pursuit to win an Ivy League Championship.”

“The class of 2025 is resilient and driven, having overcome the difficulties from this pandemic. They are technically outstanding with the ball, fast-paced, true competitors who are versatile, well-rounded players that have played with top club programs in the country and competed for championships year-in and year-out. They are incredible representatives in their own communities, as they are involved in volunteer efforts and coaching youth soccer and helping those around them. We believe they will fit in well with our high standards and core values on our team. We are eager for August and preseason when we can bring everyone back together and integrate all of our new players with the current team. The Lions are ready to hunt for the 2021 Ivy Championship!”

More information on the incoming class can be found below, while fans can access the full 2021 roster here.

Audrey Byrne
San Francisco, Calif. – Marin Academy
Goalkeeper

Four-year varsity soccer letter winner for Marin Academy … Helped the Wildcats to four-straight BCL championships … Recorded 12 shutouts in the 2020 campaign … 2019 and 2020 North Coast Section and NorCal Division III finalists … 2019 and 2020 BCL First Team All-League … 2020 NorCal Honorable Mention selection … Served as team captain her senior season … Played with ECNL Marin Football Club … Also ran cross country, competed in skiing and plays guitar … 2016-17 National Latin Exam Summa Cum Laude … Will attend Barnard College … Plans to study biochemistry.

Sophia Cavaliere
Bernardsville, N.J. – The Pingry School
Midfielder

Helped The Pingry School to three-straight New Jersey State Championships in 2018, 2019 and 2020 under head coach Lauren Molinaro … Led the Big Blue with 18 goals as a team captain in 2020 … Tallied 26 career goals and 16 assists at Pingry in three seasons … 2020 Third Team All-State, First Team Skyland Conference, First Team Non-Public and NJGSCA Top 20 … 2019 Second Team Skyland Conference … Plays club for ECNL Players Development Academy … Helped PDA to 2021 North Atlantic Conference title … Honor roll … Inducted into Cum Laude Society in 2021 … Earned a Silver Medal and Maxima Cum Laude on the 2018 National Latin Exam … Selected as a Somerset County Scholar Athlete in 2021 … Will attend Columbia College … Plans to study biochemistry.

Sam Cohn
Atlanta, Ga. – Westminster
Defender

Competed for Tophat Soccer Club DA from 2018-20, claiming three-straight regional championships and one Nationals quarterfinal appearance … Played with Tophat GAL in 2020-21 … Played one season for Westminster in 2021, scoring 24 goals and helping the Wildcats to the 2021 AAA State Championship with an undefeated 21-0-0 season at outside forward … Member of National Honor Society … Cum Laude … AP Scholar with honors … Nominated for best screenplay at the All American High School Film Festival … Will attend Columbia College.

Stephanie Jung
San Jose, Calif. – Lynbrook High School
Midfielder

Plays ECNL with Mountain View Los Altos SC …. Named 2019-20 ECNL Northwest Conference Player to Watch … 2018 and 2019 ECNL Northwest All-Conference … Attended multiple ECNL/id2 Program Training Camps … Rostered to play in the WSPL for the MVLA Wolves for summer 2021 … National Merit Scholar … Winner of the National Merit Nelson F. Peterson Scholarship … Valedictorian … Will attend Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences … Plans to study computer science.

Marcia Ojo
Rahway, N.J. – The Lawrenceville School
Defender

Helped Lawrenceville to back-to-back Mid Atlantic Prep League titles in 2019 and 2020 … Scored a career-best 18 goals with four assists in 2020 … 2020 and 2019 First Team All-MAPL … 2020 First Team All-Prep A … 2018 All-MAPL honorable mention … 2019 All-Prep A honorable mention … Plays club for Players Development Academy … Also a six-time MAPL champion as part of the indoor and outdoor track teams … Will attend Columbia College.

Claire Pinnie
West Chester, Pa. – Academy of Notre Dame de Namur
Forward

Played with Penn Fusion Soccer Academy … Played one season of varsity soccer in 2020 … U.S. Soccer Training Center invitee … U.S. Soccer Training Center Northeast Region Combine … Has Ivy League soccer roots as sister, Sophie, is on the women’s soccer team at Dartmouth and uncle played soccer at Cornell … Is also a competitive surfer … Valedictorian … National Honors Society … STEM Scholar … Archdiocese of Philadelphia Academic Honors Award … Academic Excellence Award (presented at graduation to student with highest honors across all disciplines) … Distinguished Honor Roll … Chemistry Student of the Year … Outstanding Science Scholar of the Year … Scholar-Athlete Award … Will attend Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences … Plans to study biomedical engineering.

Ania Prussak
Glen Ridge, N.J. – Glen Ridge High School
Defender

Played club soccer with Players Development Academy, serving as team captain from 2017-21 … Three-year letter winner at Glen Ridge … Helped the Ridgers to three-straight Group 1 Sectional titles in 2018, 2019 and 2020 … 2018, 2019, 2020 First Team All-SEC and First Team All-Group 1 … Named Glen Ridge Outstanding Female Athlete … 2018 Group 1 State finalists … Member of National Honors Society, Math Honors Society and Spanish Honors Society … High honor roll … Will attend Columbia College.

Lauren Rodriguez
Hamilton, N.Y. – Hamilton Central
Goalkeeper

Played club with ECNL Western New York Flash, recording a .986 save average in the 2019-20 campaign … Multisport high school athlete, competing in soccer, softball and basketball … A five-year varsity letter winner in soccer … Helped the Knights to back-to-back Section III league championships in 2017 and 2018 … Five-time All-Section III First Team honoree … Also earned multiple honors in softball, including Section III Player of the Year in 2019 … Scholar-Athlete … Helped organize cancer awareness and fundraising campaign for varsity soccer’s Kick Pink game … Served as youth soccer coach … Will attend Barnard College.

Ola Weber
Warren, N.J. – The Pingry School
Midfielder

Sophomore transfer from NYU … Played club soccer with Players Development Academy ECNL … Three-year varsity letter winner at The Pingry School, helping the team to back-to-back New Jersey State Championships in 2018 and 2019 … Ellen Allen Smith ’83 Award Winner … Volunteer at South Bronx United as a tutor and coach … Lebow Oratorical finalist … 1902 Emblem Award Winner … Magistri Finalist … Faculty Award … Will attend Barnard College.

Ava Zlatchin
Berkeley, Calif. – Berkeley High School
Defender

Played club soccer with East Bay United and Marin FC ECNL … 2019 CYSA State Cup champions … Rostered with WPSL Marin FC Sirens for 2020-21 … Four year varsity letter winner at Berkeley High School … 2019 and 2020 First Team All-WACC … 2020 Second Team All-North Coast Section … 2019 All-North Coast Section honorable mention … Helped the team to three-straight West Alameda Counnty Conference Championships … 2020 North Coast Section finalists for the first time in school history … Helped lead the Yellowjackets to the best start in school history at 9-0 in 2021 as senior team captain … Interned with several non-profits around the Bay Area working to reform the criminal justice system … Will attend Barnard College.