Four U.S. youth players and two international recruits joining Yale women’s soccer team

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – After a successful 2022 season, the Yale women’s soccer team will add six newcomers to the fold, announced by Sarah Martinez, Loring Family Head Coach. Two individuals are internationally-born players, while four of them hail from the United States.

“We are so excited to add this class to our already talented group of players,” said Martinez. “The six of them are really a complete package and we feel they will compete from the very beginning. We are returning an experienced group of players, so it was important for us to find the right pieces that fit the mold, both culturally and athletically. In this incoming class, we have strong defensive players, goal scorers, and most importantly, exceptional humans. They will be led by hungry returners who are ready to compete for an Ivy League Championship and a spot in the NCAA tournament.”

Here’s a closer look at the squad’s incoming class:

Addison Bray, Forward
Westlake High School | Austin, Texas

• High School: Four-year letter winner at Westlake High School…Team captain as a senior…Two-time First Team All-District…Most Valuable Offensive Player of the District…State All-Tournament Team…Team’s MVP…Led her team goals in junior and senior seasons…Earned the Presidential Gold Service Award for completing more than 100 hours of community service within a year.
• Club: Competed for Lonestar Soccer Club.
• Personal: Daughter of Jennifer and Dane Bray…has one sister (McClaine) and one brother (Hayden)…brother Hayden plays football at the University of Oklahoma.
• Why Yale? “I chose Yale because it was a place where I could really see myself succeeding. When I stepped foot on campus everything seemed to fall into place, and I felt comfortable and right at home.”
• Notes from Coach: “Addie is a strong center forward with an engine unlike many we have seen before. Her willingness to press and defend, coupled with her goal-scoring mentality, is something we are very excited to add to our group. Addie is competitive and gritty which will help her be successful at the next level.”

Alex Chang, Defender/Midfielder
Lonestar High School | Frisco, Texas

• High School: Three-time letter winner at Lonestar High School…Earned First Team All-District and All-Region honors…Named her team’s Most Valuable Defensive Player…Voted to the 2022 Dallas/Fort Worth 5A Preseason Best XI…AP Scholar with Distinction…Top-10 ranked student in high school…National Merit Commended Student…Academic All-District.
• Club: Competed for FC Dallas ECNL for four years…2022 Dallas Cup Champion… Also played for the Solar SC Development Academy for two years…Named Top Drawer Soccer Top 150 Player…Ranked No. 39 in the Top Drawer Soccer Texas Regional rankings.
• Personal: Daughter of Yukyung Chung and Jinik Chang…has one brother, Eric, who plays soccer at Columbia…Helped run children’s soccer camps and volunteered through the National Honor Society.
• Why Yale? “I believe the name speaks for itself. Yale provides incomparable education that opens up many doors in the future for its students. In addition, the community at Yale is extremely special. Whether you are simply a student or a student-athlete, you are surrounded by an abundance of people who are just as devoted to what they do as you are. With my goals in mind, that kind of environment will surely benefit me in the future. I was able to see in person not only the breathtaking campus but also their new soccer-specific field house. The facility can compete with other top college athletic programs and offers amazing opportunities for players to improve their game.”
• Notes from Coach: “Alex is a tough defender with an attacking mentality. Her ability to get forward along with her work rate were what initially attracted us to Alex as a youth player. She is a tireless worker who values the ball and will leave everything on the field for her team.”

Andie Miller, Defender
Lakeside School | Seattle, Washington

• High School: Two-time letter winner at Lake School (Wash.)…Named Second Team All-State…Two-time First Team All-Metro League…Was rated the No. 1 prospect by Top Drawer Soccer in the Pacific Northwest Region….Ranked No. 93 nationally by Top Drawer Soccer in the IMG Academy Top 150.
• Club: Competed for Eastside Football Club and Reign Academy…Participated in the DA National Championships in Florida with Reign…Participated in the ECNL National Championships in Florida and Seattle…Two-time First Team All-Northwest (ECNL)…Participated in the U.S. Soccer Girls Youth National Team Identification Center…Participated in the U18 U.S. Women’s National Team Virtual Camp.
• Personal: Daughter of Susan Takemoto and Dave Miller…has one sister (Julia) and one brother (Joe)…sister played soccer for Washington University (MS)…mom Susan attended Yale and played volleyball.
• Why Yale? “The combination of its world-class academics and the opportunity to play soccer for an amazing program at the highest level of competition, make Yale a place that I know I will grow as both a student and athlete. Besides its beautiful campus and facilities, the people I met when I visited campus were all so welcoming that I immediately felt right at home!”
• Notes from Coach: “Andie is a composed center-back who can read the game at a very high level. Her ability to hit a wide range of passes, her high soccer IQ and her eagerness to learn are a few reasons we know she will transition into our system very quickly.”

Anita Thorvaldsdottir, Forward
Commercial College of Iceland | Garðabær, Iceland

• Club: Played for Stjarnan Football Club (Iceland)…Competed in the Icelandic League and qualified for the Euro Champions League in 2022 and 2019…Voted Player of the Year with Stjarnan in 2020.
• Personal: Daughter of Helen Neely and Thorvaldar Gissurarsch…has one sister (Hrefna) and one brother (Andri)…Enjoys soccer, traveling, and skiing.
• Why Yale? “Yale is a world full of opportunities. They have an outstanding environment that provides the full ability for their students to thrive, both academically and athletically. Not to mention the soccer facilities are amazing!”
• Notes from Coach: “Anita is simply a goal scorer. She can beat players on the dribble, get in behind backlines and can finish in a variety of ways. She is another player we feel can play multiple positions for us and impact the game in a variety of ways. Another player with youth national team experience and playing in the top professional league in Iceland, we feel Anita will transition quickly to the college soccer system.”

Karoline Hernes, Midfield/Forward
Byaasen Videregaaende Skole | Trondheim, Norway

• International: Represented Norway on the Youth National Team…Was selected as captain of her team…Qualified for the European Championships on the U17 National Team.
• Club: Competed for Rosenborg Ballklubb Kvinner (Norway’s top women’s soccer league), Kil/Hemne Kvinner and Byaasen fotballklub.
• Personal: Daughter of Toril and Erik Hernes…has one sister (Ida)…sister Ida competed at the national and international levels in handball for 18 years and professionally for five years…also competed at the national level in handball…enjoys outdoor activities such as climbing, skiing, snowboarding, and watersports…also enjoys spending time with her Border Collie, Bonus.
• Why Yale? “I chose Yale because of the amazing opportunity to engage in a tailored education at the highest level, to play soccer with a dedicated group of players and coaches, and to experience the very best of the inclusive and engaging Yale environment.”
• Notes from Coach: “Karoline is a player we would feel comfortable playing in any of our front seven positions. She is naturally a box-to-box player, but her movement and ability to find space opens her opportunities to play in a lot of places. She values the ball, understands the game from a tactical standpoint, and is a proven goal scorer. A captain of her youth national teams, Karoline will not only bring in a high level of play but professionalism in her leadership.”

Kyla Holmes, Goalkeeper
Newton High School | Newton, N.J.

• Club: Played for STA Soccer (N.J.)…Competed at the 2023 Girls Academy League Championships…Invited to play for professional organization, Queensboro Football Club.
• International: Invited to the U.S. Soccer U15 Girls Youth National Team Identification Camp…Called into U.S. Soccer’s U15 and U17 YNT camps.
• High School: Scholar-athlete at Newton High School (N.J.).
• Personal: Daughter of Tina and James Holmes…has one brother (Derek)…volunteers for the Andover Township Volunteer Fire Department…enjoys escape rooms, card games, and hanging out with friends.
• Why Yale? “Yale offers a unique combination of prestigious academics coupled with an amazing devotion to their athletic programs that is unrivaled by any other school. To top it off, all of the students attending Yale are very multifaceted and interesting, adding even more so to an already exciting college experience.”
• Notes from Coach: “We are excited for Kyla to come into an already talented and experienced group of goalkeepers. Her shot-stopping ability and presence in the goal is something that we are really excited about. She is a team-first player who will compete from the second she steps on campus.”

The Bulldogs kick off their 2023 season with an exhibition against Manhattan on Aug. 19 before traveling to Sacred Heart for their first regular season contest on Aug. 25.