JMU women’s soccer rounds out 2023 roster with pair of transfers from Power 5 programs

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The James Madison University women’s soccer team will round out its group of newcomers for the upcoming season with a pair of transfers, as announced by Head Coach Joshua Walters, Sr.

Both transfers are coming from Power Five conferences, as Ali Kalayjian joins from Georgia and Riley Goss comes from Louisville.

“I am excited to finally announce our two latest additions to the JMU soccer family,” said Walters. “We have two great ones coming in who will add expertise on and off the field.”

Ali Kalayjian
Hometown: Katonah, N.Y.
Position: Defense
High School/Previous School: Somers/Florida State/Georgia
Class for 2023 Season: Graduate student

Career Highlights: Named to SEC Academic Honor Roll and twice to J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Honor Roll while at Georgia… Played in two games as a Seminole her freshman campaign.

Coach Walters’ Thoughts: Ali I’ve known since I recruited her awhile back at UCLA. She was a fantastic player out of New York and hasn’t been able to showcase the player she is at the college level due to circumstances outside her control with injury. She now is 100% and ready to thrive. Ali is multifaceted in her skill set and will impact us in many areas on the pitch.

Riley Goss
Hometown: Suffolk, Va.
Position: Midfield
High School/Previous School: Nansemond River/Louisville
Class for 2023 Season: Redshirt freshman

Career Highlights: Named First Team All-District and Second Team All-State in high school.

Coach Walters’ Thoughts: Riley is an accomplished midfielder from the Richmond area, who like Ali, had an injury that created a speed bump in her first collegiate stop. I am thrilled to have her join us and I think she is a great fit for our style of play as a technical and intelligent midfielder. At JMU she will recreate the role she played at Richmond United connecting play and finding moments to be dangerous.

Kalayjian and Goss will join a seven-person recruiting class and three newcomers who joined ahead of the spring semester as new Dukes to the team.