McLean Youth Soccer celebrates 22 college-bound players

A total of 22 McLean Youth Soccer players signed their National Letters of Intent at a ceremony at Lewinsville Park surrounded by their families and MYS staff members. Both the boys and girls sides were represented, as well as players from both ECNL and travel programs.

Many of the girls’ commitments come from the ECNL 02/03 team, who have gone undefeated for the last 45 ECNL conference games. Three players from the ECNL boy’s side are also represented.

A total 15 players will be continuing their careers at NCAA Division I institutions, while the remaining seven will be heading to NCAA Division III schools. D-III players were celebrated this week with the club’s other commitments, they will not be officially finalizing their commitments until Spring 2021.

See below for further details on each player:

Noah Alexander – Bowdoin College
High school: The Potomac School
Primary position: Midfield

Noah joins the Polar Bears next fall in Brunswick, Maine. The DIII program touts back-to-back
NESCAC Championships in 2014 and 2015 under head coach Scott Wiercinski.

Carter Berg – Mary Washington
High school: South Lakes High School
Intended major: Undecided
Primary position: Forward

Currently a discovery player for MYS for the 2020-21 season (playing also with Herndon Youth Soccer),
Carter will move on to UMW next fall. The Eagles won their third straight CAC Championship in 2019 in a PK shootout, and made it to the second round of the NCAA DIII tournament.

Danielle Burke – Dartmouth
High school: Georgetown Day School
Intended major: Undecided
Primary position: Midfield

Danielle heads to the Ivy League in 2021, joining the Dartmouth roster with current teammate Kellie Sutton.
The Big Green did not compete for the 2020 season due to COVID, so Danielle will look to get on the field for the
long-awaited season next fall. She was joined by coaches Nadir Moumen, Brent Leiba, and Clyde Watson on Tuesday evening.

Zara Chavoshi – Wake Forest
High school: Thomas Wootton High School
Intended major: Movement and Sports Science
Primary position: Defense

Zara’s time on the esteemed ECNL 02/03 roster (and previously the 01/02s) has prepped her to join the Demon Deacons next fall. Zara will be the second MYS alum to continue at Wake Forest, the first being current NWSL player Madison Hammond. She was joined by her parents on Tuesday evening.

Isabelle Ching – New York University
High school: Oakton High School
Intended major: Hospitality and Tourism Management
Primary position: Forward

Another DIII commit, Isabelle heads to Manhattan in 2021. The Violets, like many other city schools, opted out of the 2020 season but are looking to come back strong next fall in the UAA Conference. She was joined by coaches Nadir Moumen, Brent Leiba, and Clyde Watson on Tuesday evening.

Ayana Curto – Carnegie Mellon
High school: Georgetown Day High School
Primary position: Forward

Ayana will join MYS alum Ashley Hong on the Tartans roster next fall. CMU posted an impressive 2019 record, finishing their season with a PK shootout in the DIII Final Four.

Cassidy Duncan – Amherst College
High school: Patriot High School
Primary position: Defense

Cassidy moves on to Amherst, Massachusetts in 2021, becoming the second MYS alum on the roster — she will join Kim Zhou and just miss MYS GK Erica Sanders who is set to graduate in the spring. The Mammoths did not participate in the 2020 season, but finished 2019 in the second round of the DIII NCAA Tournament. Cassidy is a part of the elite 02/03 ECNL group, and was recognized as part of the Girls ECNL/United Soccer Coaches All-Conference Team for the 2017-18 season.

Jordan Felton – Miami
High school: North Point High School
Intended major: Undecided
Primary position: Midfield

Jordan, a highly-decorated ECNL player, will head to Miami in 2021 with current teammate Lauren Meeks. They both will join Annie Blair,
another MYS alum of the 02 team. Jordan’s list of accolades includes the 2019 United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Team and 2019 ECNL Mid-Atlantic All-Conference Team. She was joined by coaches Nadir Moumen, Brent Leiba, and Clyde Watson on Tuesday evening.

Erika Harwood – Georgetown
High school: T.C. Williams High School
Intended major: Business
Primary position: Forward

Erika moves on to Georgetown in 2021, joining a slew of MYS alums. Currently, the roster holds Julia Leas, Caitlin Moon, and 02 newcomer Alex Bair. Current teammate Eliza Turner will also become a Hoya next fall. Georgetown posted only one loss in regular conference play in 2019, and have made appearances in the NCAA Final Four twice in the last
four years. She was joined by her parents on Tuesday evening.

Isabela Jesse – Dickinson College
High school: Justice High School
Intended major: Biology
Primary position: Midfield

Isabela joins Dickinson’s DIII program next fall, where the Red Devils climbed to the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2019. Dickinson went undefeated in conference play last year winning the CCC regular season title, only losing in the conference championship match. She was joined by her mother on Tuesday evening.

Halle Johnson – UNC Wilmington
High school: The Madeira School
Intended major: Undecided
Primary position: Defense

Halle heads south in 2021 to join the Seahawks. Making the CAA tournament in 2019, UNCW looks to have a successful season next fall after taking 2020 off. Halle was a member of the East Region ODP Pool in 2017-18. She was joined by her parents on Tuesday evening.

Kendall Lincoln – South Florida
High school: Sherando High School
Intended major: Pre-Med
Primary position: Midfield

Kendall Lincoln joins the Bulls after a record-setting season. USF posted 16 wins, an AAC tournament title, and the program’s first ever NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. Kendall joins the team as they return to play in 2021 after opting out of the 2020 season. She was joined by coaches Nadir Moumen, Brent Leiba, and Clyde Watson on Tuesday evening.

Sophie Maltese – Virginia Tech
High school: Briar Woods High School
Intended major: Undecided
Primary position: Forward

Sophie becomes a Hokie next fall, joining MYS alums Grace Sklopan and Holly Weber. VT is in the midst of ACC conference play for 2020, after making the NCAA Tournament in 2019. She was joined by her mother on Tuesday evening.

Jessica McDonald – Liberty
High school: Hayfield Secondary School
Intended major: Undecided
Primary position: Midfield

Jessica moves on to Lynchburg next fall as the most recent MYS commitment of the 2021 class. The Flames advanced to the quarterfinals of the ASUN tournament last year, and look to compete in 2021 after taking the 2020 season off. She was joined by her father on Tuesday evening.

Andy Medrano – Virginia Military Institute
High school: Justice High School
Primary position: Forward

Andy will join the Cadets in 2021 after VMI opted out of 2020 competition. It will be the second building year for head coach Max Watson down in Lexington.

Lauren Meeks – Miami
High school: Lake Braddock Secondary School
Primary position: Midfield

Lauren will head down to Miami next fall with current teammate Jordan Felton. Like Jordan, she’s had her share of success in McLean’s ECNL program — she was named to the ECNL Mid-Atlantic All Conference Team for both the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.

Jordan Phillips – Radford

High school: South County High School
Intended major: Sports Management
Primary position: Goalkeeper

Jordan joins the 2019 Big South Conference tournament champions next fall. The Highlanders posted an impressive 2019 season ending in the NCAA Tournament, and have taken this fall off due to COVID. Jordan has been part of the illustrious 02 and 03 ECNL teams in net, posting significant minutes over the last few years. She was joined by coaches Nadir Moumen, Brent Leiba, and Clyde Watson on Tuesday evening.

Carley Rynex – VCU
High school: Chantilly High School
Intended major: Pre-Med
Primary position: Defense

Carley moves on to VCU in the fall of 2021. The Rams currently house MYS alum Amber DiOrio, and look to get back into action next year after taking the 2020 season off. She was joined by coaches Nadir Moumen, Brent Leiba, and Clyde Watson on Tuesday evening.

Emily Smith – Davidson
High school: St. Stephens & St. Agnes School
Intended major: Engineering
Primary position: Goalkeeper

Emily will join the Wildcats in fall of 2021. Another team that has taken the 2020 season off, they look forward to returning to action next fall. Emily currently plays in goal with the currently undefeated 02/03 ECNL group. She was joined by coaches Nadir Moumen, Brent Leiba, and Clyde Watson on Tuesday evening.

Sophia Stimson – William Smith College
High school: Bishop O’Connell High School
Intended major: Psychology
Primary position: Defender

Sophia heads to Geneva, New York in 2021 to join the illustrious HWSC program. Though taking a break for 2020, the Herons
were regular season Liberty League champions and were NCAA DIII National Finalists. She was joined by her parents on Tuesday evening.

Kellie Sutton – Dartmouth
High school: Homeschool
Intended major: Undecided
Primary position: Midfield

Kellie joins the Big Green with current teammate Danielle Burke in the fall of 2021. Dartmouth returns to Ivy League play after opting out of the 2020 season due to COVID. She was joined by coaches Nadir Moumen, Brent Leiba, and Clyde Watson on Tuesday evening.

Eliza Turner – Georgetown
High school: National Cathedral School
Intended major: Undecided
Primary position: Midfielder

Eliza Turner heads to D.C. next fall to join the Hoyas with current teammate Erika Harwood. One of the most decorated current MYS players, Eliza was named the ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference Player of the Year for 2018 and 2019 and was on the All-Conference team back to back for those years as well. She was joined by coaches Nadir Moumen, Brent Leiba, and Clyde Watson on Tuesday evening.