U.S. Youth National Team standouts highlight Harvard women’s soccer recruiting class

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Winning six of the last 12 Ivy League championships, Harvard women’s soccer has announced an eight-member incoming class ranked in the Top-10 nationally by TopDrawerSoccer: Ainsley Ahmadian, Hannah Bebar, Taylor Fasnacht, Josefine Habso, Smith Hunter, Anna Karpenko, KaiLan Mackey, and Cayla McFarlane.

“The Harvard women’s soccer family is really excited to welcome such an outstanding class,” says Chris Hamblin, The Branca Family Head Coach for Harvard Women’s Soccer. “I would like to thank recruiting coordinator Mike Calise, Mark McDevitt, Lauren Berman, Kristy Zurmuhlen, and Emma Clark for recruiting and supporting such an incredible group of student-athletes and for all the hard-work that went into bringing this class to fruition.

Hailing from three countries, the incoming class features three of TopDrawerSoccer’s top-12 US based prospects and includes six players with national team experience. They will join a talented group of returners that posted a 12-3-1 overall record, including 5-1-1 against Ivy opponents.

“The incoming class brings wealth of experiences at the club and international level and will immediately add to the competitive nature of the program. They are joining a talented, experienced, and hungry group of returners. We can’t wait to get this group together as a team and get to work on the next chapter of Harvard women’s soccer history.”

Meet the class of 2024: 

Ainsley Ahmadian | F | Chicago, Ill. | Waubonsie Valley

U20 U.S. National Team…Ranked as high as the #9 recruit in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer….Member of the US U17 World Cup Roster/Pool….U.S. National Team U15-U17….Competed for the Top Ranked Eclipse Select Soccer Club in the ECNL….Three-time club All-American….Two-time Illinois State Champion….National Merit Finalist….Volunteers with the Special Olympics….Blue belt in Jiu Jitsu.

Hannah Bebar | M | Naperville, Ill. | Waubonsie Valley

U20 U.S. National Team…Ranked as high as the #1 recruit in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer…..Participated in the U17 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Uruguay….US National Team U14-U17….Competed for the Top Ranked Eclipse Select Soccer Club in the ECNL….Three-time club All American…Illinois State Cup Champion…Earned high honors all four years in high school….Blue belt in Jiu-jitsu.

Taylor Fasnacht |D | Allentown, Pa. | Parkland | Penn Fusion

Competed for the Top Ranked Penn Fusion Soccer Club in the US Developmental Academy….Invited to the US Youth National Team ID Center in 2019….Selected to compete in the Washington Spirit Development Program….2018 Generation Adidas selection…Helped her Penn Fusion team advance to the post-season for 5 straight years….Advanced to the ECNL quarterfinals in 2018….Member of the National Honor Society as well as English and Spanish Honor Society.

Josefine Habso | M | Rungsted Kyst, Denmark | Rungsted Gymnasium  

Member of Denmark’s full National Team…One of the youngest players ever selected to the full Danish National Team….Made her full team debut in a 2-1 win over Sweden….Danish National Team U17-U23….Captain of both U17 and U19 Danish National Teams….Competed for BRØNDBY club team in the highest women’s league in Denmark…UEFA Champions League quarter finalist 2019….Club winners of Gjensidige League, Danish Champions….Finalist for Danish Female Footballer of the Year….Awarded Player of Best team in the fall….Awarded numerous  “Man of the Match” awards for Denmark Youth National Team games….Top 10 goal scorer of Gjensidige Women’s League 2019….National Championship BSF U18 Futsol; Winner and awarded Best Player 2017….Norway Cup 2014 and 2015, Winner and awarded best player….Member of School Council 2017-2019….Member of Charity Committee….Talent Program Marketing Strategy for a start up business diploma 2017….Law firm internship 2018….Coach at summer & Christmas soccer camps 2015-2019.

Smith Hunter | D | Seattle, Wash. | The Overlake School

U20 U.S. National Team…. Ranked as high as the #3 recruit in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer….Participated in the U17 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Uruguay….U.S. National Team U16-U20….CONCACAF U17 World Cup Qualifier Champion….TopDrawSoccer #1 ranked defender in the 2020 class….Ranked #1 in the Pacific Northwest….Competed for the Top Ranked Seattle Reign Soccer Club in the US Developmental Academy…Regularly trains with the NWSL OL Reign first team…..Named Best XI in Western Conference of U.S. Soccer Development Academy twice….U17 Copa de Buenos Aires Tournament Champion….Emerald City League Rookie of the Year….2016 State Champion for Overlake Girl’s Soccer….Co-Coach at E.J. Futball Academy 2019-2020 & Coach Cassidy Camp 2015-2020….Volunteer at North Helpline Foodbank 2016-2020….Member of Black Student Union and Impact Club 2016-2020.

Anna Karpenko | GK |Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada | Bill Crothers Secondary School

U20 Canadian National Team….Member of the 2020 Canadian Olympic Team Pool….Canadian National Team U17-U19….CONCACAF U17 World Cup Qualifiers, 3rd place finish for Canada qualifying for U17 Women’s World Cup….Named Player of the Match following Canada’s win over the United States….Participated in U17 World Cup with a historic 4th place finish….Recorded shutouts against Colombia, South Korea and Germany…Elected Player of the Match following the shutout over Colombia….U20 Women’s friendly tournament in England, beating England and Northern Ireland….2016 Vice Principal award, responsibility award, and athlete of the year award…2016-2019 Academic Honor Roll….2018-2019: Volunteered for Canadian National team and PSG pro soccer player, Ashley Lawrence’s soccer event and charity toy drive (Yes She Canada)…Volunteers with the Ontario Soccer Coaching Education Program.

KaiLan Mackey | F/M |Calabasas, Calif. | Viewpoint School

Competed for the LA Breakers Soccer Club in the ECNL…Gold Cold Coast League MVP….Two-time All-CIF first team….Named to the Daily New All-Area Team twice….Three-time Gold Coast League first team….CIF Champion in 2017….Two-time Gold Coast League Champions….Selected to the ECNL Southwest Division All-Conference team….Club team won Surf Cup in 2018….National Merit Scholarship winner….Cum Laude Society….cellist in school orchestra — first stand cellist ; selected for CAIS Southern Section Honor Musical Festival; selected to perform in Worldstrides Honors Orchestra at Davies Concert Hall in San Francisco; performed at Carnegie Hall….Volunteer coach and director of soccer at Guadalupe Community Center, serving children of low-income immigrants and refugees.

Cayla McFarlane | F |Pasadena, Calif. | Polytechnic School

Trinidad and Tobago full National Team…U20 Trinidad and Tobago National Team….U17-U19 Trinidad and Tobago National Team….Competed in the 2019 Olympic Qualifiers ….Started the CONCACAF U20 Women’s Championship Tournament as an attacking midfielder in 2020….Scored three goals in two games for the U17 team vs. Nicaragua in October, 2017….Competed for the Pateadores Soccer Club in the US Developmental Academy…Led Polytechnic School in goals with 26 in 2019….Global scholar….Senior President of Women of Color Club.