University of Georgia signs five transfers from high-level NCAA programs

ATHENS, Ga. – With 11 combined seasons of Power 5 experience, the University of Georgia soccer team bolstered its 2022 roster with the addition of five transfer student-athletes, as announced by head coach Keidane McAlpine.

“We are thrilled to welcome these five talented student-athletes to Athens and the University of Georgia,” said McAlpine. “Each of these five players will immediately make a positive impact on us, both on the field and in the community. We are excited to continue building our program and these additions are another great step in that process.”

Ruby Hellstrom – Forward, San Diego, Calif. (Washington)

Ruby Hellstrom joins Georgia following four seasons at Washington, where she was one of the Huskies’ top offensive threats. Hellstrom appeared in 58 games for the Huskies, making 37 starts, including all 18 for the fall 2021 season. In her four years, she tallied eight goals and 18 points, along with 36 shots in each of the past two seasons. The San Diego native scored all three of her goals last season in conference play, tying the career high she set in the spring 2021 campaign.

Alyssa Stadeker – Defender, Smyrna, Ga. (Florida State)

Alyssa Stadeker joins Georgia after playing her freshman season at Florida State, appearing in five games for the eventual national champions. Prior to joining the Seminoles, Stadeker won a pair of state regional championships at Woodward Academy and was named to the Georgia All-Star High School Soccer Team In 2019. The Smyrna native attended three U-15 National Team camps and was placed in the player pool for the 2021 U-19 Women’s National Team.

Dasia Torbert – Midfielder, Buford, Ga. (UCLA)

Dasia Torbert joins Georgia following two seasons at UCLA, where she appeared in 21 games and started in nine. Torbert scored her first collegiate goal last season against Arizona State, tying a game the Bruins once trailed by two, while also tallying assists in two other contests. The Buford native participated in U.S. Youth National Team training camps at four different levels and started two games for U-18 team in the 2020 Tricontential Cup. Torbert was rated as the No. 12 recruit nationally in 2020 by IMG after scoring 22 goals in her senior season at Mountain View High School. She is the daughter of two former Georgia student-athletes: her mother, Ali Comis, was a four-year letterwinner who was a member of the program’s inaugural 1995 freshman class, while her father, Regan Torbert, earned a football letter in 2000.

Nicole Vernis – Midfielder, North Palm Beach, Fla. (Florida)

Nicole Vernis joins Georgia following three seasons at Florida, where she appeared in 36 games and started in 31. Last season, Vernis tallied her lone goal of the season with a game-tying score against the Bulldogs, while also racking up two assists in over 1,300 minutes of play. In her first season, she scored twice in conference play against South Carolina and Missouri. Prior to joining the Gators, she was named the 2019 Palm Beach Class 3A Player of the Year, earning a spot on the All-Palm Beach Team in all four high school seasons.

Due to SEC transfer regulations, Vernis will sit out the 2022 season and begin playing in 2023.

Joyelle Washington – Forward, Canton, Mich. (Wisconsin)

Joyelle Washington joins Georgia after playing her freshman season at Wisconsin, appearing in 19 games for the Badgers. Washington scored two goals for Wisconsin, including one in her collegiate debut against Eastern Illinois and one in the NCAA Second Round game against UC Irvine. For the season, the Canton, Michigan native tallied eight shots, including four on goal, and played over 45 minutes in two of the Badgers’ NCAA Tournament games. Prior to joining Wisconsin, she ranked in the IMG Academy Top 150 and had a four-star rating from Top Drawer Soccer. In 2017, she also scored two goals for the U-16 National Team in a match against Croatia.