University of Houston brings in 7 new Cougars via the transfer portal

HOUSTON – University of Houston Soccer Head Coach Jaime Frias announced the addition of seven transfer students-athletes to the 2025 squad.

Alexa Gonzalez, Adelhia Ghonda, Jaden Humbyrd, Blake Hodgson, Elly Harrington, Ashley Wright and Jocelyn Chinea will join the Cougars ahead of the spring season.

“We are excited to have our seven incoming transfer players here this spring,” said Frias. “The spring will be a time for them to familiarize themselves with our culture, team and University. We had specific areas we wanted to address in the transfer portal and feel strongly about the people coming into our program.

The most important quality we seek when recruiting players, outside their ability on the field, is their curiosity about getting better. This group is committed to developing, enhancing our culture and helping our team win games next fall. They are wonderful people who come from great families. We can’t wait to integrate them into our current squad!”

ALEXA GONZALEZ | GOALKEEPER | McALLEN, TEXAS | FAU

Alexa “Lexi” Gonzalez began her collegiate career at Arkansas before spending the last three seasons at FAU. Gonzalez made 47 starts and tallied 161 saves in her time with the Owls. The McAllen, Texas, native averaged 1.27 saves per game, compiling 15 wins including 14 shutouts.

In just three seasons in Boca Raton, Fla., Gonzalez climbed into seventh in career saves and is tied for fourth in FAU history in clean sheets.

ADELHIA GHONDA | FORWARD | HOUSTON, TEXAS | OKLAHOMA STATE

A transfer from Oklahoma State, Adelhia Ghonda returns to her hometown after appearing in 27 matches and making nine starts during her time in Stillwater, Okla. Ghonda tallied four goals and four assists during her two seasons with the Cowgirls.

The four-time all-district and three-time all-state performer helped Memorial High School to two district titles and the 6A Regional Championship in 2021. Ghonda scored 20 goals and notched six assists as a senior en route to collecting First Team All-State honors and was named the district’s offensive MVP.

JADEN HUMBYRD | MIDFIELDER | ISSAQUAH, WASH. | LSU

Jaden Humbyrd comes to Houston after a four-year career at LSU where she appeared in 52 matches with 20 starts. The Issaquah, Wash., native notched her first-career assist against UMass Lowell (Aug. 29, 2024).

Prior to LSU, Humbyrd was tabbed the Offensive MVP in all four of her high school seasons and helped her high school squad to the 2018 Kingco league title and a fourth-place finish in the 2018 Washington State Tournament.

JOCELYN CHINEA | FORWARD | TAMPA, FLA. | GEORGIA

A SEC Tournament Champion in 2023, Jocelyn Chinea appeared in 27 matches with a pair of starts for the Bulldogs. The Tampa, Fla., native tallied an assist against Illinois (Sept. 5, 2024) and Washington State (Sept. 15, 2024) during her sophomore season.

Chinea played for Tampa Catholic High School, reaching the FHSA Class 3A Region 2 Final and was tabbed a captain during her senior season. Chinea helped her club team, Tampa Bay United SC, to the ECNL U16 National Semifinals.

BLAKE HODGSON | DEFENDER | MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS | TCU

Blake Hodgson played in 10 matches with one start en route to the 2024 Big 12 Regular Season title and a Runner Up finish in the Big 12 Championship for TCU.

The Missouri City, Texas, native returns to Houston after being named the Vype Private School and Houston Chronicle Private School Player of the Year (2023-24). Hodgson led her team to its first-ever SPC title in school history in 2023 and was named to the All-SPC team.

The defender played club soccer for Albion Hurricanes and was also part of the U17 USYNT Player Pool. She was a two-time U.S. Regional Identification Training Camp Invite and an eight-time US Identification Training Camp participant. Hodgson was also named an International Champions Cup ECNL All-Star. In addition to soccer, Hodgson also competed on the track where she was a 10-time USATF Junior Olympic All-American.

ASHLEY WRIGHT | DEFENDER | GIG HARBOR, WASH. | SAN DIEGO

A transfer from San Diego, Wright spent three seasons with the Toreros appearing in 42 matches, making 24 starts and led the team in assists during her freshman season (2022).

Wright was a four-year varsity letterwinner at Gig Harbor High School and earned First Team All-Conference honors in 2019 and Second Team honors in 2020 and 2021. As a freshman, Wright scored the game-winning goal in the Washington State 3A High School Championship in 2018, for the Tide’s first-ever girls’ soccer state title. Wright was a U.S. Soccer Training Center Invitee from 2014-19.

ELLY HARRINGTON | DEFENDER | WINTER GARDEN, FLA. | TCU

Elly Harrington appeared in 10 matches to help TCU to a 2024 Big 12 Regular Season title and a Runner Up finish in the Big 12 Championship during her freshman campaign.

The Winter Garden, Fla., native earned ECNL Southeast All-Conference Second Team honors and was selected to the Continental Tire ECNL National Selection Game and played for the Florida Krush, earning Olympic Development Program selections in 2020 and 2021.