LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Rider University women's soccer head coach Drayson Hounsome has announced his team's incoming recruiting class for the 2026 season. New players include Karítas Guðmundsdóttir, Leila Racines Romero, Elaine Joy, Ella Brennan, Sophie Ibrahim, Macy Laidlaw, Alaina Longmeier, Sophia Barresi, and Cali Friedel will be joining the Broncs for the upcoming 2026 campaign.

"We are excited to bring in this group of players and expect them to make an impact straight away." Said Rider head coach Drayson Hounsome. "All have played at a high level and will add both talent and depth too our team this year"

Karítas Guðmundsdóttir
Position: Center-Back
Hometown: Kópavogur, Iceland
High School: Kvennaskólinn í Reykjavík
Club: Vikingur Reykjavik

• Played for Vikingur Reykjavik's women's soccer academy

 
Alaina Longmeier
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Shaker Heights, Ohio
High School: Beaumont School
Club: Cleveland Football Academy

• Recorded 28 goals and 45 assists with Beaumont, becoming the school's all-time leader in assists as a four-year varsity player
• North Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year
• Named to the All-Greater Cleveland First Team twice
• Named to the All-North Coast Conference First Team twice   
• 2025 NCC Champion
• Won three letters for varsity Basketball

 
Cali Friedel
Position: Midfielder/Winger
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
High School: The John Carroll School
Club: Annapolis Maryland Rush

• Three-year varsity soccer letter winner at John Carroll
• Named to All-IAAM and All-EIGIS teams on two occasions
• Named John Carroll women's soccer MVP twice
• Served as team captain during 2025 season
• Three-year member of indoor track team and four-year member of outdoor track team
• Named to four All-IAAM teams for track and was apart of five IAAM Champion track teams
• Won the indoor and outdoor women's 4x800 meter championship in 2025-25

 
Sophia Barresi
Position: Defender
Hometown: Bayonne, New Jersey
High School: Bayonne
Club: NJ Crush FC

• A four-year varsity member of the high school soccer team, Sophia served as team Capital for her final two years
• Tallied 11 goals and 21 assists during high school career
• Named to three All-League First Teams
• Four-time HCIAL Champion
• Won the 2024 Hudson County Championship

 
Ella Brennan
Position: Goalkeeper
Hometown: Dunboyne, County Meath, Republic of Ireland
High School: St. Peter's College Dunboyne
Club: Shamrock Rovers

• Was apart of the first ever Shamrock Rover's women's under-23 team while previously playing at the under-19 level
• Previously played for cross-town Dublin rivals, Bohemian's, at the youth level

 
Leila Racines Romero
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: East Rutherford, NJ
High School: Homeschool
Previous College: Georgian Court

• Transfer from Georgian Court while making 11 starts for the Lions during her freshman campaign
• Previously trained with Club Deportivo La Equidad and Atletico Nacional in Columbia while also training with Independiente del Valle and Liga de Quito Professional in Ecuador
• Won the u-18 US Futsal Northeast Regional Championship and US Youth Futsal National Championship with the Long Island Futsal Academy

 
Elaine Joy
Position: Forward/Midfielder
Hometown: Lincoln, Rhode Island
High School: Lincoln Senior
Club: Rhode Island Surf-Girls

• Two-year varsity women's soccer player at Lincoln Senior
• Named to All-Division First Team
• Named to the All-State Second Team
• Tallied 10 goals and seven assists during high school career

 
Sophie Ibrahim
Position: Forward/Midfielder
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
High School: Tottenville
Club: PDA South ECNL

• Represented the Republic of Georgia at the youth level

 
Macy Laidlaw
Position: Forward
Hometown: Richboro, PA
High School: Council Rock South
Club: Hex FC ECNL

• Played for Council Rock South's women's varsity soccer team and HEX FC in the ECNL