Women's Soccer Welcomes Class of 2029
8/1/2025 12:55:00 PM | Women's Soccer
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo., - The Falcons welcome 11 additions to the women's soccer team, as the incoming freshmen reported for I-Day on Wednesday June 25 and have since then completed Basic Cadet Training.
Melissa Araujo
Round Rock, TX
Pflugerville High School
Central Defensive Midfielder
During high school, Araujo won the title of Freshman of the Year and was a three-time First Team All-District selection. She was named the Offensive Player of the Year and also served as the Lonestar Soccer Club 07GA team captain for the GA U17 National Championship. The rising freshman was also awarded Team MVP.
Zahra Friess
Topeka, KS
Washburn Rural High School
Forward
Friess lettered in soccer all four years of high school under Doug Woolery and Biran Hesyel. She was named First Team All-State four times and was a 2x MVP Forward. The incoming freshman was named the Kaw Valley Conference Player of the Year twice and helped her team to the state finals during her senior season.
Nai'a Garana
Waikoloa, HI
Kealakehe High School
Wingback
Garana is a four-year letterwinner and played for coaches John Edwards and Jurvi Garana. She is a 3x All-Big Island Interscholastic Federation Team selection and served as team captain for two years, while also playing for the Hawaii Surf Soccer Club. The incoming freshman was named Most Outstanding Athlete twice during her high school career.
AJ Heap
North Ogden, UT
Weber High School
Wingback/Forward
Heap is a four-year letterwinner from Weber High School. Following her senior season, she was named a 6A All-State Honorable Mention and received the Weber Warrior Excellence in Soccer Award four times. The incoming freshman served as team captain while also playing for the Utah Avalanche ECNL and WPSL.
Ayla Janssen
Columbus, NE
Columbus High School
Centerback
Janssen lettered all four years of high school and played for Zackary Wayman. Among her many accolades, she was named the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year, 2025 LIR Prep Club Female Athlete of the Year, 2025 Sertoma Club Female Athlete of the Year, and the 2024 Player of the Season. She is a 2024 NSAA Girls State Soccer Qualifier and played for Nebraska Select.
Ella Johnson
Pearland, TX
Pearland High School
Centerback
Johnson was a four-year varsity starter under Elise Cox at Pearland HS. She served as team captain for three years and received numerous honors such as District Defensive MVP, District All-Around MVP, and was an All-Region selection. The incoming freshman also played for RISE Soccer Club from 2022-24.
Sammi Kinoshita
Wailuku, HI
Henry Perrine Baldwin High School
Midfielder
Kinoshita played for the Bears of Henry Perrine Baldwin HS and graduated as the Valedictorian with academic honors.
Trishelle Lopez
Cape Coral, FL
Mariner High School
Goalkeeper
Lopez is a four-year letterwinner and the 2024 State Player of the Year. She was also honored as the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year and the 2024 SWFI Athlete of the Year. The incoming freshman played club for the Cape Coral Cyclones of the WPSL and was the 2023 ECNL Player of the Year.
Ellie McCarron
Riverton, NJ
Palmyra High School
Fullback
McCarron lettered all four years in high school, playing under Melanie Sharkey. She is a 4x All-County selection and served as team captain, while also playing for Real RFA in the Girls Academy League.
Sydney Nelms
Fort Collins, CO
Fossil Ridge High School
Goalkeeper
Nelms is a four-year letterwinner who played under Cyrus Salehi. She was a 3x All-State honoree and earned All-Conference team selections for three years. The freshman also played for Colorado Rapids Soccer Club and was a 2023 ECNL National Finalist.
Nalei Shannon
Kaneohe, HI
Kamehameha Schools – Kapalama Campus
Midfielder
Shannon is a two-time letterwinner who earned Second Team All-State as a junior in high school. She was selected for the inaugural Native Hawaiian All-State Soccer team, Nā 'Ālapa, where she played a key role in their success in the Northern California College Premier Showcase. Shannon was also a member of the GA '07 Leahi Soccer Club.
The Falcons head to Columbia Falls, Mont., where they will play a neutral exhibition match against Montana, on Sunday August 3.
Melissa Araujo
Round Rock, TX
Pflugerville High School
Central Defensive Midfielder
During high school, Araujo won the title of Freshman of the Year and was a three-time First Team All-District selection. She was named the Offensive Player of the Year and also served as the Lonestar Soccer Club 07GA team captain for the GA U17 National Championship. The rising freshman was also awarded Team MVP.
Zahra Friess
Topeka, KS
Washburn Rural High School
Forward
Friess lettered in soccer all four years of high school under Doug Woolery and Biran Hesyel. She was named First Team All-State four times and was a 2x MVP Forward. The incoming freshman was named the Kaw Valley Conference Player of the Year twice and helped her team to the state finals during her senior season.
Nai'a Garana
Waikoloa, HI
Kealakehe High School
Wingback
Garana is a four-year letterwinner and played for coaches John Edwards and Jurvi Garana. She is a 3x All-Big Island Interscholastic Federation Team selection and served as team captain for two years, while also playing for the Hawaii Surf Soccer Club. The incoming freshman was named Most Outstanding Athlete twice during her high school career.
AJ Heap
North Ogden, UT
Weber High School
Wingback/Forward
Heap is a four-year letterwinner from Weber High School. Following her senior season, she was named a 6A All-State Honorable Mention and received the Weber Warrior Excellence in Soccer Award four times. The incoming freshman served as team captain while also playing for the Utah Avalanche ECNL and WPSL.
Ayla Janssen
Columbus, NE
Columbus High School
Centerback
Janssen lettered all four years of high school and played for Zackary Wayman. Among her many accolades, she was named the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year, 2025 LIR Prep Club Female Athlete of the Year, 2025 Sertoma Club Female Athlete of the Year, and the 2024 Player of the Season. She is a 2024 NSAA Girls State Soccer Qualifier and played for Nebraska Select.
Ella Johnson
Pearland, TX
Pearland High School
Centerback
Johnson was a four-year varsity starter under Elise Cox at Pearland HS. She served as team captain for three years and received numerous honors such as District Defensive MVP, District All-Around MVP, and was an All-Region selection. The incoming freshman also played for RISE Soccer Club from 2022-24.
Sammi Kinoshita
Wailuku, HI
Henry Perrine Baldwin High School
Midfielder
Kinoshita played for the Bears of Henry Perrine Baldwin HS and graduated as the Valedictorian with academic honors.
Trishelle Lopez
Cape Coral, FL
Mariner High School
Goalkeeper
Lopez is a four-year letterwinner and the 2024 State Player of the Year. She was also honored as the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year and the 2024 SWFI Athlete of the Year. The incoming freshman played club for the Cape Coral Cyclones of the WPSL and was the 2023 ECNL Player of the Year.
Ellie McCarron
Riverton, NJ
Palmyra High School
Fullback
McCarron lettered all four years in high school, playing under Melanie Sharkey. She is a 4x All-County selection and served as team captain, while also playing for Real RFA in the Girls Academy League.
Sydney Nelms
Fort Collins, CO
Fossil Ridge High School
Goalkeeper
Nelms is a four-year letterwinner who played under Cyrus Salehi. She was a 3x All-State honoree and earned All-Conference team selections for three years. The freshman also played for Colorado Rapids Soccer Club and was a 2023 ECNL National Finalist.
Nalei Shannon
Kaneohe, HI
Kamehameha Schools – Kapalama Campus
Midfielder
Shannon is a two-time letterwinner who earned Second Team All-State as a junior in high school. She was selected for the inaugural Native Hawaiian All-State Soccer team, Nā 'Ālapa, where she played a key role in their success in the Northern California College Premier Showcase. Shannon was also a member of the GA '07 Leahi Soccer Club.
The Falcons head to Columbia Falls, Mont., where they will play a neutral exhibition match against Montana, on Sunday August 3.
Players Mentioned
CDM
/ Women's Soccer
ST
/ Women's Soccer
WB
/ Women's Soccer
CB
/ Women's Soccer
CB
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
FB
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
M
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