HAMILTON — Colgate Women's Soccer Head Coach Lyndse Hokanson has announced the addition of eight players, who will join the team in the fall of 2024.

Colgate's Class of 2028 comes from seven states and will bring experience playing for top-level club teams in the Elite Club National League (ECNL) and the Girls Academy League.

The group includes several all-conference and all-state honorees coming from championship-winning high school and club teams. They have also proven themselves in the classroom and have been leaders in their communities.

The members of the Class of 2028 are listed below in alphabetical order.

Cate Childers
Forward
Pacific Palisades, Calif.
LA Breakers FC ECNL

Before Colgate
Childers has played varsity soccer at The Archer School For Girls and was a First Team All-Liberty League selection in 2022-23. She has also played club for LA Breakers FC in the ECL and earned All-Southwest ECNL during the 2022-23 campaign. Academically, Childers received a bronze medal for the National Spanish Exam and has also received two gold keys in photography from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

Why Childers chose Colgate: "I chose Colgate because of the people I met and the welcoming environment. From the beginning of my process with Colgate, I felt very comfortable to be myself which is exactly what I was looking for. The coaches, players, and the Hamilton community made me feel at home and I can't wait to begin next year."

Coach Hokanson on Childers:  "Since the first chance we got to see Cate play we have loved watching the way that she competes. She has a nose for goal that you can't teach, and always finds ways to make things happen for her team. On top of that, she has a top-notch work rate on both sides of the ball that is uncommon. No matter where she lines up on the front line, she is a problem for opposing defenses and we are excited to see that translate to the Patriot League."

Bianca Howitt
Midfielder
Glendale, Calif.
LA Breakers FC ECNL

Before Colgate
A four-year varsity starter at Polytechnic School, Howitt earned All-Prep League First Team honors during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. Those same years, she was the recipient of the team's Offensive MVP Award. Howitt has played club for the LA Breakers of the ECNL and was named Southwest All-Conference First Team for the 2022-23 season after grabbing a spot on the Second Team in 2021-22. She also helped guide her team to a Surf Cup Championship in 2021. In her academic endeavors, Howitt has served as the Co-Leader of the Education group of the Student Athletic Leadership Council (SALC) and as the Co-Leader of the Closing the Loop Group.

Why Howitt chose Colgate:  "I chose Colgate because of its high-level academics and liberal arts emphasis along with its competitive soccer program."

Coach Hokanson on Howitt: "We feel as though people are going to love watching Bianca play as much as we do. She brings a different style of play and some flare to the midfield, and her creativity is really something that we are excited about. We believe she will add a new dimension to our midfield group, while also capable of aligning with the things we already ask of our players in there. It's an added bonus that she has some chemistry with Cate from their time together at Breakers, and feel that the pair of them are a fun addition to our attacking dynamics."

Madison Isaacs
Defender
Laurel, Md.
Maryland United ECNL

Before Colgate
Isaacs has played four years of varsity soccer at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School and garnered second team all-conference accolades during her senior campaign. She also earned her team's Unsung Hero Award. Additionally, Isaacs has played for Maryland United of the ECNL and earned first team all-conference honors with the club in 2021. Academically, Isaacs has been a member of the National Honor Society and is an honor roll student.

Why Isaacs chose Colgate: "It is an amazing academic school, I really connected with the coaches, and it felt right!"

Coach Hokanson on Isaacs: "Maddie is a versatile defender who is tough and tough to get around. She has the qualities we would hope for in being both a strong defensive presence while also being comfortable on the ball and building out. She was a part of a team that fought and clawed their way to a national championship at the club level this year, and we are always seeking to add winners into our program. Maddie is a proven winner, and her steady presence will be a great addition to our backline corps."

Ava McCloskey
Midfielder
Douglassville, Pa.
Penn Fusion ECNL

Before Colgate
McCloskey has played club for Penn Fusion Soccer Academy. She was selected to the North Atlantic All-Conference First Team during the 2022-23 campaign. McCloskey attends Pope John Paul II High School, where she is a student ambassador and a member of the Latin Club. Additionally, McCloskey earned Field Marshal Second Honors during the 2020-21 and 2022-23 school years and Field Marshall Third Honors in 2021-22.

Why McCloskey chose Colgate: "I chose Colgate to be able to play soccer in a competitive environment while also pursuing a degree at a top university."

Coach Hokanson on McCloskey:  "One of the most exciting things about Ava is that she continues to get better and better with each passing week. Ava is not only a tough defender and physical presence in the midfield, but has an exceptional technical arsenal in her ability to distribute the ball as well. Another player coming from an exceptional club environment, Ava has had the chance to play with and against some of the best in the country for some time now. Thanks to that experience, Ava will bring an elite competitiveness into the training ground for us."

Ava Stockard
Goalkeeper
Broomfield, Colo.
Broomfield Soccer Club GA

Before Colgate
A four-year varsity starting goalkeeper at Prospect Ridge Academy, Stockard earned all-conference honorable mention during her first two seasons before being named to the second team as a junior after leading the squad to the state quarterfinals for the second straight season. She also served as team captain for two seasons. Stockard holds the school record for least goals against in a season. She helped her club team, Broomfield Soccer Club of the Girls Academy, when the state championship in 2021 after stopping two penalty kicks. Also guided the team to a Regional runner-up finish. Stockard has been a high Honor Roll student since her freshman year. She also earned a 2023 AP Scholar Award and has been a member of the National Honors Society.

Why Stockard chose Colgate: "I chose Colgate because of the combination of great academics, strong school spirit, and a high-level soccer program. I also loved the idea of playing for an all-female coaching staff. The coaches and team have already made me feel so supported and welcomed, not only as a player, but also as a student, and a person. The second I stepped onto campus it felt like home! I can't wait!"

Coach Hokanson on Stockard: "We are pumped to bring in Ava and all that she'll add to what we would consider to be a very strong group of GK's. She has a great presence, is brave, and consistently makes saves both simple and complex for her team. She also comes from a great environment in terms of competition and training at the club level, and we know that will help her seamlessly step into the competitive corps we have here. Most importantly, we feel Ava's got a super high ceiling, and look forward to tapping her potential as a goalkeeper."

Chloe Thompson
Defender
Clifton, Va.
TSJ FC Virginia

Before Colgate
Thompson has played three years of varsity soccer at Centreville High School and is a two-time Scholar-Athlete Award recipient. She currently plays club for The St James FC Virginia, but previously played for Bethesda Soccer Academy. During her club career, Thompson has helped her team win the Virginia State Cup Championship, the Maryland State Cup Championship, and the USYS East Regional Cup Championship. In the classroom, she is a member of the National Honor Society and the W.E.B. DuBois National Honor Society. Thompson was also a College Board's National African American Recognition Award Recipient and a 2023 CVHS Posse Foundation Scholar Nominee. Additionally, she earned her school's High Academic Achievement Award.

Why Thompson chose Colgate: "I knew Colgate was right for me the moment I stepped on to campus. From the close-knit community to seeing student-athletes perform at a high level on and off the field, I knew it was a perfect fit for me. The warm welcome that I felt from Coach Lyndse, Coach Haley, Coach Abbey, and the team really sealed the deal for me.

Coach Hokanson on Thompson: "Chloe is one of those kind of utility players you hope to find every year to add to your roster. She brings such an exciting dimension to the field regardless of whether she is protecting the goal or attacking it, and you always want to have players like that in your program. We love the determination, resilience, and maturity that Chloe will add to our team, as well as the commitment she has to the growth and development in her own game which will undoubtedly elevate our locker room."

Josie Tunney
Forward
Darien, Conn.
CFC ECNL

Before Colgate
Tunney has been a four-year varsity starter and is a two-time WCAL All-League First Team selection, earning the honor in 2021- 2022 and 2022-2023. She was also named the WCAL Forward of the Year for the 2021-2022 season. Tunney spent the first part of her club career with MVLA Roma before moving to Connecticut her senior year. She helped the squad win the NorCal Conference Championships as the No. 1 ranked team in the League in 2022 and 2023. Tunney was named an ECNL Northwest 06 Conference Player to Watch for 2018-19. She served as a captain for Mustang FC from 2019-2021. Tunney was a member of the Norcal PDP Regional and State Pool from 2015-21 and the Cal North ODP State Pool/Travel and Regional Team from 2017-19. She is ranked the No. 15 2024 Forward in California by Prep Soccer. In the classroom, she was a member of the Principal's Honor Roll all semesters while at St. Ignatius College Preparatory and also served as a sophomore Class Student Council Representative.

Why Tunney chose Colgate: "I chose Colgate because I love the athletic and academic balance the University offers, as well as the amazing coaching staff and team environment."

Coach Hokanson on Tunney: "Josie is accustomed to being in environments where there is a healthy presence of high-caliber players and training. Thanks to this experience, she brings tactical and technical knowledge coupled with an ability to make things happen for her team in the attack. Her versatility, athleticism, and strength are all important pieces to what make her special. We are excited about the dimension she brings with service and goal-scoring ability for our frontline and are happy to add another Bay Area threat to our attacking group!"

Jade Vieira
Midfielder
Howell, NJ
Cedar Stars Academy Monmouth GA

Before Colgate
A four-year varsity team member at Howell High School, Vieira earned All-A North Second Team honors from her first year through her junior season. As a sophomore, she was named to the Coaches All-Division Team: Class A North. Additionally, Vieira grabbed a spot on the Monmouth County All-Girls Soccer Second Team as a sophomore and junior. She garnered A-North Player of the Week accolades during her first two years. Vieira also served as a team captain for Howell. She played club soccer for Cedar Stars Academy Monmouth and was a Girls Academy Mid Atlantic Talent ID Conference Player. Academically, she has been a member of the National Honor Society and is an honor roll student.

Why Vieira chose Colgate: "I chose Colgate University because of the competitive, high standard of academics and athletics, and the family atmosphere you get wherever you are."

Coach Hokanson on Vieira: "Jade has a lot of the qualities that you would want out of a player in your midfield – work rate, vision, and playmaking ability. Jade is a soccer-head, obsessed in the best way with improving her own ability and learning more and more with each session and game. That allows us as a staff to know that she will only get better as her career goes on here at Colgate, which is exciting considering the things she is capable of now. We know she'll make a positive impact on our environment straightaway in pushing those around her to keep getting better."