Newcomers Bring Fresh Energy to Drexel Soccer
Drexel University’s women’s soccer team is set to welcome seven new players for the 2026 campaign, a mix of fresh talent and seasoned transfers that promises to reshape the squad’s dynamics.
Head coach Shannon Grogan expressed confidence in the incoming class, noting their competitive drive and the potential to accelerate the program’s growth.
Freshmen Making Their Mark
The newcomers include three freshmen — Reyes Aronson, Julia Dunaway and Rebecca Ulmer — who each earned notable high school accolades across different states and provinces.
Aronson, a two‑year captain from Palo Alto High School in California, collected First Team All‑SCVAL honors twice, while Dunaway captured the 2024 AAA West Virginia Soccer Player of the Year title after a standout career at Wheeling Park. Ulmer, hailing from Calgary, Alberta, adds a record of four division championships and three zone titles from her high school circuit.
Transfers Bring Collegiate Experience
Complementing the freshmen, four transfers — Izzy Allred, Taylor Hannah, Ava Skaggs and Jaida Manderson — bring a wealth of collegiate experience. Allred helped her high school team to back‑to‑back PIAA 4A State finals and earned First Team All‑Main Line honors. Hannah arrives from Oregon State, where she started three years and logged over 2,000 minutes between the posts. Skaggs, a three‑time state medalist from Mount Hebron High School in Paoli, Pennsylvania, and Manderson, who appeared in ten games for Western Michigan and contributed to a regular‑season MAC Championship, round out the group.
Geographically, the class spans five U.S. states and two Canadian provinces, underscoring the program’s expanding reach. Their diverse backgrounds are expected to enrich the team’s tactical versatility and foster a vibrant locker‑room culture.
Coach Grogan believes the blend of high‑school standouts and Division I veterans will not only bolster on‑field performance but also reinforce Drexel’s identity as a nurturing environment for student‑athletes aiming to excel both academically and competitively.