Azusa Pacific Women's Soccer head coach Brooke Lincoln has announced 13 student-athletes to the incoming 2024 class. Sami Cloutier, Paris Coleman, Faith Crouse, Julia Galdamez, Mikayla Gonzalez, Sarah Goodwin, Ava Koss, Zoey Kuhn, Neyda Martinez, Fernanda Medina, Alexia Muniz, Sami Robinson and Megan Salvesvold will officially be a part of the 2024 team, looking to make an impact for the Cougars on and off the field.
The group of 13 will look to contribute to the success of the program and add to the already experienced returners that Coach Lincoln has as the team prepares for the competitive 2024 slate ahead.
"The announcement of any incoming class is always an exciting day! Our 2024class is one we are thrilled about." said Lincoln. "The 2024class is unique in that four players transferred in the spring and have already played a semester with us... The class is a mix of four year transfers, twoyear transfers, and true freshman. We have a mix of players that will look to make an impact right away and players that we hope will develop into impact players in years to come"Lincoln continued, "This class is dynamic, competitive, has a high soccer IQ and several players come in with a chip on their shoulder with something to prove- I love investing in players who play with a chip on their shoulder. I'm looking forward to this class helping us take a step forward and helping us get over the hump of finishing at the top of the PacWest. This class has the right skill set, attitude, work rate, IQ, and character to do just that!It's a great day to be a Coug!"
Sami Cloutier | Defender | Visalia, Calif.
Sami joins the 2024 Cougar squad after concluding her senior year at El Diamante High School where she was a three-year varsity captain, All-League Defensive Player of the Year and the Valley All-Star game Most Valuable Player. With her club team Albion Central Valley SC NPL/DPL, she and her team won the 2024 NorCal State Cup Championships.
Sami on why she chose Azusa Pacific: I chose APU because it is the perfect place for me to continue my love for soccer, while also growing in my faith and pursuing a high level education alongside this group of supportive and dedicated teammates.
Paris Coleman | Defender | Pahrump, Nev.
Paris joins the 2024 Cougar squad after concluding her senior year at Pahrump Valley High School. During her career there, she was a three-time First Team All-State, All-Region and All-League performer. In addition to that, she was a two-time Nevada Defensive Player of the Year, two-time Nevada State Champion, 2023 Nevada All-Star Game Selection and two-time Nevada Club State Champion.
Paris on why she chose Azusa Pacific: I chose APU because for me it checked every single box. I love the Christian based community here as well as the extremely competitive soccer program. All the girls push each other to be the best version of themselves on and off the field and it's so amazing to get to be a part of that environment. It feels like I'm at home.
Faith Crouse | Forward | Mililani, Oahu, Hawai'i
Faith joins the Cougars after starting her careerat Cal Baptist where she was named to the WAC All-Academic Team in 2021 and 2022. In high school, she was named the ILH Co-Offensive Most Valuable Player in 2019 and 2020.
Faith on why she chose Azusa Pacific: I chose APU because of the great environment and the opportunity to be a contributor on and off the field. The best part of the program is the people who make it up - the coaches and the players. I cannot wait to get a chance to be a part of what God is doing at APU through the women's soccer program!
Julia Galdamez | Midfielder | Rialto, Calif.
Julia joins the Cougars after starting her career at Chaffey Community College where she was named a 2023 All-American, the Inland Empire Athletic Conference Player of the Year and a two-time First Team All-League performer.
Julia on why she chose Azusa Pacific: The Lord led me to choose APU. When I toured the school, I felt in my heart that this is where God wanted me to be to play soccer, study, and glorify Him. The welcoming environment and the love the staff shows really sold me on making one of the best decisions of my life.
Mikayla Gonzalez | Defender | La Mirada, Calif.
Mikayla joins the Cougars after starting her career at the University of North Dakota. During her career at La Mirada High School, she was named a captain in her sophom*ore year, the defensive Most Valuable Playerin 2022 and 2023, First Team All-CIF in Division I and she and her team were CIF Champions in 2021.
Mikayla on why she chose Azusa Pacific: I chose to transfer to APU because of the high quality of play, the community, and the players. APU has such a warm welcoming community and being able to play closer to home was the goal. In addition to all of that, coach Brooke (Lincoln) reminded me that I am more than just a number on the field. I am so excited for this new journey and what God has planned for me!
Sarah Goodwin | Defender | West Covina, Calif.
Sarah joins the Cougars after concluding her senior year at West Covina High School where she was a Valle Vista First Team All-League performer, named the Most Valuable Player for her team, earned the Valle Vista Five Scholar Athlete Award and earned the Sporting California Female Scholarship.
Sarah on why she chose Azusa Pacific: I chose APU because of the faith and supportive environment that is created.
Ava Koss | Forward | Corona, Calif.
Ava joins the Cougars after finishing her senior year at Santiago High School where she was a 2024 CIF Champion, 2024 DI State Finalist, League Champions all four years she played, an All-Academic honoree and an AP Scholar with distinction with a 4.5 GPA. With her club team Legends FC G06 ECNL RL, she and her team were 2023 ECNL Regional League West Champions and she was the leading goal scorer on the team for the 2022-23 season.
Ava on why she chose Azusa Pacific: I chose APU because of how comfortable both the girls and coaching staff made me feel. The proximity to home was also important to me. I also saw the competitiveness of both the academics and athletics here, which is why I chose APU.
Zoey Kuhn | Forward | Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Zoey joins the Cougars after beginning her career at Moorpark College. During her time there, she was named a captain, was the leading goal scorer for the team and was named a First Team All-Conference performer.
Zoey on why she chose Azusa Pacific: A campus visit helped my decision as I saw the campus' beauty and was warmly welcomed by the team. I discovered that APU offered excellent academics and the opportunity to be a part of a high-level team that not only strives for success in competition, but also emphasized the importance of faith in all aspects of life. Shortly after a zoom meeting with Coach Brooke where her words left a lasting impression on me, I made the decision to commit to APU.
Neyda Martinez | Defender | Los Angeles, Calif.
Neyda joins the 2024 Cougar squad after starting her career at UC Riverside.
Neyda on why she chose Azusa Pacific: I chose APU because it was a welcoming environment that would allow me to grow my faith and continue to develop as a person and as an athlete.
Fernanda Medina | Forward | Mexico City, Mexico
Fernanda joins the Cougars after finishing her senior year at Highlands International School Mexico. She played for IMG Academy from 2021-2023 where she was a U-17 Premier Team Captain Most Valuable Playerand won a DPL League National Championship in 2022 with U-19 Premier team. She also played for Mexico United FC where she and the team finished second at the 2023 World Games in Paris, France.
Fernanda on why she chose Azusa Pacific: I joined the APU women's soccer team to find a new sense of family on the field. Even though I haven't played yet, I'm excited to bond with the team and feel that sense of support and belonging.
Alexia Muniz | Goalkeeper | San Jose, Calif.
Alexia joins the 2024 Cougar Squad after beginning her career at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Throughout her career, she entered the SWAC Tournament with UAPB, was selected to play U18 tournament in Japan, and wona USDA National Championship in 2019 with San Jose Earthquakes.
Alexiaon why she chose Azusa Pacific: The girls at APU were so close, that's why I chose them. With God, and with each other. I found it refreshing and was inspired to move here permanently by what I saw. As well as have a better relationship with our savior.
Sami Robinson | Goalkeeper | Santa Clarita, Calif.
Samijoins the Cougars after finishing her senior year at Hart High School. Robinson was the captain of her club team and also maintained a 4.0 all four years she was in high school.
Samion why she chose Azusa Pacific: I chose APU for its closeness to my hometown, the competitive women's soccer program, and its religious culture.
Megan Salvesvold | Midfielder | Palmdale, Calif.
Megan joins the Cougars after starting her career at Antelope Valley College where she was named the Offensive Player of the Year, a two-time All-League performer and was the leading goal scorer on the team her sophom*ore year. In high school, she was a four year varsity member at Quartz High School.
Megan on why she chose Azusa Pacific: I chose APU because I could tell that it was more than a team who just loved the sport, but also a community who loved each other.
The Cougars kick off their season on Friday, August 23rd when they host Hope International for an exhibition match at 7:00 p.m. Head out to the Cougar Soccer Complex to support!
