STANFORD, Calif. – Continuing to maintain one of the premier women’s soccer programs in the nation, The Knowles Family Director of Women's Soccer Paul Ratcliffe announced the signing of seven standout student-athletes for the 2025 season.
The high-profile signing class includes Caroline Birkel, Amelia Bray, Lily Freer, Brooke Holden, Noe Johnson, Y-Lan Nguyen and Alex Tay.
“We are excited to welcome our 2025 recruiting class to the Farm,” Ratcliffe said. “They are an outstanding group of student-athletes and will add quality and strength to our team. They fill all our positional needs and will make an immediate impact in our quest to compete for championships. I can’t wait to begin coaching this incredible group of student-athletes.”
The signing class will join a Stanford squad that is currently preparing to make its 33rd NCAA Tournament appearance today when it hosts UC Santa Barbara at 6 p.m. in the first round. The Cardinal has won three national titles in program history, most recently capturing the crown in 2019.
Caroline Birkel | Goalkeeper | Chesterfield, Mo. | St. Louis Scott Gallagher
- Helped the United States to a bronze medal at the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup
- U20 and U17 WNT Training camps
- Two-time ECNL All-American (2022-23)
- ECNL Midwest All-Conference first team (2023)
- Two-time ECNL National Champion (2022-23)
- Two ECNL National Selection Games Phoenix and Houston (2022)
- ECNL National Training Camp (2022)
Amelia Bray | Midfielder | Seattle, Wash. | Crossfire Premier Soccer Club
- ECNL national selection game Arizona (2022)
- U15 USYNT camp roster
- Two-time ECNL girls Northwest all-conference team (2022-23)
- ODP Champion (2019)
- ECNL PHX standout
- ECNL club standout
Lily Freer | Midfielder | Alton, Ill. | St. Louis Scott Gallagher
- First team to win back-to-back national championships in ECNL history (2022-23)
- Three-time ECNL Midwest Conference champion (2021-23)
- Team captain of St. Louis Scott Gallagher (2024)
- Helped guide her club team to the ECNL semifinals (2024)
- Guided her club to an undefeated record for three consecutive years (2021-2023)
- Scored 18 goals with 16 assists during her freshman year of high school (2022)
Brooke Holden | Forward | Alpine, Calif. | Rebels Soccer Club
- Two-time All-League first team (2022-23)
- All-CIF first team (2023)
- Guided her team to a league and CIF championship as a junior (2023)
- Scored 37 goals and earned Offensive MVP as a junior in high school (2023)
- US National ID camp invitee (2022)
- ECNL Southwest All-Conference second team (2022)
- Scored 35 goals during the 2023-24 ECNL season
- ECNL Southwest All-Conference first team (2023)
Noe Johnson | Midfielder | Oakland, Calif. | Lamorinda Soccer Club
- Davis Legacy College Showcase Player of the Tournament (2021)
- USYNT Regional ID camp participant (2021)
- Competed in the Women's Premier Soccer League for Lamorinda SC (2021-24)
- Two-Time team captain (2023-24)
- Four-time GA Northwest Conference Champion (2020-23)
- WPSL Conference Champion (2021)
- Two-time GA National Talent ID invitee (2022-23)
- Four-time GA Regional Talent ID invitee (2020-2023)
Y-Lan Nguyen | Midfielder | Fairfax, Va. | Virginia Development Academy
- U17 USYNT World Cup (2024)
- U17 USYNT Concacaf Champion (2024)
- U16 USYNT Montaigu Mondial Champion (2023)
- Two-time ECNL Mid Atlantic Player of the Year (2022-23)
- Two-time ECNL All-American (2022-23)
- ECNL Conference Cup Best XI (2024)
- Three-time ECNL All-Conference first team (2022-24)
Alex Tay | Defender | Bellevue, Wash. | Seattle United
- Three-time team captain (2022-24)
- Competed for Ghana at the 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup
- Helped Seattle United to clinch ECNL Northwest Conference title (2024)
- ECNL U16 Northwest All-Conference first team (2023)
- ECNL U17 Northwest All-Conference first team (2024)
- ECNL Houston National Selection Game (2023)
- Washington high school 3A state quarterfinalists and Metro League champions (2022)
- Guided high school team to third place in the state tournament and third in the Metro League championship (2023)
- Member of state championship high school team and Metro League finalists (2021)
- Selected for Capelli Girls All-Star U17 Team; competed against Leicester City, Manchester City, and Sheffield United academy teams on UK tour (2023)