JERSEY CITY, NJ - The Saint Peter's University women's soccer team and head coach Julia announced today the signing of 14 freshmen and three transfers to the program for the beginning of the 2022 season. Three countries (USA, Canada, Serbia) and eight states (CA, FL, MD, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA) are represented in this class.
"We are very happy and excited to bring on such a large class," head coach Julia Bazi said. "We are looking forward to working with this group, preparing for a big preseason and to see what we can accomplish together!"
Meet the Saint Peter's University Women's Soccer Class of 2026
Stella Accettola | Midfielder | Maple, Ontario, Canada | Saint Joan of Arc
Before Saint Peter's: Accettola comes to Saint Peter's by crossing international borders, joining the Peacocks by way of Canada. She played club for Aurora FC and she was named Junior girls soccer MVP in 2019 in the YRAA, the league her high school competed in. She was also a three-time honor roll student at her high school.
Coach Bazi on Accettola: "Stella can play in multiple positions and plays them all just as equally well. She is hardworking and ambitious which is what we want from her. She will make a great impact on our team."
Alexa Ceci | Defender | Lothian, Maryland | Southern High School
Before Saint Peter's: Ceci was a four-year starter on Varsity Soccer: as a Freshman & Sophomore playing for The Calverton School in Huntingtown, MD and as a Junior & Senior playing for Southern High School in Harwood, MD. In the 2021 season, she was selected 2nd Team All-County Coaches Selection (Anne Arundel County, MD) & 2nd Team All-County Capital Gazette Selection. Was awarded Team MVP (most valuable player) by the Southern Coaches. In the 2019 season, she was selected 1st Team MISAL All-Conference as a Sophomore and selected 2nd Team All-Conference as a Freshman in 2018. She helped lead Southern High School to the 2021 MD State Western Regional finals. She also helped lead The Calverton School to back-to-back MISAL (Maryland Independent School Athletic League) Championship Games in 2018 & 2019.
Coach Bazi on Ceci: "Alexa is a very versatile player who we can see playing in a number of different roles for us next fall. She's extremely technical and a real student of the game, which will allow her to contribute all around the park."
Morgan Day | Midfielder | Half Moon Bay, California | The Academy of Art University
Before Saint Peter's: Day transfers into Saint Peter's for the 2022 soccer season. She appeared in all six matches during the COVID-19 shortened season, starting in four and totaling 458 minutes, which was the fifth-most minutes on Art University. She contributed to one shutout as a midfielder and totaled six shots, three of which were on goal. She recorded a shot in all but one game.
Coach Bazi on Day: "Morgan is a very technical midfielder who has already started to contribute to the team this year. Her national team background and high expectations for herself will help raise the team's standards."
Keely Donovan | Forward | Annandale, Virginia | Falls Church
Before Saint Peter's: Donovan makes her way up north to come to Saint Peter's this coming fall. She comes to the Peacocks with some championship level experience, winning the district championship in 2021, as well as finishing as the runner up in 2019.
Coach Bazi on Donovan: "Keely will bring a lot of pace and quality to our attacking style of play. She's a versatile player who can slot into a number of roles for us going forward."
Isabella Fernandez de Cueto | Midfielder | Miami, Florida | American Heritage School
Before Saint Peter's: Fernandez de Cueto was a FHSAA Class A State Champion her freshman year at the American Heritage School. She represented the Dominican Republic National Team, as well as earning awards such as the 2019 USYS Southern Regional Champion, was a three-time Florida State Champion from 2017-2019, and was on the Florida ODP State Team in 2018.
Coach Bazi on Fernandez de Cueto: "With the graduation of our two-year captain, Bella brings some much-needed quality to our central midfield group. She's a smart player and really talented on the ball so we're looking forward to the attacking opportunities she can create for us."
Samantha Garcia | Defender | El Centro, California | Central Union
Before Saint Peter's: Garcia makes the cross country trek to come to Saint Peter's. She attended Central Union High School and played club for West Coast F.C., located in San Diego. Her Academy team won the USL Championship. She also became the first female place kicker to score a point in the CIF playoffs.
Coach Bazi on Garcia: "Samantha is a very talented defender who will make an immediate impact on the team. She is hard working, strong, smart and can contribute in the attacking third also. We are very excited to see what she will bring to the MAAC."
Gianna Grassifulli | Forward | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Saint Hubert's Catholic
Before Saint Peter's: Grassifulli makes her way across state borders to wind up in Jersey City. She has earned multiple individual awards at Hubert's Catholic, including first team all catholic, first team all state team, Southeastern Pennsylvania All Star Team, Philadelphia Catholic League Leading Scorer, she had 30 Goal season, second all-time in goals at her school, Northeast Times Female Athlete of the year, and was a PA Preps All Area Team. Her school was also top Four in the Philadelphia Catholic League, and reached the final 16 in the State Tournament.
Coach Bazi on Grassifulli: "Gianna has come a long way in a very short amount of time and we expect to see that continued growth in Jersey City. Strong on the ball and fast in the open field, she's a handful for defenders to deal with."
Alyssa Hackett | Midfielder | Rochester, New York | Spencerport
Before Saint Peter's: Hackett comes to Saint Peter's with a lot of championship experience, having won the Section V championship all four years of high school. Her team also placed third at states twice, as well as finishing second last season. She was also a part of the National Honor Society, as well as the Spanish Honor Society
Coach Bazi on Hackett: "Alyssa will be a terrific addition to our midfield/forward group. Her pace and talent on the ball will be exciting to see this fall and help us to improve our offensive output."
Emma Lopes | Goalkeeper | Tiverton, Rhode Island | Tiverton
Before Saint Peter's: Lopes makes her way to Jersey City via Rhode Island and will be the only Rhode Island native on the roster this season. Her senior year at Tiverton, she was selected for First Team All Division award, an All-County award and a nomination for Rhode Island Interscholastic League Senior Athlete of the year.
Coach Bazi on Lopes: "Emma is a solid goalkeeper who will round out an extremely strong goalkeeper core. She's a quality shot stopper, strong in the air, and good with the ball at her feet, all of which are critical for us."
Brianna Lopez | Forward | Linden, New Jersey | Linden
Before Saint Peter's: Lopez makes the short trek to Jersey City for the 2022 season. At Linden, she was named to the All-Conference Team her senior year and the All-County Conference Team her junior year.
Coach Bazi on Lopez: "Briana is another local player who we were lucky to pick up. She can play a number of midfield and forward roles and should bring a lot to our ability to create opportunities in the attacking half."
Olivia Mackethan | Goalie | Boyertown, Pennsylvania | Boyertown
Before Saint Peter's: Mackethan decided not to play high school ball, instead taking an alternative route by playing ODP for four years. She was a high honor roll student all four years of high school.
Coach Bazi on Mackethan: "Olivia is a very well-rounded goalkeeper who will bring a lot of quality to the table. She comes from a strong club background and has been well-prepared for the college game."
Taylor Moyer | Forward | Doylestown, Pennsylvania | Central Bucks West
Before Saint Peter's: Moyer crosses the NJ/PA border to make her way to Jersey City. She was named all-league first team twice and earned all-state honors her junior year. At Central Bucks West, she recorded 55 goals and tallied 51 assists over the course of her four years there.
Coach Bazi on Moyer: "Taylor has a strong soccer pedigree and we're looking forward to having her ability and knowledge in McGinley Square. She's a talented goalscorer who should slot in well with our attacking core."
Mei Li O'Neil | Defender | Burbank, California | Southwest Baptist University
Before Saint Peter's: O'Neil represents another California native in this year's class. In high school, she was named rookie of the year in 2018, second team all league in 2019 and 2020, was the Sunshine League champion in 2019, was named First Team All-League in 2021, and was a varsity captain in 2020 and 2021.
Coach Bazi on O'Neil: "Mei Li is a fantastic defensive addition for us. Not only are her defending abilities top notch, she is a great asset moving forward, as well. We're excited to see her gel with the rest of the defense and midfield group."
Tyler Pamperin | Defender | Anaheim, California | Canyon High School
Before Saint Peter's: Pamperin joins Day, Garcia, and O'Neil as California representatives in the 2022 recruiting class. At Canyon High School, she was a scholar athlete and was named MVP of her team.
Coach Bazi on Pamperin: "Tyler is a very calm and talented midfielder who will control the game. She has amazing distribution and vision of the field. She will help both defensively and in the final third with her range of passing."
Gabrielle Saint-Jacques | Winger | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | Vanier College
Before Saint Peter's: Saint-Jacques hails from the north and makes her way to New Jersey for 2022. In 2021, her team was the Canadian National Champions. She also ranked in the top percentile in her class for GPA.
Coach Bazi on Saint-Jacques: "Gabrielle is a versatile outside player who can play defensively and get forward or start farther up the field and really get into the attack. She's a great asset for us and will be dangerous when on the field."
Iva Trifunovic | Defender | Obrenovac, Serbia | Tyler Junior College
Before Saint Peter's: Trifunovic will join Lula Mansilla Medina and Carlota Pastor Romero as the only European players on the 2022 roster. Transferring in from Tyler Junior College. Trifunovic helped the team become National Champions in the 2020-2021 season, National Runner-Ups in the 2021-2022 season, and was named to the Region 14 Academic All-Team.
Coach Bazi on Trifunovic: "Having just won a national championship at the junior college level, Iva's standards are sky high and this mentality is a must-have for us to be successful this year. She's a strong player in a number of defensive positions and her experience will prove crucial for us."
Xochilt Turijan | Forward | Jersey City, New Jersey | Hudson Catholic
Before Saint Peter's: Turijan is not going far for college, as she decides to stay home in Jersey City after attending nearby Hudson Catholic for High School. During her senior season, she won the Award for Female Athlete of the Year as she hit 100 goals and ended with 105 for her career. She was also a part of the team that won the Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic League Champions Girls Soccer 2019 White Division Champions.
Coach Bazi on Turijan: "Xochilt is one of the Hudson County all-timers and we're thrilled to keep her close to home in Jersey City. She's a smart player and has a knack for finding the back of the net so we're excited to see her talents put to work in the MAAC."
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