Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Stockton Photo, Inc.
Women’s Soccer Welcomes Seven Newcomers Ahead of 2026 Season
6/30/2026 3:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
A well-rounded group of seven student-athletes will join the Lions for the upcoming campaign
NEW YORK – Head coach Tracey Bartholomew officially introduced seven newcomers to the 2026 Columbia women's soccer roster on Tuesday afternoon. The group consists of two forwards, two midfielders, and three defenders from five different states.
"We are thrilled to welcome this highly-rated incoming class to Columbia Women's Soccer," Bartholomew said. "This group of Lions brings an exceptional blend of talent, character, and competitive spirit that will make an immediate impact both on and off the field. They are energetic, eager, and fully embrace our NYC style of play and championship culture. Each student-athlete brings something unique to our program, adding quality, depth, and tremendous potential across every position. We are excited to see this class help lead our pride as we continue striving for excellence and competing for Ivy League championships."
Details on this season's incoming class are below. Fans can access the complete 2026 Columbia women's soccer roster by clicking HERE.
Helena Andrzejewski – Fy. – D – 5-6 – CC – Apex, North Carolina / Apex Friendship HS / NC Courage Academy
Prior to Columbia:
An intelligent and technical outside back / center back from Apex, North Carolina … Played for NC Courage Academy for four years … Helped guide her club team to the ECNL Round of 16 three years in a row … Led her team to win the U20 USL Academy Cup … Named U20 USL Academy Cup Best XI. Rated recruit by Top Drawer Soccer, ranked 45th best player in the South Atlantic Region. Played in the TST soccer tournament this past summer.
Personal:
Intends to major in psychology with potential plans of attending medical school … Was an AP Scholar with Distinction and in the top 1% of her class … Enjoys outside activities like long walks and hikes … Favorite actress is Zendaya
Julianne Arcoleo – Fy. – D – 5-9 – CC - West Islip, New York / West Islip HS / East Meadow SC
Prior to Columbia:
A tenacious center back /outside back from West Islip, NY … Four-year Varsity letter winner and 2024-25 team captain at West Islip High… Had a stellar high school career, leading her team to Suffolk County, Long Island, and League championships… Also played defensive midfield for High school and scored a career high 18 goals in one season… Overall MVP for her HS team in 2025 and offensive MVP for her team in 2024 … Played for East Meadow Soccer Club. Captain ECNL New England All-Conference 2023-25 and 2024 ECNL NC - National Selection game. Participated in Gotham FC Talent ID Camp in January 2024 and June 2025.
Personal:
Plans to major in biology and attend medical school after finishing her undergraduate degree … Graduated in the top ten of her class and earned Principal's Honor Roll … Volunteered at the West Islip fire department in EMS … Loves baking and cooking … Has a twin sister also playing soccer at the Division 1 level
Angie Cao – Fy. – D – 5-7 – CC – San Jose, California / Archbishop Mitty HS / MVLA
Prior to Columbia:
A playmaking center back from San Jose … Achieved four varsity letters for soccer at Archbishop Mitty HS and Captain of her team 2024-2026 … 2025 WCAL Defender of the Year and All League First Team … Led her team to CIF Division 1 Norcal Champions 2023-24… Played for a highly rated MVLA Club in the ECNL, winning the Norcal ECNL League Champions 2025-26… Also plays SF Glens in the WPSL.
Personal:
Is pursuing a degree in biochemistry with hopes to obtain a degree in the biotechnology field … National Merit Scholarship Finalist 2026 and AP Scholar with Distinction … Salutatorian of Archbishop Mitty HS … Open House Leader … Favorite movie is Mission Impossible … Aspires to be like her mom, Zhuang Wu.
Alexa Lee – Fy. – Mid – 5-4 – CC – Marlboro, New Jersey / Rutgers Preparatory School
Prior to Columbia:
A versatile playmaking midfielder from Marlboro, New Jersey … Played at the varsity level for four years at Rutgers Preparatory School and was Captain of her team in 2025-26 … Helped lead her team to four state championships…Had an undefeated season two years in a row… Rated recruit by Top Drawer Soccer, ranked 116 overall in the country, 41st best midfielder in the country, and 6th in New Jersey Region…Played club soccer for PDA, NJ in the Elite Clubs National League.
Personal:
Plans to major in psychology with future intentions of work in physical therapy … Her sister, Kayla Lee, was a captain of the women's soccer team and graduated from Columbia in 2022… Loves the diversity and availability of NYC … Enjoys painting and drawing … Favorite movie is Tangled or Princess and the Frog.
Maya Nuwayhid – Fy. – F – 5-3 – CC – Saddle River, New Jersey / The Pingry School / PDA
Prior to Columbia:
A goalscoring forward from Saddle River, New Jersey … Standout player at the varsity level all four years for the Pingry School and captained her high school team in 2025-26 … Named Skyland Conference Player of the Year and All-American East Team in 2025 … All-time Career goal scoring leader for her high school team with 94 goals … Sixth in the state in 2025 for most goals scored…. Rated recruit by Top Drawer Soccer, ranked 136 overall, 53rd best forward in the country.. Had an undefeated season two years in a row. Played club soccer for PDA, NJ in the Elite Clubs National League. Competed for the Clarkstown Soccer Club in the WPSL.
Personal:
Undecided on her major and future plans … Awarded the Language Prize for Spanish at The Pingry School … Would play Lacrosse at Columbia if she had to choose another sport.
Olivia St. Pierre – Fy. – Mid – 5-9 – CC — Danvers, Massachusetts / Danvers HS / NEFC GA Navy
Prior to Columbia:
A deceptive technical midfielder from Danvers, Massachusetts … Participated in Varsity level soccer and track at Danvers High …Playing in only her Freshman and Sophomore year. Scoring 9 goals and getting 10 assists as a Freshman and scoring 12 goals and getting 20 assists as a Sophomore… Helped her team to the US Club Championships in 2021 and 2022 … US Youth Soccer National Finalists in 2024, rated recruit by Top Drawer Soccer, ranked 26th in the Northeast Region...Played for NEFC GA Navy.
Personal:
Intends on majoring in political science … Has two younger siblings … Top ten percent of her graduating class … Hiked Mount Washington three times … Enjoys the business and diversity of NYC.
Kaitlyn Wright – Fy. – F – 5-8 – CC – Ventura, California / Ventura High School / Eagles Soccer Club
Prior to Columbia:
A target forward who finds the goal with either foot, from Ventura, California … Competed for Ventura High at the Varsity level for four years and was the captain of her team from 2023-26… Most Career goals at 76 for Ventura High…Channel League First Team 2022-25 … Played for the Eagles Soccer Club in the ECNL… Scored 6 goals in the ECNL playoffs in 2025…
Personal:
Plans to major in biology on the premed track with intentions to become a doctor … Top ten percent of her graduating class … Named Ventura High's Top Scholar … Fosters animals for Ventura County Animal Services … Enjoys playing volleyball … Favorite food is sushi.
--
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
For the latest on the Columbia women's soccer program, follow @CULionsWSOC on X, Instagram, Facebook at Facebook.com/ColumbiaWSoccer and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
"We are thrilled to welcome this highly-rated incoming class to Columbia Women's Soccer," Bartholomew said. "This group of Lions brings an exceptional blend of talent, character, and competitive spirit that will make an immediate impact both on and off the field. They are energetic, eager, and fully embrace our NYC style of play and championship culture. Each student-athlete brings something unique to our program, adding quality, depth, and tremendous potential across every position. We are excited to see this class help lead our pride as we continue striving for excellence and competing for Ivy League championships."
Details on this season's incoming class are below. Fans can access the complete 2026 Columbia women's soccer roster by clicking HERE.
Helena Andrzejewski – Fy. – D – 5-6 – CC – Apex, North Carolina / Apex Friendship HS / NC Courage Academy
Prior to Columbia:
An intelligent and technical outside back / center back from Apex, North Carolina … Played for NC Courage Academy for four years … Helped guide her club team to the ECNL Round of 16 three years in a row … Led her team to win the U20 USL Academy Cup … Named U20 USL Academy Cup Best XI. Rated recruit by Top Drawer Soccer, ranked 45th best player in the South Atlantic Region. Played in the TST soccer tournament this past summer.
Personal:
Intends to major in psychology with potential plans of attending medical school … Was an AP Scholar with Distinction and in the top 1% of her class … Enjoys outside activities like long walks and hikes … Favorite actress is Zendaya
Julianne Arcoleo – Fy. – D – 5-9 – CC - West Islip, New York / West Islip HS / East Meadow SC
Prior to Columbia:
A tenacious center back /outside back from West Islip, NY … Four-year Varsity letter winner and 2024-25 team captain at West Islip High… Had a stellar high school career, leading her team to Suffolk County, Long Island, and League championships… Also played defensive midfield for High school and scored a career high 18 goals in one season… Overall MVP for her HS team in 2025 and offensive MVP for her team in 2024 … Played for East Meadow Soccer Club. Captain ECNL New England All-Conference 2023-25 and 2024 ECNL NC - National Selection game. Participated in Gotham FC Talent ID Camp in January 2024 and June 2025.
Personal:
Plans to major in biology and attend medical school after finishing her undergraduate degree … Graduated in the top ten of her class and earned Principal's Honor Roll … Volunteered at the West Islip fire department in EMS … Loves baking and cooking … Has a twin sister also playing soccer at the Division 1 level
Angie Cao – Fy. – D – 5-7 – CC – San Jose, California / Archbishop Mitty HS / MVLA
Prior to Columbia:
A playmaking center back from San Jose … Achieved four varsity letters for soccer at Archbishop Mitty HS and Captain of her team 2024-2026 … 2025 WCAL Defender of the Year and All League First Team … Led her team to CIF Division 1 Norcal Champions 2023-24… Played for a highly rated MVLA Club in the ECNL, winning the Norcal ECNL League Champions 2025-26… Also plays SF Glens in the WPSL.
Personal:
Is pursuing a degree in biochemistry with hopes to obtain a degree in the biotechnology field … National Merit Scholarship Finalist 2026 and AP Scholar with Distinction … Salutatorian of Archbishop Mitty HS … Open House Leader … Favorite movie is Mission Impossible … Aspires to be like her mom, Zhuang Wu.
Alexa Lee – Fy. – Mid – 5-4 – CC – Marlboro, New Jersey / Rutgers Preparatory School
Prior to Columbia:
A versatile playmaking midfielder from Marlboro, New Jersey … Played at the varsity level for four years at Rutgers Preparatory School and was Captain of her team in 2025-26 … Helped lead her team to four state championships…Had an undefeated season two years in a row… Rated recruit by Top Drawer Soccer, ranked 116 overall in the country, 41st best midfielder in the country, and 6th in New Jersey Region…Played club soccer for PDA, NJ in the Elite Clubs National League.
Personal:
Plans to major in psychology with future intentions of work in physical therapy … Her sister, Kayla Lee, was a captain of the women's soccer team and graduated from Columbia in 2022… Loves the diversity and availability of NYC … Enjoys painting and drawing … Favorite movie is Tangled or Princess and the Frog.
Maya Nuwayhid – Fy. – F – 5-3 – CC – Saddle River, New Jersey / The Pingry School / PDA
Prior to Columbia:
A goalscoring forward from Saddle River, New Jersey … Standout player at the varsity level all four years for the Pingry School and captained her high school team in 2025-26 … Named Skyland Conference Player of the Year and All-American East Team in 2025 … All-time Career goal scoring leader for her high school team with 94 goals … Sixth in the state in 2025 for most goals scored…. Rated recruit by Top Drawer Soccer, ranked 136 overall, 53rd best forward in the country.. Had an undefeated season two years in a row. Played club soccer for PDA, NJ in the Elite Clubs National League. Competed for the Clarkstown Soccer Club in the WPSL.
Personal:
Undecided on her major and future plans … Awarded the Language Prize for Spanish at The Pingry School … Would play Lacrosse at Columbia if she had to choose another sport.
Olivia St. Pierre – Fy. – Mid – 5-9 – CC — Danvers, Massachusetts / Danvers HS / NEFC GA Navy
Prior to Columbia:
A deceptive technical midfielder from Danvers, Massachusetts … Participated in Varsity level soccer and track at Danvers High …Playing in only her Freshman and Sophomore year. Scoring 9 goals and getting 10 assists as a Freshman and scoring 12 goals and getting 20 assists as a Sophomore… Helped her team to the US Club Championships in 2021 and 2022 … US Youth Soccer National Finalists in 2024, rated recruit by Top Drawer Soccer, ranked 26th in the Northeast Region...Played for NEFC GA Navy.
Personal:
Intends on majoring in political science … Has two younger siblings … Top ten percent of her graduating class … Hiked Mount Washington three times … Enjoys the business and diversity of NYC.
Kaitlyn Wright – Fy. – F – 5-8 – CC – Ventura, California / Ventura High School / Eagles Soccer Club
Prior to Columbia:
A target forward who finds the goal with either foot, from Ventura, California … Competed for Ventura High at the Varsity level for four years and was the captain of her team from 2023-26… Most Career goals at 76 for Ventura High…Channel League First Team 2022-25 … Played for the Eagles Soccer Club in the ECNL… Scored 6 goals in the ECNL playoffs in 2025…
Personal:
Plans to major in biology on the premed track with intentions to become a doctor … Top ten percent of her graduating class … Named Ventura High's Top Scholar … Fosters animals for Ventura County Animal Services … Enjoys playing volleyball … Favorite food is sushi.
--
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
For the latest on the Columbia women's soccer program, follow @CULionsWSOC on X, Instagram, Facebook at Facebook.com/ColumbiaWSoccer and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's SoccerMID
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's SoccerMID
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's SoccerThursday, November 06
Saturday, November 01
Saturday, November 01
Saturday, October 18
