VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton women's soccer has signed six recruits for 2026, head coach Neel Bhattacharjee announced on Thursday.
 
Coming off an historic season that featured a third America East regular season title in the last four years, a record-13-game unbeaten streak and just one regular season loss, the Bearcats bolstered their roster with the addition of Ava Chun (Tenafly, N.J.), Chelsea Donaldson (Camillus, N.Y.), Jordan Ford (White Plains, N.Y.), Taylor Gabel (Deer Park, N.Y.), Lizzie Holstein (Newton, Pa.) and Ava Mason (Parlin, N.J.).
 
The newcomers join a BU program that has lost just three conference games in the last four years (20-3-9, 77%) - the highest win percentage among all America East members. The 2025 Bearcats were one of just five teams across the country that closed the regular season with one or fewer losses (Memphis, Notre Dame, Stanford, Fairfield).
 
"Our program is coming off a terrific fall campaign and we look forward to these six student-athletes coming in and giving us an even higher level of play," Bhattacharjee said. "Our staff is excited to bring in Ava, Lizzie, Chelsea, Ava, Jordan, and Taylor as they raise our level of competitiveness, unity, respect, and resilience. Each is a high-quality soccer player who can perform on the field right away and most importantly, they are outstanding people who will represent Binghamton in a first-class manner."
 
Below is a capsule look at the six incoming freshmen for Fall 2025.
 
Ava Chun

• Five-foot-three forward from Tenafly High School and STA club team
• Compiled 74 career goals and 22 assists for record 170 points at Tenafly
• Played three years for STA Girls Academy
• Helped lead STA to national finals in 2024 and 2025 and 2025 Champions Cup
• Invited to USYNT ID Camp in 2022
• Also starred in track as national qualifying sprinter and 4x4 relay member
• Honor Roll student

 
 
Chelsea Donaldson

• Five-foot-four midfielder from West Genesee High School and Syracuse DA Girls Academy club team
• All-section and three-time all-league midfielder in four years
• Produced 12 goals and 11 assists for 15-4-2 team this fall
• West Genesee program won two sectional titles in last three years
• Totaled 23 goals and 20 assists in last three scholastic seasons
• Also competed in track and field
• Won Impact Rookie Award twice for track
• Member of National Honor Society, National Business Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society

 
Jordan Ford

• Five-foot-five center back from White Plains High School and World Class ECNL club team
• Three-time all-section and four-time all-league selection
• Led White Plains to 2023 league championship
• Played for World Class Football Club for eight years
• Twice helped lead World Class to ECNL nationals, including Round of 16 appearance in 2025
• Named to 2025 ECNL New England Conference First Team
• Invited to 2023 ECNL Conference Cup
• AP Scholar with Honors and National Commended Scholar

 
Taylor Gabel

• Five-foot-three forward/midfielder from Deer Park High School and SUSA ECNL club team
• Five-year varsity letterwinner at Deer Park
• Two-time all-county and two-time team MVP selection
• Eight-year member of SUSA FC, Long Island's largest soccer academy
• Also a two-time all-county quarterback for flag football team
• Invited to Long Island Quarterback Challenge
• Ran track and played basketball
• Member of Spanish and National Honor Societies

 
Lizzie Holstein

• Five-foot-six midfielder from The Pennington School and PDA ECNL club team
• Four-year standout for program that earned a share of back-to-back state championships
• Played for PDA Blue team for three years
• Team reached ECNL Final 8 in 2025
• Also competed in track

 
Ava Mason

• Five-foot-one defender from Rutgers Prep School and Cedar Stars Girls Academy club team
• Four-year starter at three-time New Jersey state champion Rutgers Prep
• High School All-American as senior captain
• Ranked 30^th best defender in nation and 141^st overall by Top Drawer Soccer
• Voted to 40-player High School All-American Game in 2026
• Led Rutgers Prep program to 77-4-1 record in four years (48 shutouts)
• Team captured four Prep B championships and three county titles
• Team ranked No. 1 in nation by United Soccer Coaches two straight years
• Also played for Cedar Stars and PDA Blue club teams
• PDA team reached ECNL quarterfinals and semifinals  
• Chosen for select Parents Association Award as senior for commitment to learning and improvement in academic and extra-curricular activities