SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- The Dons women's soccer program is proud to announce the six members of their 2022 signing class. These young athletes will be joining a proud tradition within the Dons' family and we can't wait to see what they can accomplish during their time on the Hilltop.

Head coach Jim Millinder's class will add to a team that had many notable moments during the 2021 season, including a victory over reigning national champion Santa Clara at the beginning of conference play. This class consists of three athletes from California and three athletes from Washington as they Dons' continued their foothold in recruiting strong talent from the west.

Below are the six newest Dons' student athletes that will make their impact on the campus and athletic department.

Hannah Burns, forward Chula Vista, Calif.

This San Diego native joins the USF program following a tremendous four-year run that included Burns being named the 2020-21 Mesa League Player of the Year as well as being the 2021 All CIF second team. Along with dominating on the pitch, Burns was a standout in the classroom as well as she made the Bonita Vista High School honor roll every semester from 2018-21. 

"Hannah is an explosive, aggressive player with and without the ball," associate head coach Pinder Nijjar said. "Her tenacity and determination drew us to her as a player. Her attitude is everything that we are looking for in a person and a player that will be an integral part of our team for years to come."




Lindsey Chau, forward Highland, Calif.

A welcomed addition to the Dons' offesnive attack, Chau put together a phenomenal high school career scoring the ball and causing headaches for opposing defenses. She was an All-League Offensive MVP, Team MVP and All-League First Team during the 2020-21 season for Citrus Valley High School as she scored 15 total goals and started every game for the Blackhawks. 

"Unbelievably gifted talent arriving to us from Legends FC," Nijjar said. "Lindsey really impressed us from the first time we saw her play. We loved the fact that she really wanted to be a Don and her personality and overall exemplary character fit into what we are trying to build here with this young team."




Ella Hwang, defender Seattle, Wash.

The first of three commits from the state of Washington, Hwang joins the USF program after a dominant run at Roosevelt High School. Hwang's senior season included the Rough Riders posting a 13-1-0 record including a perfect 8-0 mark in conference play, as she scored 10 goals and her team climbed all the way to the No. 7 WIAA State Ranking. 

"We are thrilled that Ella is heading to the Hilltop," Millinder said. "Ella has an excellent understanding of the game and is technically sound and we believe she can come in right away to contribute. I think she has the ability to very good at this level." 




Lily Loughney, midfielder Camas, Wash.

The Dons look forward to adding the versatile Loughney showed during her stellar high school career at Camas High School, where she was selected as first-team All-League to cap off her senior season. Not to be outdone, off the field Loughney has posted a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout her high school as she prepares to take on new challenges on the pitch and in the classroom with the Dons.

"Lily has a lot of the skills needed to be a very good division one midfielder," Millinder said. "The standard at USF is high but I believe Lily can get up to the speed of play quickly. I like her understanding of the game."




Jacqueline 'Cade' Mendoza, midfielder Long Beach, Calif.

A four-year varsity player at Woodrow Wilson High School, Mendoza comes to USF with a proven track record of success starting in her freshman year when she was chosen as the 2018 Wilson High School Varsity Soccer MVP as a freshman. The accolades kept racking up during her time as a Bruin, including an All-League first team selection her senior season after scoring four goals and contributing with five assists. 

"We're excited to have Jacque here up on the Hilltop," Millinder said. "She is a very technical player who has very good understanding of the game. She is a possession midfielder who will help us keep the ball and build the game."




Marie Ward, forward Seattle, Wash.

The younger sister of current Don Jamesen Ward, Marie comes to the Hilltop after a tremendous run playing for OL Reign Academy GA in Washington. An Honors Student at King's High School, Ward looks forward to studying marketing at USF with the hope of becoming a social media marketing project manager after graduating college. 

"Marie's passion to be a Don was evident in her recruiting process," Nijjar said. "We had watched her play numerous times and her intelligence as a soccer player was so evident to us. Her decision making ability and also her tenacious attitude to keep striving to enhance her game was ultimately what attracted us to Marie and gave us the confidence that she would be an amazing part of our team." 




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