NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Sarah Martinez, the Loring Family Head Coach of Women's Soccer is thrilled to announce the addition of six for the 2026 season.
Cindy Yang,
Hope McMillin,
Isabel Willems,
Kyleigh Carr,
Nia Freeman, and
Peyton O'Shaughnessy bring strong credentials on and off the pitch.
"This is a class my staff and I have been excited about for a long time," said Martinez. "We were very targeted and intentional in our recruiting process with this group. We are fired up about the well-rounded and quality players we are bringing in to help us raise the level of YWS. They are competitive, hungry and ready to work tirelessly for four years to help us compete for a championship in New Haven."
Get to know the incoming class:
Kyleigh Carr
Forward | Utah Royals FC - AZ ECNL
Xavier College Preparatory | Phoenix, Ariz.
Before Yale:
- Four-year letter winner
- All Region First Team honoree (Soccer)
- Two-time Division State Champion
- Open Division State Champion
- Open Division Runner-up Champions
Personal: Daughter of Cassandra Moore and Calvin Carr…Has a brother that went to CU Boulder, one goes to UofA, and one goes to ASU…Mom went to Princeton and dad played football at New Mexico.
Why Yale? "I chose Yale because of how welcomed I felt by the soccer team from the very beginning. Their support and sense of community played a huge role in my decision to attend Yale. I was also drawn to the opportunity to challenge myself academically while continuing to pursue the sport I love most, soccer."
Martinez on Carr: "Kyleigh is a pacey attacking player with the ability to play multiple positions. Her ability to separate from players and be dangerous in the attacking half is what initially attracted us to her, but her desire to improve and grow is what made her a no-brainer to add to our roster."
Nia Freeman
Midfield | NYSC GA
Stamford | Stamford, Conn.
Before Yale:
- First Team All-FCIAC (Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Association)
- 2025 GA Northeast Conference Champions – New York Soccer Club
Personal: Daughter of Janeene and Paul Freeman…Additionally played high school basketball for three years.
Why Yale? "The outstanding academics and athletics."
Martinez on Freeman: "Nia is a smooth, athletic player with a great technical foundation. She has the ability to play as a center back or 6 and will fit seamlessly in our system. Nia has one of the highest ceilings of a player we've recruited because of her pace and strength and we believe she will grow quickly as she adapts to playing at the next level."
Hope McMillin
Midfield | FC Stars Blue ECNL
Buckingham Browne and Nichols School | Duxbury, Mass.
Before Yale:
- FC Stars Blue ECNL
- ECNL All- Conference '24, '23, '22
- ECNL NSG '24
- TDS 3-Star
- All League ISL
- All State
- All NEPSAC
- ECNL Conference Champs '24, '25, '26
- BB&N ISL Champs '21-'25
Personal: Daughter of Megan and Bradley McMillin…Has three little brothers and two dogs..Is an intern at Boston Children's Hospital Labs of Cognitive Neuroscience…Volunteer at Duxbury senior center and BB&N middle school…Founder of Hopeful Together.
Why Yale? "From a young age, I was taught that long-term goals shape your lifestyle. Yale felt like the place where my academic and athletic ambitions could truly coexist, surrounded by people who care, who listen, and who bring you up with them."
Martinez on McMillin: "Hope was a primary target for us from a very young age. She has a motor and impact that can't be questioned, as well as a competitiveness that will raise the bar from the day she steps on campus. She wants to be coached and will run through a wall for those around her, no matter what position that comes from or what expectations are asked of her."
Peyton O'Shaughnessy
Midfield | St. Louis Development Academy
Ladue Horton Watkins High School | University of Nebraska-Omaha | St. Louis, MO
Before Yale:
- STL High School Soccer - Best XI 1st Team 2025
- Girls Academy League Talent ID Invite
- Ladue Varsity Soccer Captain 2025
- MAC St. Louis Senior All-Star game 2025
- STL Suburban HS Athletics - All-Conference 2021-2025 Seasons\
- 2024 MSHSAA Class 3 District Champion
- Maccabi USA U16 - Pan American Maccabi Games 2023 - Gold Medal in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Personal: Daughter of Adrianne and Shawn O'Shaughnessy…Mom played soccer at TCU, younger brother Connor, younger sister Kennedy want to go Pre-Med.
Why Yale? "I chose Yale due to the combination of elite athletics and academics. The close-knit community and engagement across the school stood out to me."
Martinez on O'Shaughnessy: "Peyton's attitude towards her individual development and her commitment to team development is something we are very excited about adding to our roster. She brings a technical base and maturity to our attacking corps and is a player who wants to develop each day."
Isabel Willems
Goalkeeper | Crossfire Premier ECNL
The Lakeside School | Seattle, Wash.
Before Yale:
• First Team All-State, Washington State
• First Team All Seattle Metro League
• Lakeside Varsity Soccer Captain (grade 11)
• ECNL National Selection Games (Houston and Phoenix)
• ECNL Conference Cup
• First Team ECNL All Conference, Northwest Conference
• G07 National ODP Select Team
• Seattle Metro League 3A Champions
• Washington State 3A Girls 3rd Place
• Northwest Division Champion
• ECNL Conference Cup Champion
Personal: Daughter of Carmen Berger and Jim Willems…Has a sister named Juliet who goes to Dartmouth.
Why Yale? "I chose Yale for the incredible opportunities, the thoughtful students, and the connection I felt within the community on campus. I also appreciated the welcoming environment of the Women's Soccer Program. I knew I would be challenged to grow at Yale, both athletically and academically, and I am very grateful to play soccer for such an incredible institution."
Martinez on Willems: "Isabel is one of the best GK recruits in the country. She is athletic, technical and competitive, which allow her to thrive at her position. Her growth mindset and vocal leadership will allow her compete with our GK unit immediately."
Cindy Yang
Midfielder | Ottawa South United Force Academy
John McCrae Secondary School | Ottawa, Ontario
Before Yale:
- Ligue 1 Quebec 2025/2026 Season Leading Goal Scorer
- Ligue Espoirs U21 Third-Leading Goal Scorer
- Ligue Espoirs U21 League Champion
- Development Player with Ottawa Rapids FC
- U17 Canadian National Team U-17 World-Cup Provisional Squad
- U17 Canadian National Team Four Nations Tournament Provisional Squad
- U16 Ontario Player Development League (OPDL) Second Leading Goal-Scorer
- U16 Ontario Player Development League (OPDL) Gary Miller Charity Shield Finals Champion
- U16 Ontario Player Development League (OPDL) Gary Miller Charity Shield Finals Player of the Match
- U17 Ontario Player Development League (OPDL) Gary Miller Charity Shield Champion (Call-up)
- Ontario U15, U16 Girls Provincial Xcel Team
- 2024 Global Gatorade 5v5 Champion
- U15 Ottawa South United (OSU) Player's Player of The Year Award
- U14 Ontario Player Development League (OPDL) Gary Miller Charity Shield Champion
- Gary Miller Charity Shield Finals Champion (2022, 2024)
- Ligue Espoir U21 League Champion (2025)
Personal: Daughter of Huijun Yang and Bo Cheng.
Why Yale? "I chose Yale because it's a place where academic and athletic excellence are inseparable. To me, Yale is the perfect place to develop both as a student and an athlete because it combines a prestigious education with a competitive soccer program. I really believe the staff and players are building a fantastic women's soccer program, and it felt like a place where I would be pushed and supported to continue developing as an athlete, while growing into a more well-rounded person."
Martinez on Yang: "Cindy is a special technical player. She moves fluidly through defenders with the ball at her feet and brings a spark to our attack in the midfield that we are very excited about. She is willing to work on both sides of the ball which will allow her to impact at our level right away."
