Arizona Wildcats Soccer Welcomes Five New Transfers to the Team

The Arizona Wildcats soccer team is making significant changes ahead of the upcoming season after losing key offensive players and young talent. Following a quiet transfer period, the program has now officially announced the addition of five transfers who are set to strengthen the roster.

Head coach Becca Moros confirmed the arrivals on Thursday, June 4, alongside four freshmen who were signed last November. Among the new transfers are rising sophomores Ally Brown and Lainey Swanson, former teammates at Xavier Prep in Phoenix and TCU. Although they had limited playing time last season, they contributed to TCU's impressive record of 18 wins, 3 losses, and 3 draws, along with a historic run to the College Cup.

Swanson, a 5-foot-9 forward, is expected to play a pivotal role, especially given the team’s recent scoring losses. In her freshman year, she made nine appearances, primarily against strong opponents, and demonstrated her potential with a shot on goal in a match against Kansas. She was named the 2025 AIA Offensive Player of the Year during her high school career, contributing to two state championship victories.

Brown, a midfielder, showcased her skills in her first two collegiate matches, earning assists against Pepperdine and UTSA. Throughout her five appearances, she accumulated 93 minutes of game time, including participation in two NCAA Tournament games. Notably, she is one of only four players in Arizona history to achieve four state championships during her tenure at Xavier.

In addition to the sophomores, Arizona has also recruited three juniors to bolster the squad, particularly in goalkeeping. Grace Smith, who transfers from Ole Miss, adds depth as a 5-foot-8 midfielder with significant playing experience. She has made 33 appearances over two seasons with the Rebels.

Joining Smith in the goalkeeper competition are redshirt junior Laurynn Ziller from UC Irvine and Elesha Magley from UNLV. Ziller had a standout season last year, starting 15 of 16 games and recording an impressive goals-against average of 0.59, while Magley faced numerous shots in her limited appearances, showing resilience in goal.

Previously, the Wildcats' online roster had not included any freshmen or transfers, but updates were made following the announcement of these new additions, highlighting the team’s commitment to rebuilding and enhancing their competitive edge for the upcoming season.