The California women's soccer team signed five freshmen to its incoming class last week, as announced by head coach Neil McGuire.
 
"We are thrilled and excited to announce this very talented class," McGuire said. "We wanted to attract a blend of high-level soccer intellect, skill and athleticism and each brings that to Berkeley. Beyond the pitch they are exceptional academically and people of high character, continuing the long-held tradition within our program."
 
Nina Mathelus, a 5'6" forward from Braintree, Massachusetts, has been a member of the Philippines Senior National Team since she was 15 years old and now has eight caps and scored a goal against Myanmar at the 2025 ASEAN Women's Championship. Before that she spent a year on the U17 team at the age of 14 where she made 10 appearances and scored seven goals. Back in the states, Mathelus competes for South Shore Select in the ECNL and for Holston Academy, where she was a New England First Team All-Conference selection in 2024-25.
 
Lauryn Fleshman, a 5'8" defender from San Carlos, comes to Berkeley with a stellar club and prep resume having helped lead De Anza Force ECNL to five straight postseason appearances including a ECNL Semifinals appearance in 2024. As the 2025 West Bay Athletic League Defender of the year, Fleshman led Crystal Springs Upland School to three straight league championships from 2023-2025 and a CIF Championship in 2024. A multi-sport athlete, Fleshman played tennis, ran cross country, and is a three-year member of the track & field team where she owns the school record in the 100-meter dash.
 
Amaya Faison is a 5'7" defender and midfielder from Huntington Beach that joins the Bears with a decorated resume from the HB Koge Slammers and Rosary Academy. Her accolades include Second Team All-ECNL, All-CIF, Second Team All-County, Pacific Coast League Offensive MVP, and Rosary Overall MVP, to list a few. Faison led the Slammers to a 2024 conference championship and two straight years of being ranked as one of the top five programs in the nation, while also leading her high school to a Pacific Coast League Championship this past season. Also a track & field athlete, Faison owns the school record in the triple jump and was named Second Team All-OC in that event.
 
Jada Faison, the twin sister of Amaya, has signed to play for the Bears as well. A 5'10" forward that also played for the Slammers and Rosary Academy, Jada Faison was an integral part of the aforementioned accomplishments of those programs. She was named First Team All-Pacific Coast and the league's Offensive MVP as a junior. Jada Faison was also the Rosary Academy Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year and as a three-year member of the track & field team that holds the school record in the long jump, the 100-meter hurdles, and two different relays.
 
Liya Nartey is a 5'11" forward and midfielder from Playa Vista that played for Beach Futbol Club in the ECNL and Da Vinci Connect High School while also earning a recent call-up to the Ghana U17 National Team. Nartey helped lead her club team to an ECNL Regional League championship as an All-Regional Team member in 2024. On the high school side, Nartey led the Pioneer League in goals and assists on her way to a Golden Boot award and was voted Most Outstanding Player as well. Nartey is also a high school track star that boasts multiple school records, titles, and CIF qualifications in the 200-meter, 400-meter, and relay events. Nartey comes from an athletic background as her mother, Mimi Nartey, was a member of the Ghana National Team that competed in the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup and her father, Kofi Nartey ('97), is a Cal football alumnus.