MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg women's soccer head coach Brandon West has announced the program's incoming class for the 2024 season. Headlined by reigning United East Player of the Year Diana Pon, the group is comprised of 14 players and will join a collection of returners coming off a 2023 campaign that saw the Lions remain regionally ranked for much of the season and advance to the conference championship game for the fourth straight season.

"I am very excited about this incoming class joining our program," said West. "We are bringing in a lot of new faces who fit who we are and who we are trying to be as a program. This class is extremely talented but what makes this class special is their desire to compete and win. All these players are hardworking, committed to growing, and are great teammates. I am excited for them to be incorporated with our returners and am excited for what the 2024 season has in store."

Penn State Harrisburg Women's Soccer Incoming Class

Diana Pon

Miami, Fla. / American Heritage School / Prime FC

Awards and Honors:

2023 USC All-Region Third Team

2023 United East Player of the Year

2022 United East Rookie of the Year

2x United East All-Conference First Team

Panamanian National Team

Why Penn State Harrisburg? I decided to join Penn State Harrisburg because of its MBA program in Finance. At Penn State Harrisburg I am able to earn my master's degree in a year compared to other traditional programs elsewhere. In addition, I am extremely excited to join the Penn State Harrisburg women's soccer team and can't wait to start the new season in the fall 2024.

Coach West: Diana has proven to be one of the top players in our conference and the region. We are very excited she is joining our program this fall. She is a dynamic center attacking midfielder, with an endless motor on both sides of the ball. She also has the ability to create for her teammates and herself. She is extremely competitive and has hunger to win and compete at the highest level. Diana is someone who will work hard push others and hold herself to the highest of standards. We are thrilled she is joining our women's soccer family.

Allison Dietz

Why Penn State Harrisburg? I chose Penn State Harrisburg because the team felt like family. When I went to my first ID camp at the school, the current players were very encouraging and welcoming. In addition, the coaching style was great. All the coaches were kind and helpful when they think there is room for improvement. I know I am going to feel at home these next four years.

Coach West: Allison is a very smart and confident goalkeeper. She is technical but also has the athleticism to make the big save and is very fast off her line. She is also very comfortable with the ball at her and can play short and long very accurately. Lastly, Allison loves to train and get better and her experience playing high level club will prepare her well for the next level.

Ava Fox

Why Penn State Harrisburg? I chose Penn State Harrisburg women's soccer because of the inclusive team culture and the high level of competitive spirit and drive the team possesses.

Coach West: Ava is an extremely technical and creative player. She can play anywhere in our front four. To go along with her technical ability, she also has great vision to go along with her ability to play the final ball. Lastly, Ava can finish in and around the box. She will be a great addition to our front four.

Ciera Frick

Why Penn State Harrisburg? I chose Penn State Harrisburg to continue to play soccer at a collegiate level with a competitive team that has the same values as me. The school also has a lot to offer academically, especially for my intended major of marketing. I look forward to not only becoming a part of the team but to grow as a person and a player.

Coach West: Ciera is just an extremely high-level soccer player. She can play anywhere up the spine. I have seen her play forward and all the way back to center back for a very high-level club team. The combination of her technical ability, athleticism, and IQ makes her a unique player and a very versatile one. She is also a team player and will play wherever she is asked and will always give her best. I am excited to have Ciera joining our program and she is bringing very valuable experiences with her. She will most likely play anywhere up the spine for us here in Middletown.

Abby Hobson

Why Penn State Harrisburg? I chose Penn State Harrisburg to continue playing soccer at a competitive level and because they have great resources for my major. After touring campus and meeting with Coach West, the team, and other staff, I knew it was the best choice for me.

Coach West: Abby is an extremely dynamic forward. She is very fast and has the ability with her pace to get behind defenses and create for herself and others. Her work rate is also tireless on both sides of the ball. She has a nose for the goal and ability to score in multiple ways. She has also played club at an extremely high level, even making the ECNL RL National All-Star game this past November. Lastly, Abby is a great person with high character and I am excited for her to join our program next fall. She is a great fit for our program both on and off the field.

Peyton Huber

Why Penn State Harrisburg? Starting my search for a college program and new home late, I wasn't sure what would be a great fit for me. As soon as I found Penn State Harrisburg my mind was immediately changed as the coaches and current team were nothing but supportive and so welcoming to be around, as well as the amazing campus and student/staff environment. I chose this team as I can see it will be highly competitive but also united as a family and I think that is something that I will fit into perfectly. I can't wait to start my new journey and make incredible memories.

Coach West: Peyton is an explosive forward with great pace to get behind backs. She stood out at one of our ID Camps with her intelligent runs behind the backs and her ability to separate from them. Peyton also can interplay with those around her and can create for others as well as herself. She has a nose for goal and wants to score. She will be a great addition to our forward group.

Julia Hughes

Why Penn State Harrisburg? I chose Penn State Harrisburg women's soccer to redeem my soccer career while pursuing a world class education.

Coach West: Julia I recruited back in 2023. She is a local product out of Middletown and she decided to take a gap year. I am excited she will be joining our family. She is a forward who wants to go forward and score. She can finish any way imaginable. She also can get behind defenses with her pace and hold the ball up to get her teammates involved in link up play. Julia is also very good with her defensive pressure and values that side of the ball as well which is crucial for how we want to press teams. Julia will be a very dynamic player for us and I am excited for her to be joining our forward group.

Riley Kerns

Why Penn State Harrisburg? After seeing the environment and talking with Coach West, I knew this would be the best place for me to grow as a player and as a person.

Coach West: Riley is joining an already strong recruiting class and we are excited she is coming to Middletown. Riley is a strong and hard tackling defender. She is a leader in the back, always using her voice to organize the team defensively, and she is extremely competitive and desires to win. Her recovery runs to help our teammates out is unique and she will add great depth to our backs. Riley is also mature and you see it in her play and how she interacts with others. This is an extremely important quality defender and I am thrilled she has decided to join our program.

Emily McCracken

Why Penn State Harrisburg? Growing up as a Penn State fan, I always dreamed of attending someday. After visiting Penn State Harrisburg, I knew my college search was over. Between the campus, coaches, and players, I knew it was a perfect fit for me. I look forward to continuing both my academic and athletic career at Penn State Harrisburg.

Coach West: Emily is a versatile player who can play in the midfield, wingback, and outside back. She is a competitor who is calm and composed on the ball and has a high soccer IQ. She has a big area of influence on the field and covers a lot of ground through her work rate. She also played for a championship caliber high school team and her competitive fire is something I am looking forward to having in our program. She will be a great addition to either our midfielders or outside backs.

Siena Ondecko

Why Penn State Harrisburg? I chose Penn State Harrisburg because of the education opportunities available at Penn State and I had a positive recruiting process with the coaching staff and players.

Coach West: Siena is a ball-winning center back who is hard-nosed in the tackle and dominant in the air. She also has great passing range and vision when playing out of the back. She fits very well with how we want our center backs to play on both sides. She has played for a very competitive high school team who has made deep runs in the state playoffs and her championship pedigree we are excited to have joining our program.

Grace Roudebush

Why Penn State Harrisburg? I chose Penn State Harrisburg because I fell in love with the campus and the team environment. Everyone was so welcoming and it truly seemed like a family. I loved how they all pushed each other to be the best they can be. I am very excited to have the opportunity to challenge myself and grow as a person with this program.

Coach West: Grace is a crafty, high IQ outside back with an endless motor. She has a passing range that can put forwards in on goal but also can run at players 1-v-1. She is a very disciplined and solid 1-v-1 defender. Grace is the definition of consistent and she has played her club ball at a very high level that will suit her well transitioning to college soccer with us here in Middletown. We are excited to have her joining our program.

Olivia Sgrignioli

Why Penn State Harrisburg? When I first visited Penn State Harrisburg, I was unsure of what I was looking for and where I wanted to further my future and career. After finishing the visit, talking to coaches, players, and other staff I felt that I found my second home and there was no hesitation going forward.

Coach West: Olivia is a very dynamic attacking midfielder or central forward. She is explosive, technical, and has a nose for goal. Her final pass is special and her ability to turn under pressure and get going forward is unique. She truly can create for herself and others. Olivia is also relentless with her defensive pressure. She is a competitor and that is what I am most excited about her joining our program. She will make the jump from high school to college because of her competitive fire and her ability to go along with it. I am excited for her to be joining our program.

Kara Slavin

Why Penn State Harrisburg? I thought that making the decision about what college I wanted to attend, where I could continue to play soccer and could get a great education, would be the hardest decision of my life until I visited Penn State Harrisburg and met the team and coaches, and it instantly became a simple choice. I look forward to continuing both my academic and athletic career at Penn State Harrisburg.

Coach West: Kara is an elite 1-v-1 defender. She is smart and tough in the tackle. She also is very comfortable with the ball at her feet. She can dribble penetrate out of the back and has great passing range. She has a high IQ which will suit her well with how we like to use our backs going forward. Kara can either play center back or outside back for us and we are excited to have her coming to Middletown.

Alexis Valenta

Why Penn State Harrisburg? I chose Penn State Harrisburg for the beautiful campus and the great athletic and educational programs they provide.

Coach West: Alexis is a very athletic and confident goalkeeper. She is tall and explosive and her save range is massive. She also holds everything and is very confident coming off her line for balls in the air and on the ground. Alexis also is very confident with the ball at her feet and has great range and accuracy with her distribution. She will be a great addition to our goalkeeper unit that has always been a strength of our program.