Alabama Inks Six to the Class of 2025
11/14/2024 11:45:00 AM | Soccer
The Crimson Tide will add Alexa Barker, Olivia Belcher, Fiona Mahan, Sophia Martelli, Paige Thompson and Reece Ward to next year’s roster
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama soccer team will welcome six new faces to the 2025 roster, head coach Wes Hart announced Thursday.
The Crimson Tide will welcome in a strong group as Alexa Barker, Olivia Belcher, Fiona Mahan, Sophia Martelli, Paige Thompson and Reece Ward are set to compete in crimson and white during the 2025 season.
From Head Coach Wes Hart
"This is an exciting day for Alabama soccer. We are confident that this group will have an impact from day one as we blend them in with what is a great group of returning players. For three of them, their journey will begin in January, as they enroll for the spring 2025 semester. We want to officially welcome them and their families to the Bama soccer family. The future is bright in Tuscaloosa!"
Alexa Barker
Defender | Allen High School | Allen, Texas | Solar Soccer Club
- Rated a four-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer and ranks among IMG's Top-100 Players
- U19 U.S. Youth National Team Pool player
- Selected five times for the U.S. Youth National Team ID Center and competed with the Olympic Development Program (ODP) National Team for three years
- NSCAA All-State honoree and two-time Texas High School First Team All-District selection
- Named 2024 District 5-6A Utility Player of the Year
Olivia Belcher
Midfielder | Colleyville Heritage High School | Colleyville, Texas | FC Dallas
- Competed in the USL Super League with Dallas Trinity FC
- Invited to the U.S. Youth National Team Camp twice
- Was a two-time Elite Club National League (ECNL) Girls Texas first team all-conference honoree (2022, 2023) and received an invite to the 2022 ECNL National Training Camp and the 2022 ECNL Houston National Selection Game
- Named a 5A high school state finalist, a first team all-state selection and a University Interscholastic League (UIL) State All-Tournament honoree in 2024
Fiona Mahan
Midfielder | Avonworth High School | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Pittsburgh Riverhounds ECNL
- Rated a four-star player by TopDrawerSoccer and currently ranks 46th nationally and first in the state of Pennsylvania
- Part of the U19/U20 Player Pool earning the invite to U.S. Youth National Team Talent ID Center, U16 Virtual Camp and U17 Domestic Camp
- United Soccer Coaches All-American, as well as an all-section, all-Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL), all-state and all-region honoree
- Three-time WPIAL champion, two-time Pennsylvania state runner-up and High School All-American Game selection after becoming Avonworth's all-time leader in goals and assists
- Attended ECNL National Training Camp, selected for the ECNL National Selection Game twice and earned ECNL All-Conference recognition three times
Sophia Martelli
Forward | Buford High School | Johns Creek, Ga. | Atlanta Fire United
- Four-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer, ranking 58th nationally in addition to being ranked 18th as a forward and sixth in the South Atlantic
- Invited to the U.S. Youth National Team ID camp twice
- 2024 United Soccer Coaches All-America honoree and four-time ECNL National Selection Game participant
- Four-time ECNL All-Conference selection
- Georgia High School Athletic Association all-state, all-county and all-region honoree
Paige Thompson
Midfielder | Las Lomas High School | Walnut Creek, Calif. | MVLA
- Invited to the 2024 U.S. Women's Youth National Team U17 training camp as well as the 2021 U15 USYNT training camp
- Earned ECNL Northern California All-Conference First Team honors in both 2023 and 2024
- Eight-time Northern California PDP pool player and two-time Gothia Cup finalist
- Finished as league champions, NCS finalist and CIF semifinalist with Las Lomas High School, in addition to being named Diablo Athletic League (DAL) All League Co-MVP Defensive her freshman year, MVP Offensive her junior year and DAL All-League First Team during her high school career
- Helped California Storm earn the WPSL West Regional and USL North California Division titles
Reece Ward
Forward | Milton High School | Milton, Ga. | United Futbol Academy
- Earned Milton High School Offensive Player of the Year three consecutive years
- Invited to the U.S. National ID Center (2021, 2022)
- Selected for the ECNL Conference Cup
- Two-time first team all-region honoree
- Also earned second team all-region honors in high school
