Six to Join Reigning Ivy Champ Tigers from Class of 2022

Six members of the Princeton Class of 2022 will join the Tiger women's soccer team as the program looks to follow up its 2017 Ivy League title and run to the NCAA quarterfinals.

"We are excited to welcome Gabi, Aza, Emma, Caroline, Amy and Grace to our program," Princeton coach Sean Driscoll said. "With the departure of a very talented group of seniors to graduation, we worked very hard to identify student-athletes that we believed would carry on our tradition of excellence on the field and in the classroom. They have challenged themselves with rigorous course selections in high school and have competed with and against the very best club soccer teams in the country. These six individuals will add great depth and versatility to a strong returning roster. In addition, they will provide tremendous character to the program and serve as wonderful ambassadors for the Princeton community."

Princeton is able to return the players who combined to score 37 of its goals in the 2017 season, plus two-year starting keeper Natalie Grossi, among non-seniors from a year ago. The Class of 2018 is a strong one, including Ivy League Player of the Year and midfielder Vanessa Gregoire, starting defenders in Mikaela Symanovich, Katie Pratt-Thompson and Natalie Larkin, addititonal midfielders in Alessia Azermadhi and Beth Stella, and additional goalkeeper Gudrun Valdis Jonsdottir.

Here's a look at the Princeton women's soccer Class of 2022:

Grace Barbara
High School: Princeton Day School
Hometown: Yardley, Pa.
Club Team: Player Development Academy (NJ)
Position: Goalkeeper
High School Accolades:
- Holds Princeton Day School shutout record
- 2016 Mercer "33" Selection
- 2014-2016 All-State Team
Club Accolades:
- 2016 & 2017 ECNL PDP Invite
- 2016 ECNL National Champion
- 2014-2016 Region I ODP

Grace on Princeton:
"I chose Princeton to surround myself in a community that enjoys academic and athletic rigor, while maintaining a healthy balance between the two. I had a very high level of comfort with the school, program, and the coaching staff, so I knew that Princeton would be the place where I wanted to grow as a student athlete and spend my next four years. I am unbelievably excited to have this opportunity and to join the Princeton family."

Driscoll on Barbara:
"Grace is a fearless competitor who will bring tremendous focus, enthusiasm and intensity to a talented goalkeeping corps. She is an excellent athlete that also boasts exceptional communication skills, impressive distribution with both her feet and hands, and has a clear presence on the field."

Emma Davis
High School: Westminster Prep School
Hometown: Clinton, N.Y.
Club Team: Matchfit Academy/CFC
Position: Midfield/Defense
High School Accolades:
- 2017 Westminster MVP
- 2017 Connecticut all-state
Club Accolades:
- Top Drawer Soccer #18 Regional Ranking
- 2016 & 2017 ECNL PDP Northeast Selection
- 2014 id2 National Training Camp Selection
- 2015-2017 Region I ODP Team

Davis on Princeton:
"I chose Princeton to be my home for the next four years due to the amount of opportunity the university had to offer for their student-athletes. The stunning campus, extraordinary coaching staff, and welcoming community were appealing factors to me during the recruiting process, which I plan to utilize in my coming years. Princeton's philosophy, "Education Through Athletics," fulfills my desire for a balance between my academic and athletic career. I am thrilled to be a Tiger soon and represent the tenacious reputation Princeton women's soccer has built for themselves."

Driscoll on Davis:
"Emma is an extremely versatile player that can play along the backline or in central midfield. She is a physical presence and takes great pride in her defending. At the same time, she thrives with the ball at her feet and can solve problems with a pass or off the dribble."

Venicia (Gabi) Juarez
High School: Foothill High School
Hometown: Tustin, Calif.
Club Team: LAFC Slammers (CA)
Position: Forward

National Team Experience:
U20 Mexico National Team
- 2018 CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers (1st Place)
U17 Mexico National Team
- 2015 CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers (2nd Place)
- 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup (Quarterfinalist)
High School Accolades:
- 2017 Century Conference Crestview League Offensive MVP
Club Accolades:
- Top Drawer Soccer #27 National Ranking
- 2017 ECNL National Championships Semifinalist

Juarez on Princeton:
"I chose Princeton not only for the academic aspect and the education I will receive, but for the athletics as well. I felt as though Princeton's soccer team was the best choice for me and the challenges on and off the field are something I look forward to undertaking. I am more than excited to be a Tiger!"

Driscoll on Juarez:
"Gabi is a wonderful talent that possesses a very high soccer IQ and excellent technique. She has the uncanny ability to be equally effective with her back to pressure or facing the backline. She also offers the unique combination of accuracy from distance and creativity in the penalty area."

Aza Keohan
High School: Acton Boxborough Regional High School
Hometown: Acton, Mass.
Club Team: FC Stars of Massachusetts
Position: Center Back
High School Accolades:
- 2017 team captain
- 2017 USCA All-New England
- 2017 Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year nominee
- 4 x All Star Dual County League (DCL) '14,'15, '16 & '17
- 2016 & 2017: MHSSCA All-Eastern Mass
- 2016 & 2017: MHSSCA 1st Team All State
Club Accolades:
- Top Drawer #74 National Ranking
- 2016 & 2017 ECNL PDP Northeast Selection
- 2015 Nike/USA Invitational Camp
- 2015 U16 US Women's National Team Camp
- 2013 & 2014 US Club Soccer id2 Camp
- 2013 U14 US Women's National Team Camp

Keohan on Princeton:
"I was looking for a school with the right combination of academic opportunity and high-level soccer. I chose Princeton because I felt that it offers the best environment to grow as a student, athlete and person."

Driscoll on Keohan:
"Aza is a physically imposing defender that excels in aerial duels and reads the game very well. She also possesses tremendous composure, as a result of her fantastic technical ability, and places great value in building the attack from the back. She has played at some of the highest levels of the youth game and that experience will be a great asset to our program."

Caroline Noonan
High School: Valor Christian High School
Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Club Team: Real Colorado
Position: Midfield
High School Accolades:
- 2016 first-team all-league
- 2016 second-team all-state
- 2014-2016 All-Academic first team
Club Accolades:
- Top Drawer Soccer #24 Regional Ranking
- 2016 & 2017 ECNL PDP
- 2016 ECNL National Championship Finalist
- 2014: id2 camp invitation
- 2014 Region IV ODP
- 2014 Colorado ODP Team
- 2012-2015 US Soccer Training Center Invitee

Noonan on Princeton:
"I chose Princeton because it has the unique combination of a phenomenal academic environment along with a top-level soccer program. In addition, I love the team atmosphere and the way that the coaches deeply care about each player."

Driscoll on Noonan:
"Caroline's athleticism and blue collar mentality will be a terrific addition to our midfield. She has the rare ability to impact games both offensively and defensively. In possession, she is astute and completes a very high percentage of her passes. Without the ball, she covers a ton of ground, dominates aerial battles and defends with a purpose and urgency that is difficult to find."

Amy Paternoster
High School: Wall High School
Hometown: Wall, N.J.
Club Team: Player Development Academy (NJ)
Position: Forward/Midfield
High School Accolades:
- 2016 & 2017 team captain
- 2017 All-America
- 2017 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year Nominee
- 2016 & 2017 all-state
- Program's career record holder in goals and assists
- 2016 & 2017 state champion

Club Accolades:
- Top Drawer Soccer #118 National Ranking
- 2016 & 2017 team captain
- 2016 ECNL National Champions
- 2016 & 2017 ECNL PDP Selection
- 2016 ECNL National Training Camp Selection
- 2014-2016 USSF Training Center Selection
- 2014 US National Team Training Camp Selection
- 2014 id2 Program Training Camp

Paternoster on Princeton:
"I was 12 years old when I first visited Roberts Stadium for a US Soccer training camp and I immediately fell in love. I turned to my mom and told her 'Mom, this is where I will be playing in six years.' From that moment on, Princeton was my dream school. Aside from being the best academic university in the country, Princeton's soccer program is unparalleled. No other school has a coaching staff that is so dedicated to motivate their players while creating a family atmosphere."

Driscoll on Paternoster:
"Amy is a dynamic attacking player that creates challenges for opposing defenses with her movement, relentless nature and technical proficiency. She also possesses a wonderful knack for scoring goals due to impeccable timing and an innate awareness around the goal. Her passion to compete and insatiable desire to improve are characteristics that will serve her well."

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