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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton Men's Soccer Welcomes Six in the Class of 2030
June 16, 2026 | Men's Soccer
PRINCETON, N.J. – The Princeton men’s soccer team will welcome six new talented members in the Class of 2030 for the 2026 season.
The Class of 2030 will join the Tigers following a historic 2025 season which saw Princeton win both the regular season Ivy League Championship and the Ivy League Tournament while going undefeated in conference play. After being seeded third in the NCAA Tournament, Princeton finished eighth in the final United Soccer Coaches rankings.
“Our 2025 team set incredibly high standards for Princeton Soccer by winning the Ivy League regular season and Ivy League Tournament, before earning the No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament. While we graduated an influential senior class this May, we return a strong foundation with experience in big matches, and the group has already made good progress in our spring season. We are excited to add this new group of players into the mix,” said Associate Head Coach Steve Totten. “A highlight of every preseason is welcoming the new class and learning how they may contribute to another successful season. We believe this incoming class has both the talent and the mindset to continue the program’s high standards in 2026.”
Read on to meet the new Tigers!
Viktor Alestig | GK | Gothenburg, Sweden
Viktok Alestig, a goalkeeper from Gothenburg, Sweden, will come to the states this August to join the Tigers after a promising career in the Allsvenskan youth system.
A Swedish National Champion in U19 with BK Häcken in 2024, Alestig led the club to a dominant season that saw Häcken also advance to the finals in the U19 Scandinavian Championship. He also captained the U21 squad.
For his success at the club level, Alestig was invited to participate in a Swedish national team camp in the summer of 2024. He was also rostered for an Allsvenskan road game after training with the first team regularly - something that also earned him a feature in EA FC26.
Off the field, Alestig was awarded for having the top grades in his class, and he serves as a goalkeeper coach for many of the BK Häcken youth camps.
His mother, Ulrika, was a reserve goalkeeper with Jitex BK during their 1989 Swedish Championship campaign. She played alongside former USWNT coach and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Pia Sundhage.
Lucas Ferreira | D | Long Hill, N.J.
Lucas Ferreira, a centerback from Long Hill, N.J., will stay in his home state to join the Tigers this Fall after winning the 2026 U19 MLS Next Flex title with PDA.
An MLS Next All-Star, Ferreira captained his U19 squad and led his squad to winning their conference four years in a row, while making five MLS Next Cup appearances.
Off the field, Ferreira teaches soccer with TOPSoccer, a recreational sports program for children with intellectual, emotional, or physical disabilities. He also is a member of the Spanish Honor Society.
His sister, Claudia, currently plays soccer at the University of Rochester.
Noah Hammerschmidt | M | Brooklyn, N.Y.
Noah Hammerschmidt joins the Tigers as an attacking midfielder from Brooklyn, N.Y.
With Metropolitan Oval in MLS Next, Hammerschmidt scored 20 or more goals for two consecutive years as he led the squad to an NAC Championship in 2025.
His efforts earned him time training with the first team in the USL Championship league, and he was selected to represent New York City at Nike’s TOMA events, which celebrate youth street soccer and cultural expression.
Off the field, Hammerschmidt participates in a book club with falsely incarcerated death row inmate Keith Lamar - of which he is the youngest member. He also hosted a free college showcase with Youth 4 Youth FC.
Julien Lacher | F | Rumson, N.J.
Julien Lacher, a winger from Rumson, N.J., will join the Orange & Black this August after a prominent career in the NYCFC academy system.
Starting at the U13 level, Lacher progressed through the NYCFC system, captaining his teams from U15 through U17. He was the top goal scorer in the Generation Adidas Cup.
Following his academy stint, Lacher joined NYCFC II, playing in MLS Next Pro while making 15 regular-season appearances with one goal and two assists in his first year. In 2025, he made 21 starts, scoring six goals and notching seven assists.
He comes to Princeton as a TopDrawerSoccer four-start recruit, ranking fourth in the New York region and 17th in the nation.
Chase Miller | M | Grand Rapids, Mich.
Chase Miller, a midfielder from Grand Rapids, Mich., comes to Princeton after serving as a leader for Midwest United in MLS Next.
Captaining the team for two years, Miller led the team to its first MLS Next Flex appearance.
He was also a member of the futsal U16 U.S. Youth National Team.
Off the field, Miller is a Project CHARLIE ambassador, which teaches fifth and sixth graders about the dangers of drug use. He also volunteers with Kids Food Basket, is an AP Scholar with Distinction, and serves as treasurer of his school’s chess club.
Jonah Mwilambwe | F | Bloomington, IL.
Forward Jonah Mwilambwe joins the Tigers from Bloomington, Ill., where he was the leading goalscorer in U17 and U19 with the Indy Eleven Pro Academy.
Leading the squad’s offense, Mwilambwe played a key role in winning the USL Academy Playoffs in 2024. He also helped the squad reach the round of 16 in the MLS Next playoffs.
For his efforts, he was invited to train with the Indy Eleven first team, which plays in the USL Championship. He also played in the MLS Next Best Of game.
Off the field, he volunteers with the NAACP, advocating for educational equity in Indiana. He is an AP Scholar with Distinction, and a College Board National African American Recognition Program awardee.
