LOGAN, Utah – Utah State head soccer coach Manny Martins announced USU's 2025 recruiting class Friday morning, as the Aggies are set to welcome in eight new student-athletes next season.
 
This signing class features eight players from four different states. Signees include defender Bentli Barrera (Hyrum, Utah), midfield/forward Hadli Barrera (Hyrum, Utah), midfielder/forward Kunie Hirai (Boise, Idaho), forward Abby Hironaka (Honolulu, Hawaii), goalkeeper Ivy Nystrom (Phoenix, Arizona), forward Samantha Sellers (Highland, Utah), defender Summer Sofonia (Hyrum, Utah) and midfielder/defender Capriel Winder (North Logan, Utah). 

"I'm thrilled to welcome our 2025 signing class, which beautifully blends local talent and out of state recruits," Martins said. "This class includes five incredible in-state athletes, four of them from right here in Cache Valley. We're also adding three dynamic players from Hawaii, Arizona, and Idaho. We have a perfect mix of skill, athleticism, and grit. This group is eager to learn, grow, and compete from day one. I can't wait to see what they bring to our program!"
 
Three local products out of Mountain Crest High School will join the Aggies, including twins Bentli and Hadli Barrera, and Summer Sofonia. The trio helped lead the Mustangs to three region and Utah 4A state titles (2021, 2022, 2024) and a combined 64-13 record during that four-year span, including a 19-1 mark in 2024. 
 
Hadli Barrera, a midfield/forward, is a four-year letterwinner for the Mustangs. She has been an all-state honoree all three years of her career, with 2024 honors yet to be announced. In 2022, Barrera was named the Deseret News 4A Player of the Year after leading her team to the state title with 17 goals and 10 assists. During her career, she totaled 74 goals and 29 assists, including 34 goals and 14 assists as a senior. 
 
Bentli Barrera, a defender, is a four-year letterwinner. She has been named an all-state honoree all three years of her career, including two first team honors, with 2024 awards yet to be announced. Her senior year in 2024, the Mountain Crest defense conceded just nine total goals with 12 shutouts. She and Hadli both also play club soccer for Utah Avalanche and helped their team to a State Cup championship in 2024. 
 
Summer Sofonia, a defender, is a four-year letterwinner for the Mustangs. She also played a key role in the Mountain Crest defense which conceded just nine total goals with 12 shutouts in 2024. Sofonia was named to the all-state second team in both 2021 and 2022, and was an honorable mention selection in 2023. She was also named one of the Herald Journal All-Valley Players of the Year in 2022.  Sofonia played club soccer alongside the Barrera twins with Utah Avalanche. 
 
A fourth local product, Capriel Winder, will join Utah State out of Green Canyon High School. The North Logan native is a four-year letterwinner midfielder/defender for the Wolves, as she helped her team to a Utah 4A state title in 2023 along with a pair of state semifinal appearances in 2022 and 2024. In the final three years of her prep career, Winder totaled 26 goals and 29 assists, including 10 goals and six assists as a senior. She earned all-state first team accolades as a junior in 2023 and second team honors as a sophomore in 2022. Winder also played club soccer for La Roca ECNL, helping her team to a Northwestern Conference championship and earning all-conference honors in 2022-23 and 2023-24. 
 
A final player from the Beehive State, Samantha Sellers will join the Aggies next season. Sellers, whose older sister Solena is currently a sophomore on the team, is a three-year letterwinner forward out of Lone Peak High School in Highland. She helped the Knights to back-to-back Utah 6A state titles each of the past two years, including a perfect 20-0 season as a senior in 2024. Sellers earned 6A first team recognition and was named the Herald Extra Utah Valley Girls Soccer Player of the Year in 2023. During her career, Sellers accounted for 45 goals and 26 assists, including 20 goals and eight assists her senior year. Sellers also plays club soccer for Utah Surf, and helped her team to State Cup championships in 2021 and 2023, along with a national runner-up finish in 2023 as she was named to the Nationals Best 11. 
 
Joining the Aggies from Hawaii is forward Abby Hironaka out of Iolani School. The three-time letterwinner from Honolulu is a three-time all-state honorable mention recipient and begins her senior season this month. As a sophomore in 2022, she averaged a goal per match for the Raiders. Hironaka has also played club soccer for Rush 06, where she helped her squad to State Cup championships in 2022 and 2023. She was named to the Hawaii National Team Select and was a member of the Hawaii ODP in 2022 and 2023. This season, she is a member of Rush 07. 
 
Out of Arizona, USU welcomes goalkeeper Ivy Nystrom. The Phoenix native attends Pinnacle High School, where she is a three-year letterwinner and has yet to play her senior season. Through the first three years of her career, Nystrom has played over 2,500 minutes in net, recording 158 saves and 16 shutouts with a goals allowed average of 1.24. She was named the defensive player of the year in 2023-24, while also earning all-district and all-region first team accolades. Nystrom also plays club soccer for Phoenix Rising 07 ECNL, helping her team reach the ECNL national playoffs each of the past two seasons. She was selected to the Arizona ODP team from 2021-24, and this year is a member of the US National ODP team. 
 
Hailing from Idaho is midfielder/forward Kunie Hirai from Boise High School. A four-year letterwinner for the Braves, Hirai helped lead her team to an Idaho 5A state title in 2022 along with runner-up finishes in 2021, 2023 and 2024. Hirai earned first team all-state honors her junior and senior years, and was a second team selection as a sophomore. As a senior, she totaled 18 goals with six assists. Hirai plays club soccer for Idaho Rush, where she has helped her team to three state championships, two regional championships and national semifinal appearances in each of the past three seasons. She has also played for Idaho and regional ODP teams, and is currently a member of the US National ODP team. She was selected as the MVP of the national team following its undefeated tour in Costa Rica in 2024. 
 
Fans can follow the Aggie soccer program on Twitter, @USUSoccer, on Facebook at /USUSoccer and on Instagram, @USUSoccer. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.
 
Utah State Soccer 2024 Signing Class
 
Bentli Barrera – Defender – Hyrum, Utah / Mountain Crest HS
Hadli Barrera – Midfield/Forward – Hyrum, Utah / Mountain Crest HS
Kunie Hirai – Midfield/Forward – Boise, Idaho / Boise HS
Abby Hironaka – Forward – Honolulu, Hawaii / Iolani School
Ivy Nystrom – Goalkeeper – Phoenix, Arizona / Pinnacle HS
Samantha Sellers – Forward – Highland, Utah / Lone Peak HS
Summer Sofonia – Defender – Hyrum, Utah / Mountain Crest High School
Capriel Winder – Midfield/Defender – North Logan, Utah / Green Canyon HS