The first signing announcements for the freshman class of 2026 have started to pour in, and Aussies are no exception. Although it is expected that the number of Aussies to sign in NCAA Division I will approach double-digits, as it has in each of the last few seasons, today we take a look at four players who got in early to make their decision official.
Hannah Callaghan
College: UMass-Lowell (America East)
Position: Goalkeeper
Hometown: Sydney, NSW
The Australian goalkeeping contingent in the America East is set to grow in 2026 as Sydney University custodian Hannah Callaghan signs with UMass-Lowell to join Maine’s Grace Wilson in the conference. Callaghan will be the River Hawks’ first Australian in 30-year history of a program that commenced play in 1995 but made the move to NCAA Division I in 2013.
A former member of the Football NSW Institute program, Callaghan made the move to Sydney University in 2024, and since then has split her time between reserve grade, Under 23s, and first grade over the last two NPL New South Wales seasons. The goalkeeper made 23 starts in 2025, of which four came in first grade as she more than ably backed up now-Sydney FC squad member Sofia Fante. However, Callaghan also made 17 starts at Under 23 level in the most recent season, helping Sydney Uni to third place on the ladder before securing the championship with a grand final victory over Gladesville Ravens.
The River Hawks compiled a solid 2025 campaign, finishing with an overall record of 6-5-6, including a 3-2-3 mark in conference play that saw them secure the #3 seed in the America East tournament. Although they have yet to secure a tournament title, they are a consistent presence in the event and never look far away from making the next step. In terms of the depth chart, Callaghan will have to beat out incumbent starter Rachel Welch if she is to secure early playing time as the sophomore started 15 games and played every minute of those appearances in 2025.
Ava D’Costa
College: Tarleton State (United Athletic Conference)
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Sydney, NSW
Known for his penchant for signing Australians, Tarleton State head coach Pete Cuadrado has inked an Aussie for the third consecutive season as Western Sydney Wanderers NPLNSW midfielder Ava D’Costa commits to the Texans for 2026.
A member of the Football NSW Institute program prior to that program’s exit from NPL New South Wales after 2024, D’Costa took her significant experience in junior and reserve grade football to Western Sydney Wanderers in 2025, where she made six first grade starts in addition to her regular role in the Under 23 side. D’Costa also started each of Wanderers’ four Sapphire Cup matches as the club made a run to the semi-finals before falling to eventual winners APIA Leichhardt in the penultimate round.
D’Costa has also represented New South Wales Combined Independent Schools in each of the past two seasons, playing alongside current George Washington goalkeeper Jasmine Black, Harvard defender Erin Gordon, and A-League players including Skye Halmarick, Mary Stanic-Floody, and Willa Pearson. The St. Paul’s College student also finished 3rd in ISA cross country in 2024, and that level of aerobic capacity will do her no harm in the cut and thrust of NCAA Division I soccer.
How many Australians feature on the Tarleton State roster in 2026 remains to be seen as it looks as though a couple of those currently on the team may leave, but hopefully there will still be multiple Aussies in Stephenville next season. Intriguingly enough, D’Costa is a club teammate at Western Sydney of Catalina Wyrzynski, the younger sister of current Tarleton State player and Philippines national team representative Adelaide. As the Texans look to navigate a changing conference landscape following the WAC’s consolidation with members of the A-Sun to become the UAC, hopefully Australian presence can be key to the team’s growth, in a similar vein to Cuadrado’s strategy as Wyoming coach.
Gracen Blieschke
College: Southern Utah (Big Sky)
Position: Forward
Hometown: Strathalbyn, SA
The state of Utah is not known as a common destination for Aussies in NCAA Division I women’s soccer, but Southern Utah have found themselves one as Gracen Blieschke has signed with the Thunderbirds as part of their class of 2026. The South Australian also signed an amateur contract with Adelaide United this week, capping a remarkable few days for the young forward, who will head into her first college season having gained invaluable experience with an A-League side.
A member of Young Matildas and Junior Matildas squads in the past, Blieschke has certainly been earmarked as one to watch for the future both in South Australia and nationally. The forward out of Strathalbyn has scored 19 goals across the last three NPL South Australia seasons, with ten of those coming in 13 games in 2025.
Blieschke’s scoring record will make pleasant reading for Southern Utah fans. The Thunderbirds had a tough season in front of goal in 2025, finishing in the bottom 40 nationally with just 0.78 goals per game on their way to a 3-12-3 record. More importantly, 10 of the 14 goals that they did score came courtesy of seniors, so there is a real need to reload in attack in 2026.
Furthermore, the Thunderbirds are making the move to the Big Sky in 2026, which will bring with it new challenges. The program previously competed in the Big Sky between 2012 and 2021, but rarely made an impact in the league. The team finished with a .500 record in league play just once and not qualifying for the conference tournament in their 10 seasons in the league. Hopefully, with Blieschke leading the line, the Thunderbirds can leave their previous history in the Big Sky firmly in the rearview mirror.
Ashton Conkling
College: Western Illinois (Ohio Valley)
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Hometown: Melbourne, Vic/Edmond, Oklahoma
Already with significant experience in the United States after playing for ECNL side Oklahoma Energy, former NTC Victoria defender Ashton Conkling has signed with Western Illinois for 2026. A versatile defensive player, Conkling has been utilised across the backline as well as in a defensive midfield role as she split her time between high school and club play during her time in Oklahoma.
Conkling’s dual upbringing has exposed her to two differing styles of football as her formative years spent in Australia gave way to the more physical style seen in the United States. This combination of skillsets has seen the Victorian secure multiple individual awards as an integral part of an Edmond North High School team that secured the 2024 Oklahoma 6A State Championship and reached the quarter-finals in 2025.
Western Illinois posted an 11-6-1 record in 2021, but have compiled a total of just eight NCAA Division I wins in the following four seasons. Crucially, the number of wins per season has steadily dropped, from four in 2022 to a 1-17-1 record in 2025, with the only win this season coming against NAIA side St. Ambrose. Now, with coach Ross Henderson in his second season at the helm and beginning to shape this team in his own image, the only way is up for the side from Macomb.
The Leathernecks scored only eight goals in 2025, but Conkling’s main duty will be helping her team reduce an eye-popping goals against average of 3.42 per game from 2025. Western Illinois failed to keep a clean sheet against NCAA Division I opposition last year, and conceded multiple goals in all but four D1 games in 2025. It looks as though it will be a long road to success for the program, but there is no time like the present to start building.
Conkling’s signing maintains an Australian presence in the Ohio Valley Conference, as Aussie-laden Little Rock will leave for the United Athletic Conference prior to the 2026 campaign. Importantly, other schools that were rumoured to be leaving the league have announced plans to remain, giving the Leathernecks conference stability as they look to build back to the level they reached in 2021.
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