NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt soccer head coach Darren Ambrose announced the addition of three transfers, Mia Gonzalez, Jessica Hinton and Julianne Leskauskas (less-KOWS-kiss) ahead of the 2024 campaign.
“We are thrilled to welcome these three young women to our program,” said Ambrose. “They bring a mature and experienced approach to not just the game but the locker room, too.”
Gonzalez, a forward from Westpoint, Conn., joins the program after earning her undergraduate degree from Cornell. The graduate student appeared in 31 games for the Big Red (25 starts) and posted three goals. Gonzalez has logged over 1,900 minutes of action and recorded her first game-winner to lift Big Red over Syracuse for the program’s first-ever win against the Orange.
“Mia’s work rate and tenacity down the flank will be a huge addition to the team this fall,” said Ambrose. “She has great speed, loves to run at defenders and is an exciting player to watch.”
Before Cornell, Gonzalez helped Staples High School to two state championship games and two Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference Championships. She was named 2019 All-New England Selection and All-State twice (2018, 2019) and is a three-time First Team All-FCIAC selection (2017, 2018, 2019). She competed with Connecticut FC at the club level and played in three national ECNL playoffs and Champions League teams.
Hinton, a defender from Middletown, Conn., joins the black and gold after her stint at Brown University. The graduate student appeared in 45 games for the Bears, with 42 starts and earned over 3,600 minutes of action. She helped Brown to the top defense in the Ivy League in 2023, as the team allowed only four goals in conference play and nine throughout the entire season (tenth in the nation). Hinton was named to the 2023 All-Ivy League First Team, is a two-time All-New England Women’s Intercollegiate Soccer Association Second Team (2022, 2023), and is a two-time CSC Academic All-District Team (2022, 2023).
“Jessica is a tough, combative defensive presence who brings a wealth of experience to our backline,” Ambrose stated. “She is a versatile player who will impact the team immediately.”
Before Brown, Hinton competed on the club level for Oakwood Soccer Club, earned Prep School Defender of the Year honors from New England Soccer Journal and was named to the All-New England Preparatory School Athletic Council All-Star Team twice while garnering all-state accolades.
Leskauskas, a forward from Manasquan, N.J., joins the program after the past three seasons at Florida and a brief stint at Rutgers during her freshman year. The graduate student has appeared in 66 career games with 40 starts, posting 18 points off seven goals and four assists. Leskauskas has registered over 3,200 minutes on the pitch and was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll twice.
“Julianne has a flare and creativite style of play that will be fun to watch,” Ambrose said. “She brings SEC experience and can fill in numerous roles in our attacking system.”
Leskauskas played for PDA Blue Club, where she was a five-year captain and was named to the 2019 United Soccer Coaches Youth All-East Region Team. Leskauskas captained her high school team, St. Rose, and set the record for most goals in a single season with 35 during 2019 which broke her previous record of 29 in during the 2018 season.
The Commodores also added two other transfers, Vivian Akyirem and Maci Teater, who joined the program in January.
Vandy will begin the 2024 season on Thursday, Aug. 15 at Georgetown.
