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After finishing last season with an 8-6-3 record and just missing out on Big Ten and NCAA Division I postseason play, Northwestern is hungry for improvement.
Northwestern added 10 recruits and transfers for this upcoming season but also saw eight Wildcats walk out the door or across the graduation stage. Key starters like Joe Suchecki, Nigel Prince and Jayvin Van Deventer were among those who graduated, and starting goalkeeper Rafa Ponce de León transferred to his hometown school of Rutgers.
Nonetheless, the Wildcats have enough talent to reload and compete once more.
NU touches the field in an exhibition game on Aug. 8 against Bradley and then its regular season starts 12 days later against New Haven. Here’s a breakdown of the roster that will suit up for the Wildcats this season.
Goalkeepers
Northwestern’s last line of defense is one of the biggest question marks heading into the season.
Ponce de León started in 16 games last year and was impenetrable at times to keep the ‘Cats in games. The graduate’s transfer leaves a gaping hole in front of the net as he was one of NU’s most consistent players last season.
Left to fill the historic NU goalie’s place are two returning keepers, who have combined for one appearance during their time at NU, and a transfer from Hofstra. Dominic Pereira is a red-shirt sophomore who saw limited playing time in a blowout win in 2024. Jude Bosshardt is a red-shirt junior who has served as a practice player during his three seasons spent in Evanston. That leaves Gino Cervoni, who is likely Northwestern’s answer.
Cervoni is a graduate student who previously helped Hofstra to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in his senior season. After seeing limited playing time across his first three seasons at Hofstra, he was given a starting opportunity last season and didn’t let it go to waste. Cervoni started 17 games and had a per-game goal average of 0.83. He brings a combination of experience, talent and production, which should slot him in at the starting goalkeeper spot and quell most worries the ‘Cats had when Ponce de León announced he was leaving.
Defenders
Over the past four years, Prince became a staple of the Northwestern defense. He earned All-Big Ten First and Second Team honors in 2023 and 2024, respectively, but saw his senior season cut short due to injury. In the last few games of the season without Prince, the ‘Cats saw a preview of what their defense will look like this season without their main man in the back.
A lot of the post-Prince defensive strategy will revolve around seniors Fritz Volmar and Bryant Mayer. Volmar started all 17 games last season and is a leader of the squad from the center back position. Mayer battled injuries last year but appeared in 12 games and caused chaos down the right side for the ‘Cats. He led Northwestern in assists in 2024, so, with any injury luck, should be in for a big bounce-back campaign.
In addition to the pair of veterans, Andrew Johnson returns following a breakout first season. Johnson started 16 games for NU and was named to Top Drawer Soccer’s Freshman Top 100. Johnson mostly played left back last season for the ‘Cats but can also play center back if coach Payne thinks that is the best option to fill Prince’s spot.
If Northwestern starts four at the back, the fourth starting spot is the one up for grabs. Dalton Bulowski and Dimas van der Heide return for NU but, with little in-game experience between the two of them, one would imagine the ‘Cats might look elsewhere for such an important role.
The first option is incoming first-year Gavin Baer, whom Northwestern signed from Suffield Academy. Baer is a physical centerback with experience playing in incredibly competitive games and could challenge to start immediately upon walking on campus. Josue Pfrommer is another first-year who played for the Chicago Fire Academy and brings immense potential.
I would bet on Baer getting the fourth starting spot if the ‘Cats want to play defenders, but no matter what, the defense should be elite once again due to the ability of Volmar, Mayer and Johnson.
Midfielders
The big losses in the midfield are Jason Gajadhar, who started all 17 games last year, and Joe Suchecki, who made the All-Big Ten Second Team. They made up two of the three usual starters in NU’s middle triangle and represent large holes which need to be filled.
The lone returning piece of the triangle who will be essential to this season’s midfield is Baraka Tarleton. Tarleton is a 6-foot-4 incoming senior who started 16 games last season. He is an imposing figure in the middle of the field with enough speed to stay with any opposition.
Alongside Tarleton, there are many choices for coach Payne to slot into the starting lineup. Tyler Glassberg has been in Evanston for the past three years and has started 15 games over the past two years. He had a big role off the bench in 2025 with 11 shots on the year across his 12 appearances. Evrit Fisher is the next obvious choice to be in the lineup, as he made seven starts last season in his 12 appearances in his first season. Fisher is a crafty midfielder with both defensive chops and creativity on offense, making him a more than viable third option in the midfield.
Beyond the returning talent of Tarleton, Glassberg and Fisher are some less experienced Wildcats and unknown newcomers. Sam Nagano, Yuval Nimrodi, Aidan O’Neill and Henri Richter all return after appearing in games last season but struggling to receive consistent playing time.
In the transfer portal, NU added Gabe Smyth, who’s started 31 collegiate games over the past two years; Marco Silva, who appeared in 11 games for Pittsburgh last season; and, the big one, Andrew Millar from Vermont. Millar captained Vermont to its first-ever unbeaten regular season last year and made the America East All-Conference First Team. Millar also contributed to Vermont’s national championship in 2024.
On paper, Northwestern’s midfield for this season seems to be bubbling with potential. A core four of Tarleton, Glassberg, Fisher and Millar is experienced and should help the ‘Cats dominate the middle of the pitch.
Forwards
The lone loss for NU’s attackers is Alejandro Martinez Santamaria, who started 14 games for the ‘Cats and logged two points and six assists.
The key returners for the ‘Cats are Peter Riesz and Aaron O’Reilly. Riesz can play midfield or center forward and has made 42 appearances over his three years at Northwestern. Riesz had four goals and three assists last year and led an aggressive NU press. O’Reilly had a breakout first season, starting in 14 games and making the Big Ten Conference All-Freshman Team. Playing on the right side of the field, O’Reilly led the team in goals with five and also had two assists.
Other notable returning players include Omar Jallow, Italo Addimandi and Tre Barrett. Jallow and Addimandi saw 21 appearances between the two of them and combined for seven points.
First-year newcomers include Luca Toro from Intercontinental Football Academy and Toryn Penders from Orlando City. Both are dynamic and explosive playmakers but may struggle to receive heavy minutes out of the gates. Junior transfer Ethan Nakolo from Oklahoma Christian University is the newcomer with the best chance of playing after making the D2CCA First Team All-American Team and setting a program record with 17 goals.
Northwestern has an incredible amount of talent and depth at the attacking positions and should be able to distribute playing time to most of these guys and let the premier goal scorers rise to the top.
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