Varsity Blues
A new generation of homegrowns, draft picks, and local stars make the 2025 NCAA season a must-watch for NYCFC fans.
College soccer occupies a unique place in the sport’s landscape. Compared to the professional leagues of Europe, it’s a quaint holdover that is distinctly American, still clinging to a fading notion of amateurism. As a source of players for MLS and the national team, its significance has dropped off in the last decade. But, for many soccer parents in the country, a college scholarship feels far more attainable—and in many cases more valuable— than a pro contract. Meanwhile, the college soccer landscape has grown drastically in recent years, with college coaches heavily recruiting from overseas to bolster their talent. Last season, the University of Vermont won a national championship with a roster featuring NYCFC’s Max Murray alongside several international players.
Despite the changes, NCAA soccer remains worth watching and following. The teams are better than ever, there’s more parity, and coaches are willing to experiment and try new things. The college game has evolved into a more physical and vertical version of the sport. While some wrinkles, such as the countdown clock and substitution rules, may seem unusual, it remains soccer played at a high level.
The NYCFC Academy has produced a plethora of successful players, some of whom graduated to professional soccer after their college career. For those who reach the top level of the academy or MLS Next Pro, college is often a stepping stone unless they sign a professional contract. Players like Andres Jasson, Dante Polvara, Will Sands, and Prince Amponsah have excelled in their given years. This season, several NYCFC Academy products will suit up and try to extend this legacy. Here’s a guide to all the players who might be worth keeping an eye on in 2025:
The Homegrowns
Cooper Flax is the crown jewel of homegrowns in college soccer. The midfielder plays for Wake Forest University in North Carolina and is already featured on top award watch lists heading into the season. Primarily an attacking midfielder, he operates in the half spaces throughout the attack, orchestrating the game for the Demon Deacons. Flax has been a prolific scorer at the college level, recording 11 goals alongside 11 assists over the past three seasons. Flax is the best NYCFC-produced contender for the Mac Hermann Trophy (the soccer equivalent of the Heisman) since Dante Polvara, who won it in 2021.
Another former academy star is Alexander Yagudayev, who plays for Villanova. The young goalkeeper was one of the best shot stoppers in MLS Next Pro during his time with NYCFC II, and has carried that level into college. Unfortunately, Villanova desperately needed his skills, as the team struggled defensively and allowed a remarkable number of shots. Despite splitting time with a senior goalkeeper, Yagudayev faced 39 shots in just 591 minutes on the field. After a year in the system, Yagudayev is ready to claim the starting job outright.
Dren Dobruna and Mark Cajamarca are other names that might be familiar to NYCFC fanatics. They were part of the 2021 preseason camp alongside Flax and spent last year as freshmen at Siena. Both saw significant minutes, especially for underclassmen. Dobruna is a marauding left back who loves to join the attack, while Cajamarca is an attacking midfielder who occasionally operates at the point of the attack as a false nine. While Dobruna has since transferred to Dayton, Cajamarca remains with the Saints.
Duke University, no stranger to students from up north, boasts a pair of NYCFC academy graduates: Alexander Hauschild and Kamran Acito, who will anchor the back line for the Blue Devils. Hauschild, who saw significant action with NYCFC II, will play on the left, while Acito will work on the right. Acito was the ACC Freshman of the Year in 2022 and will try to add to his accolades in his final season with Duke.
Many of the academy graduates remain closer to home and make an impact on New York teams. St John’s has three former NYCFC players who will continue to kick on in Belson. Tyler Morck and Kaief Tomlinson are capable central midfielders, while Travis Thompson offers a wide threat in the attack. Tomlinson is a tall and rangy midfielder who also represents Haiti at the youth level. At Syracuse, Kelvin Da Costa did not feature much as a freshman, but he aims to expand his role in 2025.
Other notable NYCFC players to watch include Francesco di Ponzio, an attacking midfielder at Rutgers, as well as Georgetown’s Oliver Stafford (RB/CB) and Mateo Ponce Ocampo (AM). Georgetown has a bit of an NYCFC pipeline, as it has also featured Will Sands and Dante Polvara from the academy.
The Draft Picks
The MLS SuperDraft recently changed its eligibility rules to include sophomores, creating a new pathway for young players to become professionals. As a result, many drafted players are opting to return to college soccer for a year to develop rather than jumping immediately to the pro ranks. This year, NYCFC selected two players in the draft who will be playing college soccer in the fall. NYCFC retains exclusive signing rights for these players in MLS for the next year, potentially allowing them to feature for the team in 2026.
AJ Smith, a 6’4” forward drafted with the 74th pick, plays for the University of Virginia Cavaliers, after transferring from Tyler Junior College before the 2024 season. Originally from Denmark, he played for third-tier Fremad Amager before moving to the USA. He was a goal machine for Tyler JC with 18 goals in 22 games, and though he struggled with injuries in 2024, he managed an additional two goals and an assist in 350 minutes for the Cavaliers. He is an exceptionally high upside player with prototypical size, speed, and ball skills. If he has a strong season for UVA, it’s not out of the question for him to jump straight to the NYCFC first team in 2026.
Arnau Farnos, the 84th pick, is another forward but with a much different style. He operates mainly in the pocket as a second striker or creative player. Hailing from Spain, he developed in the FC Barcelona, Celta Vigo, and Girona academies before college soccer. This fall, he will be Oregon State’s most important creative player, wearing the No. 10.
Interesting Regional Players
This fall’s NCAA season features plenty of exciting talent, and the New York metropolitan area stands out as a consistent producer of some of the nation’s best players. Along with multiple high-quality academies, there are also elite private schools that recruit talent from all over the world to play for their teams.
Ransford Gyan stands out as one of the most unique and notable players in college. After emigrating to the area from Ghana, he played for Cedar Stars Rush before entering St. Benedictine Prep in Newark. He is a two-time state player of the year and a two-time National Gatorade Player of the Year. Gyan’s an electric attacking player with remarkable close control and dribbling ability. He made an immediate impact at Clemson as a freshman, ranking 1st in Top Drawer Soccer’s list of best freshmen in college soccer, and is the focal point of one of the best teams in the country this year. While he is not an NYCFC product, he’s about as close to must-watch TV as you can get in NCAA soccer.
Another big New York name who is unaffiliated with an MLS academy is Francis Bonsu. Also originally from Ghana, he earned a scholarship to the Right to Dream academy and then leaped to the Millbrook School in upstate New York, where he also made the basketball and track teams. The winger was the 2024-25 New York Gatorade player of the year and already logged significant minutes in USL2 with the Hudson Valley Hammers. He will be playing for UCLA in the fall and is a strong candidate to make the jump to MLS on a Generation Adidas contract.
Finally, Daniel D’Ippolito might be the best college player in the Bronx. The midfielder plays for Fordham University, where he was dominant last season as an attacking midfielder. He put up 14 goals and seven assists in just over 1500 minutes, and his performance over the past three seasons has earned him the second spot on Top Drawer Soccer’s 100 Players to Watch list. His electric attacking play and flair make him an excellent candidate to catch in person. On September 27th, VCU and elite defender Moussa N’Diaye will look to shut him down in Moglia Stadium.
Looking Forward
With games starting today, there are several interesting storylines heading into the 2025 college soccer season. For NYCFC fans, the ACC is the conference to watch with so many academy products playing there.
Games of Note:
August 31st - St. John’s at Wake Forest 7pm ET on TBA
September 19th - Syracuse at Duke TBA on TBA
September 19th - Wake Forest at Virginia 7:30pm on ACC Network
September 26th - Clemson at Wake Forest 7pm ET on ESPNU
October 17th - Duke at Clemson 7pm ET on ACC Network
October 25th - Clemson at Virginia 6pm ET on TBA
Regardless, the season promises to be full of drama, and many of these players could be wearing sky blue in 2026. ❧
Image: Winslow Homer, Snap the Whip