After signing a contract extension through the 2029 season, LSU soccer head coach Sian Hudson wasted no time in fine-tuning the 2026 squad, adding 14 new members to the team, 11 of which are freshman.
Having to say goodbye to seven seniors in 2025, Hudson’s signings come from all over the world with the hopes of reaching another momentous run at both the conference and national level in 2026.
Arriving in Baton Rouge all the way from Iceland are both freshmen: fullback Rakel Sigurðardottir and forward Berglind Hlynsdóttir.
Hlynsdottir wears the same No. 10 that LSU alum Ida Hermannsdottir wore, and also comes with matching talent. An impressive career training with the same top Icelandic club Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar, Hlynsdottir brings a powerful force to the front lines. Already with four shots on the season, Hlynsdottir is instantly making her mark on the pitch.
On the defense, Sigurðardottir also brings Icelandic national team experience to the Tiger squad. Her ability to show technical attacking on the LSU back lines is nothing short of significant.
Rounding out Hudson’s international signings is freshman goalkeeper Marie Pues. Making the journey from Belgium, Pues has extensive experience from her country’s national team. She served as the starting goalkeeper for Belgium from the U15 to U19 levels. Her inclusion adds depth behind senior Audur Scheving.
Coming from Texas are freshman Ryliegh Albin and senior Emma Alvord. The defensive duo both come from backgrounds playing with FC Dallas ECNL and will be key components to LSU’s game.
Alvord transfers from Oklahoma State University and before that SMU, where she built an impressive career across three combined seasons. With six goals across 51 collegiate matches, the wingback has further added to the depth of LSU’s defense.
Albin, who specifically plays as a center back, reclassified to join the Tiger squad early after collecting many noteworthy high school and club accolades. She led her team to becoming 2025 6A Texas State Champions, and the All-State team member has already made her mark on the pitch with two shots in 297 minutes for the Tigers.
All the way from Elk Grove, Calif., comes freshman Kylee Rocha. A centerback, Rocha has garnered an accomplished club career with multiple Elite Club National League appearances for San Juan SC and De Anza Force, both of which she captained for five years combined.
Other west coast signings take form in junior Linka Ono and 5th-year senior Allie Fryer. Both offensive talents, Ono joins the Tigers after two seasons in the NJCAA with Arizona Western College.
With her, she brings Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Region 1 Player of the Year honors in 2025 as well as National Junior College Athletic Association national championship game appearances from both seasons she played on the Matador squad.
Fryer comes to LSU for a final season to finish a historical collegiate career that started at BYU.
Named to both the 2026 SEC preseason watch list and 2026 Hermann Trophy Players to Watch list before the start of the season, Fryer has already become an imperative part of the Tiger offense. With multiple honors and 30 career goals as a Cougar, Fryer added another goal in 7 shots as a Tiger in the early part of 2026.
Hudson didn’t forget local talent either. Louisiana natives Ella Kate Johnston and Rylie Kuyper make their appearance on the 2026 roster in the form of midfielder and goalkeeper, respectively.
Johnston, who reclassified to join the squad a year early, comes from a family with deep athletic roots. Assembling a top-five high school career in the state’s history, Johnston adds offensive talent that is backed by 126 goals and 108 assists from her time at Parkview Baptist HS.
Alongside her scoresheet stats, the 2025 Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year became the first player in her school’s history to earn United Soccer Coaches All-American honors and helped lead her team to win three state championships.
Kuyper rounds out the Tigers’ goalkeeping lineup with experience playing for Texas Tech and multiple honors from her time at Northlake Christian High School in Madisonville. Kuyper’s recognition as one of the most decorated goalkeepers in the state will certainly be something to watch as the season progresses.
Aside from coach Hudson’s offseason signing, other new faces include freshmen Jaya Dern on the defense and offensive additions Alexia Hansen, Ava Villapando and Mia Conard.
In a sport where conference play is competitive all season long, a developing LSU program will only continue to grow alongside its fresh talent.