On Sept. 20, the Case Western Reserve University women’s soccer team celebrated its 10 graduating fourth-years during Senior Day at DiSanto Field. The ceremony honored co-captains Jamie Goldfarb, Mackenzie Mueller and Alexis Sassower; defenders Emma Struck and Julia Flynn; forwards Maggie Farra, Ceci Dapino, Molly Shamah and Andrea Silva; and student manager Mikaela Ramos for their lasting contributions to the program.
Recruited by Jen Simonetti and having played under Abby Richter and current coach Alyssa Johnson, the class of 15 quickly set the standard for one of the most successful eras in CWRU women’s soccer. As first-years in 2022, they won the program’s first UAA Championship and reached the NCAA National Championship game, finishing as runners-up to Johns Hopkins University. Since then, they have guided the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament each season, compiling a 48-8-11 record over four years.
Jamie Goldfarb
Fourth-year midfielder and co-captain Jamie Goldfarb has been a force for the Spartans since arriving on campus, bringing both scoring power and leadership to the program. The Whitehouse Station, New Jersey native has appeared in 61 games, starting 51, while tallying 15 goals and logging more than 4,400 minutes on the pitch.
Goldfarb made an immediate impact as a first-year, earning the Nancy Gray Rookie of the Year Award and a spot on the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team in 2022. She went on to collect All-UAA Second Team, OCSA All-Ohio Second Team, CSC Academic All-District and multiple UAA All-Academic honors over her career. As a third-year, she was again named to the All-UAA Second Team and was inducted into the prestigious CWRU Van Horn Society, which recognizes student-athletes with a 3.8 GPA or higher in their third-year or later at CWRU.
Known as a powerhouse on the field, Goldfarb has become a central figure in one of the most successful stretches in program history.
“She’s just a beast,” second-year midfielder Vivian Nohra said. “She is the most aggressive player on our team and always sets the tone for a game or practice. She’s become such a great leader and somebody everyone on the team looks up to.”
Outside of soccer, Goldfarb has thrived in the classroom. She is set to graduate this spring with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a concentration in supply chain management, a secondary major in economics, a minor in organizational leadership and a Master’s in Supply Chain Management, all accomplished within just four years.
“I came into college with about a semester’s worth of AP credits, and took a few heavier loaded semesters, keeping careful track of making use of every course I took counting towards the requirements I needed,” Goldfarb said. “As for balancing it with soccer, I create lists and schedule times for the assignments, and projects I need to do, and lean on the help of my classmates and professors.”
This past spring, Goldfarb was selected to be a team captain by her fellow teammates. She is known by her teammates for her empowering pregame speeches and her leadership abilities on and off the field.
“Jamie may not be the most vocal leader, but her presence is always known,” Nohra said. “Voting her captain in the spring was a given; she has really embraced the position and we would not be experiencing the success we are this season without her.”
Goldfarb, while not quite ready to leave soccer behind, looks forward with excitement to the opportunities that lie ahead.
“It feels almost surreal to be a senior this year and cliche to be feeling that time really does go fast,” Goldfarb said. “Leaving competitive soccer behind is a bit heartbreaking, but I also feel excited to explore other areas of life as I enter a new stage post graduation. I will always be grateful for the challenges I overcame, lessons I learned, and relationships I formed simply because I love the sport.”
Mackenzie Mueller
Fourth-year co-captain and midfielder Mackenzie Mueller has been playing soccer since she was just three years old. Over her collegiate career she has played in 64 games for the Spartans, amassing over 3700 minutes on the pitch.
Mueller has twice been chosen by her teammates to serve as captain, a testament to her leadership and influence within the program. Known as a passionate and fiery competitor, she is respected for her relentless commitment to doing whatever it takes to support her team.
“The best thing about [Mackenzie] is that she can fill whatever role is needed,” second-year defender Kinzly Gootman said. “If you need a friend or older sister she’s there. If you need a leader she’s there. She can step up in big moments but can also stand to the side to listen and observe.”
Mueller has cherished the opportunity to serve as captain, reflecting on how the role has challenged her, taught her valuable lessons and helped her grow both as a player and a leader.
“It has been such a formative experience for me,” Mueller said. “It’s taught me how to lead with empathy, especially through challenges like navigating a new coaching staff while still supporting my teammates on and off the field. I’ve seen how culture affects performance, and I’ve worked hard to create an environment where people feel supported but also pushed to be their best.”
Over the past four years, Mueller has pursued one of CWRU’s most rigorous programs, earning her degree in biomedical engineering. After graduation, she will begin a full-time role as a process engineer at Procter & Gamble while also giving back to the sport as an assistant coach for a high school girls’ soccer team.
Through three coaching changes and a variety of challenges, Mueller has leaned on the support of her senior classmates, and she remains grateful to have shared the journey with them over the past three seasons.
“I don’t think anyone really understands the kind of bond you build when you’re with the same group 24/7,” Mueller said. “These are friendships that will last a lifetime, and I’m genuinely grateful for my relationship with every single person in this class. It wouldn’t have been the same without them, and I’ll always cherish the memories we’ve made together.”
Mueller is extremely grateful for what this sport has offered her, and the experience she has had on and off the field surrounded by her teammates
“Soccer has given me more than just wins and losses,” Mueller said. “It’s given me memories I’ll always cherish and experiences that have made me the person I am today. As I close this chapter, I’m proud of everything I’ve poured into it, and I’m grateful for every moment. It’s hard to let go, but I know the impact it’s had on me will stay with me forever.”
Alexis Sassower
Fourth-year forward and co-captain Alexis Sassower, known affectionately by her teammates as “Sass,” has been a vital contributor to the Spartans over the past four seasons. She has appeared in more than 2,400 minutes of play, recording 12 goals and 12 assists in her career. Since her second year, she has been a consistent presence in the lineup, starting 45 of the Spartans’ last 47 games.
Sassower was recently elected alongside Goldfarb and Mueller to serve as a team captain for the season. Her teammates regard her as a calm but mighty leader.
“She isn’t the loudest leader, instead, she focuses on the little things and moments,” Gootman said. “She looks for the people who need support and encourages them every step of the way. I have really enjoyed watching her step into a leadership role because everyday I get to see that caring and vibrant part of her personality.”
Off the pitch, Sassower is highly engaged on campus. She serves as vice president of CWRU’s chapter of The Hidden Opponent, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting mental wellness among athletes and reducing the stigma around mental health in sports. She also acts as social chair for the CWRU Association of Student Athletes (CASA) and serves as president of the Mortar Board Honor Society Lux Chapter, a national organization focused on service and leadership.
Sassower will be graduating in the spring with a degree in neuroscience and plans to take a gap year before attending medical school.
“It is honestly so hard to believe that, after all of these years dedicating so much to this sport, this is the end,” Sassower said. “While it is sad to think about all of the lasts, what I do know is that all of the bonds with my teammates and the memories that have made college soccer so special will last far beyond the time we spent on the field together.”
Reflecting on the past four years, Sassower is very appreciative of her teammates and the bond that she shares with them.
“The group of seniors that I have grown up with truly feel like family,” Sassower said. “We have gone through a lot together as a class and it has only brought us closer together. It is so cool to see how much we have grown as players and people over these past four years and I can’t wait to see what amazing things everyone accomplished in their futures.”
Emma Struck
Fourth-year defender Emma Struck’s collegiate career has been far different than the rest of her class.
She began her first year recovering from ACL, MCL and meniscus repair surgery, and did not see the field. In her second season, she returned to the pitch but required another surgery to address lingering issues with her meniscus, scar tissue and cartilage. Heading into her junior year, she suffered another setback, tearing her other ACL on the second day of preseason and missing the entire season.
Finally, in her fourth year, Struck made her collegiate debut on Aug. 29, contributing to the Spartans’ 7–0 win over Franciscan University. Despite the obstacles she has faced, Struck has learned to find light in the challenges and is proud of how far she has come, as well as grateful to be part of this Spartan team.
“I often wondered whether I should even return to soccer, if it was worth the risk, and whether I could ever perform at the level I once did,” Struck said. “Now, a year out from that third surgery, I still wrestle with confidence. But I’ve also grown in ways I never expected. No matter what my stats say at the end of my career, I will look back with pride in my perseverance, my positive mindset, and my ability to keep showing up for myself and for my team. Being part of this incredible group has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, even if my time on the field was not what I once imagined.”
Her patience and resilience have been an example to her teammates throughout her time with the program.
“If I had to choose one word to describe Emma, it would be resilience every single time,” Gootman said. “While I have seen her work so hard during recovery, the main way I have seen her deal with her setbacks is putting everything she has into helping others and being a mentor for those around her. She has always been the first to compliment and encourage and see when someone is struggling.”
While Struck has had limited opportunities to showcase her abilities on the field, she has made the most of her time on campus in other ways. She is a member of Alpha Phi, an international women’s sorority, Theta Tau, a professional engineering fraternity and is also involved with The Hidden Opponent alongside Sassower.
Struck has also taken full advantage of CWRU’s opportunities outside of athletics. She spent the spring of her second-year studying abroad in Madrid and completed a co-op during the spring of her third-year. Because of these experiences, her graduation has been extended to December 2026, and she will return to campus for one final semester.
“Because of my extended graduation and missing two seasons, I honestly don’t even feel like a senior,” Struck said. “But looking back, I’m so grateful for all of the experiences that have shaped me into someone more independent, strong, and confident. Over the past four years, I’ve had the chance to explore so many different avenues and passions, and it’s truly crazy how quickly time has flown by. Moving on is definitely scary, but I am excited to explore, learn, and be challenged in this next phase of my life.”
Struck will graduate in December 2026 with a degree in biomedical engineering, a path she chose after her own recovery journey sparked a passion for improving the rehabilitation process.
But, while soccer has brought her more than her share of challenges, she still isn’t quite ready to leave the game behind.
“I am so extremely sad to leave the team and not be surrounded by my best friends every day,” Struck said. “Even though I missed two of my four seasons, the thought of leaving soccer behind feels both scary and sad. Despite the challenges, injuries, and pain, soccer has always been my greatest outlet, a place where I’ve grown, tested myself, and found joy, resilience, and purpose.”
Julia Flynn
Defender Julia Flynn has had soccer in her life for as long as she can remember. Introduced to the sport at a young age by their father—a former collegiate player for the University of Notre Dame—Flynn has cherished every moment of her journey, especially the memories made with her Spartan teammates on and off the field.
“Soccer has been such a big part of my life for so long, I honestly can’t believe that my career is coming to an end,” Flynn said. “But soccer has brought me so many good memories and people into my life that I am forever grateful to the sport. I can’t wait to cheer on all of the future Spartan teams for years to come!”
Flynn will graduate this spring with a degree in nursing, one of the few women’s soccer players to balance the program’s demands with such a rigorous course of study. Driven by her passion for the profession, she is grateful for the chance to study nursing while also competing as a Spartan.
“I was always interested in health and science, but my grandma was one of the main reasons I decided to do nursing,” Flynn said. “She was a nurse and I’ve always been told we have so many similarities. She is one of my favorite people and I hope I am as good of a nurse as I know she was.”
On the field, Flynn has been called upon to fill a variety of roles over the past four seasons, playing as an outside back, center midfielder, forward and now as a wing-back for the Spartans. She has appeared in 46 games and logged more than 2,000 minutes on the pitch. While she has enjoyed the challenges of competing in different positions, Flynn says what has truly made her time special are the relationships she has built with her teammates and classmates at CWRU.
“I am so incredibly grateful that all of us were recruited and brought together here,” Flynn said. “We have been through so much together throughout the past 4 years, and we have been there for each other through it all. On and off the field, I’m so happy that they’re now all my best friends.”
Flynn is considered one of the strongest and most vital players on the team by her teammates, not just for her skill but for her attitude and leadership she brings to the team.
“Julia is a ray of sunshine,” Gootman said. “Wing-back is the hardest position to play in our formation and she consistently shows up with her stellar defense, saving us countless times during a game while also sprinting up the field to create scoring opportunities. As a friend, she has the power to turn your day around. Her warm, caring, compassionate, and supportive nature makes our team culture better and lights up the locker room.”
Maggie Farra
Forward Maggie Farra has made her mark in a big way this season. Already, she has been recognized as UAA Athlete of the Week (Sept. 8), Spartan Club Athlete of the Week (Sept. 8) and NCAA Division III Women’s Player of the Week by Top Drawer Soccer (Aug. 29). Earlier in the season, she led the nation in scoring with eight goals in just four games, cementing herself as one of the top offensive threats in the country.
Over her career, Farra appeared in 20 games as a first-year, including the 2022 National Championship matchup against Johns Hopkins. She continues to build on that early success, totaling 16 goals and more than 2,000 minutes on the field over her collegiate career. Farra is proud of her accomplishments but stresses that they are meaningful primarily because of her teammates and especially her senior class, who have supported her throughout her journey.
“I’m very proud of how our class has grown together the past four years,” Farra said. “We’ve experienced a lot of things together as a class and I’m very lucky to have gone through that with the best group of people. Both on and off the field, we are all very different people, which I think is one of the best parts about our class. Our class has made the past 4 years so fun and rewarding and I can’t wait for the rest of the season.”
Third-year forward Avery Reiman says she has loved watching Farra thrive in her final season and looks up to her as both a friend and a leader on and off the field.
“As a player, Maggie is captivating to watch,” Reiman said. “On the field, I have watched her grow over the last three years into a confident All-Star. Off the field, she is the embodiment of a true teammate. She is a shoulder to cry on, a warm hug if you need one, and one of the funniest people I know. She deserves all the recognition she is getting and more.”
Farra will graduate this spring with a degree in mechanical engineering and plans to celebrate her graduation with some travel before returning home to Oregon to begin her career. She also intends to stay connected to CWRU women’s soccer, continuing to support her teammates even from afar.
“I’m so grateful for the last four years and I am going to miss playing with the team so much once this season is over,” Farra said. “I am looking forward to following the team after I graduate and hopefully being able to come back for alumni weekends.”
Farra is looking forward to the remainder of the season and hopes to finish her collegiate career on a high note.
“A national championship and winning the UAA is always the goal on the field and I think this year we have a really strong team that can make it happen,” Farra said. “I also hope we can have a fun season. So far, we’ve had a great start and it has been super fun. I’m looking forward to traveling and continuing to play with everyone.”
Ceci Dapino
Fourth-year midfielder Ceci Dapino has been playing soccer for as long as she can remember. As a Spartan, she has started 56 of the 64 games she has played, logging over 3,400 minutes on the field while contributing 14 goals and 11 assists.
“Ceci puts 100 percent into everything she does and encourages others to do the same,” Gootman said. “She is one of the most passionate players on our team which is evident if you were to watch just one game or practice. Off the field, she is such a fun person to be around and can always make me laugh.”
Off the field, Dapino has been successful in the classroom, earning UAA All-Academic recognition her second and third-years at CWRU. She will be graduating in the spring with a degree in biology and statistics, and plans to do research and earn her PhD after graduation.
“I was originally just a biology major because I was unsure of what I wanted to do after college and it seemed general enough to be able to do many things,” Dapino said. “I added a secondary major in statistics my sophomore year because I became more interested in being a researcher, and statistics is an integral part of research.”
Reflecting on the past four years, Dapino is very grateful for the career she has had, but is even more grateful for the team and family she found within CWRU women’s soccer.
“Of course I am sad to leave soccer behind, but I know that the sport will always be a part of who I am and I will look to stay involved in whatever way I can,” Dapino said. “What I will miss more is the team environment. Working towards a shared goal with amazing teammates is a special feeling, and one that I’m so grateful to have experienced.”
Dapino takes pride in being part of this senior class and values everything they have accomplished together, as well as the challenges they have faced and overcome as a team.
“I’m very grateful to have gone through these past four years with this group of girls,” Dapino said. “We have been through so many ups and downs together but we have always persevered and come out of it stronger. We have all grown so much and I’m very proud of us.”
Like Farra, Dapino hopes to finish her collegiate career strong and is excited to see what the team can achieve in her final season as a Spartan.
“The goal for every season has always been to win the UAA and a national championship,” Dapino said. “I’ve never had a stronger belief that we can achieve those goals than this year, and I’m excited to see what’s in store for us.”
Molly Shamah
Fourth-year forward Molly Shamah has had a standout career as a Spartan. Over the past two seasons she was named to the All-UAA Second Team and CSC All-Academic District team, and she led the squad with eight goals, and earned UAA All-Academic honors in 2024. In 2023, she appeared in all 18 games and received UAA All-Academic recognition.
She has logged over 2,000 minutes on the field, recording 13 goals and seven assists. Her teammates describe her as hardworking, determined and a true force on the pitch.
“Molly brings a fearless energy on the field,” third-year defender Kat Tsarouhas said. “She is a dangerous part of our attack and major contributor to our team’s offensive successes. Whenever we need a big play, we trust that Molly can use her speed and great technical skills to put us on the scoreboard. We will continue to rely on her to threaten opposing teams’ defenses throughout the rest of this season.”
Off the field, Shamah has taken full advantage of CWRU’s research and service opportunities. Since her second-year, she has worked with the Cleveland Clinic on deep brain stimulation research aimed at treating motor and cognitive deficits from traumatic brain injuries. She has also volunteered at a hospice and at the Veterans Affairs hospital since her second-year. In addition, Shamah is involved with SpartanTHON Dance Marathon, serving as dancer coordinator to raise funds for UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, and she serves as vice president of CASA. She is grateful for the chance to balance her involvement on campus with her soccer career and values the experiences gained from her research and service work.
“I am so fortunate that I got into a lab that emphasizes regenerative medicine, which is something that I have always been interested in, especially with something as life-altering as a brain injury,” Shamah said. “It is one of the most fulfilling experiences I have had, as I hope that my work can someday contribute to helping patients’ recovery to have a more positive trajectory than they otherwise would.”
Shamah will be graduating in the spring with a degree in neuroscience on the pre-med track. Despite entering CWRU as a biomedical engineering student, Shamah found her passion in the biological sciences.
“I am so happy I made that switch because it has enabled me to explore the most up-and-coming science and be in lectures with professors who are genuinely so passionate about neurosciences,” Shamah said. “I always knew I would be pre-med since high school. That choice was solidified further through all of the experiences in college. I wanted a career that enabled me to combine my curious nature, compassion, and healing where possible, which defines care.”
Shamah feels ready to close her collegiate career and is focused on savoring all of “the lasts” this season. She has one clear goal for her final year:
“To win a natty.”
Andrea Silva
Fourth-year forward Andrea “Andi” Silva will graduate this spring with a degree in aerospace and mechanical engineering. Drawn to CWRU by her passion for the stars, Silva was captivated both by CWRU’s renowned engineering programs and its close connection to the NASA Glenn Research Center.
“I decided to go the more academic route with high-achieving D3 schools, and had settled on CWRU and Carnegie Mellon,” Silva said. “I like to describe my decision with Case as all the pieces coming together in one place. I really liked the UAA, the proximity of Case to NASA Glenn Research Center, the ability to study aerospace engineering in a soccer environment full of engineers, and its proximity to a city worth exploring. All the pieces came together, and I’ve loved my experience ever since.”
Off the field, Silva has immersed herself in both campus and community activities. She is a member of Theta Tau and serves as social media chair for Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society. She has also played an active role on the Case Rocket Team, contributing as an engineer, PR manager and even serving as president. Her teammates know her as a tireless worker who is always striving to stay engaged and make an impact.
“I don’t know how she balances it all,” second-year forward Ashley Liang said. “But she still always shows up to practice ready to work and with a positive attitude. She is so ambitious and it is inspiring to see. I always appreciate talking to her and getting her advice on things.”
Over her collegiate career, Silva has distinguished herself both in the classroom and on the field. Academically, she earned UAA All-Academic honors in 2023 and 2024, has appeared on the Dean’s High Honor List every year since 2022, was named a Case Alumni Association Junior-Senior Scholar and is the recipient of the 2025–26 Ohio Space Grant Consortium Undergraduate Scholarship, funded by NASA and the university to support students pursuing aerospace-related STEM fields. On the field, she has appeared in 55 games, recording six goals, seven assists and more than 1,600 minutes of play.
Silva is still coming to terms with the end of her collegiate career, but she knows soccer will remain a part of her life beyond CWRU.
“It is still something I haven’t fully grappled with,” Silva said. “It is less fully leaving soccer behind, and more providing it a new space to occupy in my day-to-day life. The routine and sense of community are the hardest things to step away from, but those habits and relationships built are those that last a lifetime, so that provides me with some solace that my identity extends beyond being a soccer player, and that in some way, soccer will always be a part of my life, whether it be in a player, watching, or coaching capacity.”
Like her fellow classmates, Silva is grateful to have shared the past four years with this senior class and to have grown alongside them.
“It’s been an absolute privilege,” Silva said. “Seeing each senior really grow into themselves and gain success on and off the field has been absolutely amazing to witness, and I will be their cheerleader for years and years to come.”
Mikaela Ramos
Fourth-year Student Manager Mikaela Ramos’s journey looks different from that of her classmates. Though she has no stat line and no minutes recorded on the field, she is considered one of the most essential members of the team.
Ramos joined the program as a student manager in the spring of 2024 after playing for the CWRU club soccer team, looking for a way to get more involved with the varsity squad.
“This team has truly changed my life in ways they may never fully realize, and I’m not exaggerating,” Ramos said. “From trying out, to becoming the student manager, to screaming on the sidelines and sharing countless conversations with my teammates, every experience has taught me not only about the game of soccer but also about life. I’ve learned new dimensions of leadership, how to empower those around me, and discovered more of who I am because my teammates continually push me to bring out my best.”
Ramos will graduate in December with a degree in nutritional biochemistry and metabolism. During her time at CWRU, she has been active in Phi Delta Epsilon, an international co-ed pre-medical fraternity, and has served as a peer tutor for Organic Chemistry I, a peer academic coach and a teaching assistant for Intro to Biochemistry.
“[Phi Delta Epsilon has] been one of the most impactful organizations I’ve been part of because I’ve met such a diverse group of people with different perspectives and lived experiences that have really shaped how I approach life,” Ramos said. “As a freshman, I was mostly learning from the opportunities PhiDE gave me, but now my role is about giving back, whether through one-on-one mentorship, helping behind the scenes at events, or being a reference point for potential and current members during rush.”
Ramos is known to be a presence on the sidelines at games, and her teammates are thankful for the energy she brings to the sideline and in the locker room.
“Miks is someone that you can always count on,” second-year student coach Pia Sachdev said. “She brings so much energy and positivity to everything that she does, and also makes sure that you feel supported and uplifted whenever you’re with her. Her presence is unmatched and she is an incredible friend who inspires everyone around her”
While Ramos is excited for the future, she is sad to say goodbye to her teammates and will always cherish the memories she has made with them.
“In all honesty, I thought leaving soccer and the team would be easier than it’s turning out to be,” Ramos said. “Being with the team this final season, I’ve realized how much I’ll miss actively participating in our traditions, the little moments of bonding, and the daily connections with my teammates. The best part of this role has always been building meaningful relationships and watching each person’s impact, role, and mindset evolve over time. Knowing that I’ll be stepping away from that is bittersweet, I’m excited for what’s next, but I know I’ll deeply miss the unique energy and culture that make this program so special.”
Ramos plans to attend medical school after graduation and hopes she has given back to the program as much as it has given her.
“What makes it even more meaningful is knowing that these lessons and the bonds we’ve built won’t just stay with me; they’ll carry forward in the culture of the team long after I’ve stepped away, the same way it has for the people that have come before me,” Ramos said. “That’s the kind of legacy I hope to leave behind.”
The Class of 2026
As first-years, this squad reached the Division III National Championship, and it’s clear they are determined to bring their careers full circle with another run this season. This senior class is among the most talented and accomplished in CWRU women’s soccer history. No matter how the year ends, their legacy is secure for all they’ve given to the program, on and off the field.
“I hope that one day my class and I can have the same impact on future Spartans that this senior class has had on us,” Gootman said. “The adversity they have faced throughout their careers has helped them build a team culture that sets this team apart from others. They truly have redefined what it means to be a good teammate, a good leader, a good student and a good friend. While it will be a big change next season after they graduate, they will have left this team with all the tools that we need to succeed. And I just hope that we can make them proud in the future.”
Disclaimer: Ellie Palaian is a second-year on the women’s soccer team.