Photo by: Catherine Harney
Junior and Senior Newcomers Bring Experience, Leadership to USC Upstate
7/10/2026 10:30:00 AM | General
USC Upstate women's soccer will add nine upperclassmen to its roster for the 2026 season, bringing collegiate experience, leadership and positional flexibility to a new-look Spartan squad.
The group features two juniors and seven seniors, with a wealth of experience and considerable minutes at the Division I level.
Lily Maccausland joins the Spartans from NJIT, giving Upstate a versatile option in the midfield and on the wing. While she can play in several areas, head coach Sam Odell believes her strongest position may be on the right side of the attack.
"Lily is very good one-on-one and has the technical ability to beat a defender," Odell said. "She also has really good end product once she gets into attacking areas."
Cansu Kara comes to Upstate from Coastal Carolina as an experienced left back. The left-footed defender has represented Turkey at the national-team level and previously played for Fenerbahçe, one of the country's top clubs.
"Cansu is a very technical player who is excellent on the ball," Odell said. "She can pick out a pass, understands the game really well and brings a different style and level of experience to our group."
Liana Bryant arrives from Grambling as an experienced and proven goal scorer. The left-footed attacker combines one-on-one ability with strong athletic traits and gives the Spartans another dangerous option in the final third.
"Liana has scored a lot of goals throughout her career," Odell said. "She is good one-on-one, has excellent athletic qualities and is an experienced attacker who we believe can have a really strong season."
Hannah Wilt is one of three transfers from Shepherd, bringing the Spartans experience and leadership in goal. Odell has worked with Wilt for the past three seasons and has watched her develop into a commanding presence within the team.
"Hannah has grown into a really strong leadership figure," Odell said. "She understands her role in possession, is very good with the ball at her feet and is an explosive goalkeeper who can make difficult saves."
Annabelle Wunderlich also joins the Spartans from Shepherd and can contribute in several different positions. She combines a relentless engine and strong physical qualities with technical ability and comfort using either foot.
"Annabelle is an extremely versatile player," Odell said. "She is very good on the ball, can play with both feet and has the physical traits and work rate to impact the game in a lot of different ways."
Katelyn Economopoulos also transferred from Shepherd as an intelligent and technical defensive midfielder. Economopoulos understands how to control the game from the middle of the field and consistently connects passes while helping create opportunities for the players around her.
"Katelyn is a very clever player who understands the game extremely well," Odell said. "She loves being on the ball, loves creating and rarely gives the ball away."
The trio of Wilt, Wunderlich and Economopoulos were part of a highly successful Shepherd program that captured back-to-back conference championships while advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 and Elite Eight in consecutive seasons.
Danielle Trovato comes to Upstate from Troy after playing significant minutes in the Sun Belt Conference. The left-footed defender can play at left back or left center back and possesses the passing ability to help the Spartans build attacks from the defensive unit.
"Danielle has a really good left foot and can break defensive lines with her passing," Odell said. "She is also a strong one-on-one defender with good physical qualities and a lot of experience at the Division I level."
Arianna Diemer joins the Spartans from Davenport. The experienced center back missed her previous season due to injury but will use her final year of eligibility with Upstate.
"Arianna is a physical and athletic center back who is comfortable on the ball," Odell said. "She is not afraid to go into a tackle, and we believe her experience and leadership will really help our group."
Jordan Schaetzly comes to Upstate from UNC Asheville and already understands the demands of competing in the Big South. Schaetzly can play on either side of the back line and brings speed, one-on-one defensive ability and quality in possession.
"Jordan is a very fast and experienced defender," Odell said. "She is good one-on-one, comfortable with the ball and gives us the flexibility to use her at either outside back position."
The veteran additions will be asked to provide an immediate impact as the Spartans bring together one of the largest groups of newcomers in Division I women's soccer.
USC Upstate opens the 2026 season Sunday, Aug. 16, when the Spartans travel to face the College of Charleston. The Spartans make their home debut Thursday, Aug. 20, against Davidson.
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The group features two juniors and seven seniors, with a wealth of experience and considerable minutes at the Division I level.
Lily Maccausland joins the Spartans from NJIT, giving Upstate a versatile option in the midfield and on the wing. While she can play in several areas, head coach Sam Odell believes her strongest position may be on the right side of the attack.
"Lily is very good one-on-one and has the technical ability to beat a defender," Odell said. "She also has really good end product once she gets into attacking areas."
Cansu Kara comes to Upstate from Coastal Carolina as an experienced left back. The left-footed defender has represented Turkey at the national-team level and previously played for Fenerbahçe, one of the country's top clubs.
"Cansu is a very technical player who is excellent on the ball," Odell said. "She can pick out a pass, understands the game really well and brings a different style and level of experience to our group."
Liana Bryant arrives from Grambling as an experienced and proven goal scorer. The left-footed attacker combines one-on-one ability with strong athletic traits and gives the Spartans another dangerous option in the final third.
"Liana has scored a lot of goals throughout her career," Odell said. "She is good one-on-one, has excellent athletic qualities and is an experienced attacker who we believe can have a really strong season."
Hannah Wilt is one of three transfers from Shepherd, bringing the Spartans experience and leadership in goal. Odell has worked with Wilt for the past three seasons and has watched her develop into a commanding presence within the team.
"Hannah has grown into a really strong leadership figure," Odell said. "She understands her role in possession, is very good with the ball at her feet and is an explosive goalkeeper who can make difficult saves."
Annabelle Wunderlich also joins the Spartans from Shepherd and can contribute in several different positions. She combines a relentless engine and strong physical qualities with technical ability and comfort using either foot.
"Annabelle is an extremely versatile player," Odell said. "She is very good on the ball, can play with both feet and has the physical traits and work rate to impact the game in a lot of different ways."
Katelyn Economopoulos also transferred from Shepherd as an intelligent and technical defensive midfielder. Economopoulos understands how to control the game from the middle of the field and consistently connects passes while helping create opportunities for the players around her.
"Katelyn is a very clever player who understands the game extremely well," Odell said. "She loves being on the ball, loves creating and rarely gives the ball away."
The trio of Wilt, Wunderlich and Economopoulos were part of a highly successful Shepherd program that captured back-to-back conference championships while advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 and Elite Eight in consecutive seasons.
Danielle Trovato comes to Upstate from Troy after playing significant minutes in the Sun Belt Conference. The left-footed defender can play at left back or left center back and possesses the passing ability to help the Spartans build attacks from the defensive unit.
"Danielle has a really good left foot and can break defensive lines with her passing," Odell said. "She is also a strong one-on-one defender with good physical qualities and a lot of experience at the Division I level."
Arianna Diemer joins the Spartans from Davenport. The experienced center back missed her previous season due to injury but will use her final year of eligibility with Upstate.
"Arianna is a physical and athletic center back who is comfortable on the ball," Odell said. "She is not afraid to go into a tackle, and we believe her experience and leadership will really help our group."
Jordan Schaetzly comes to Upstate from UNC Asheville and already understands the demands of competing in the Big South. Schaetzly can play on either side of the back line and brings speed, one-on-one defensive ability and quality in possession.
"Jordan is a very fast and experienced defender," Odell said. "She is good one-on-one, comfortable with the ball and gives us the flexibility to use her at either outside back position."
The veteran additions will be asked to provide an immediate impact as the Spartans bring together one of the largest groups of newcomers in Division I women's soccer.
USC Upstate opens the 2026 season Sunday, Aug. 16, when the Spartans travel to face the College of Charleston. The Spartans make their home debut Thursday, Aug. 20, against Davidson.
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