Hilltopper Soccer Adds Four Transfers for 2026

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Soccer has announced four new additions to the 2026 roster. Cena Carlson, Mya Jackson, Sophia Lezizidis, and April McDonald all come to WKU as transfers.

Cena Carlson
Lamar | Gillette, WY | Shattuck St. Mary's High School | Left Wing | 5'8
Carlson comes to The Hill from Lamar University where she played for two seasons. In her two years with the Cardinals, Carlson scored seven goals, notched six assists, and tallied 20 points. In 2024, Carlson was named Lamar Female Freshman of the Year and led the team in goals scored with four and tied for the most assists with three.

Prior to Lamar, Carlson played at Thunder Basin High School and finished her career at Shattuck St. Mary's High School. Individually, Carlson was a two-time First Team All-State honoree and earned All-Conference twice. She was a part of two regional championships and as a sophomore won the 2022 Wyoming State Championship, leading her team to a perfect 18-0 record. During that season Carlson scored 24 goals and assisted in 10 which earned her the Gatorade Wyoming Player of the Year.

Carlson played club soccer for Gillette Edge for eight seasons and played four seasons with South Dakota United where she was a part of two US Club National Championships.

Neidell on Carlson:
"Cena is another player who has great ambition in the game. She was freshman of the year in the Southland Conference in 2024 and is a proven finisher in front of net with both her feet and head. She will be an impactful complement to our other attacking players while providing another left-footed threat in the attacking third."

Mya Jackson
Iona | Delran, New Jersey | Delran High School | Forward | 5'5
Jackson comes to WKU as a transfer from Iona. Jackson spent one season with the Gaels and started in 11 of 17 matches played. She scored two goals on 18 shots and assisted in three. Jackson scored the game-winning goal against both LeMoyne and Niagara.

Prior to Iona, Jackson played at Delran High School. While there, Jackson scored 99 goals and notched 59 assists for 257 career points. Her team played in the South Jersey Coaches Cup in back-to-back years and played in the Sectional Semifinals her junior and senior seasons. She was named New Jersey Girls Soccer Association State Top-20 player and was the South Jersey Coaches Association Forward of the Year in 2024.
She was a three time New Jersey Soccer Association Top-20 player in the South Region,
three-time All-South Jersey selection (First-Team senior year, Second-Team junior year and Third-Team as a sophomore). Jackson was also a three-time First-Team All-Conference selection (BCSL).

Jackson played club soccer for Jersey South FC for two seasons. Jackson was a starter there both seasons. While there, her team won the U18/U19 USYS National League Mid Atlantic Conference Championship and the 2023 Penn Fusion Summer Showcase.

Neidell on Jackson:
"Mya's positive energy and attitude made an immediate impression on our coaching staff. She is a fast and athletic player who will give us a big boost in our ability to attack from wide areas. She is eager to invest in her own development, and we cannot wait to get started with her."

Sophia Lezizidis
Grambling State | London, Ontario, Canada | Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School | Forward | 5'6
Lezizidis comes to WKU from Grambling State. While with the Tigers, Lezizidis scored 22 goals and notched 17 assists and was a team captain in 2025. She earned a spot on the SWAC All-Conference Tournament Team all three seasons at Grambling and was named the Tournament MVP in 2023. Lezizidis was named the SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in 2025 and was the Grambling State Offensive Player of the Year in 2024. She also was named SWAC Freshman of the Week in 2023.

Prior to Grambling State, Lezizidis played at Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School. With the Spartans, she was named Forward of the Year her junior and senior seasons and earned Female Athlete Awards. Her team won the regional title twice and earned bronze at the Provincial Championship.

Lezizidis played club soccer with Whitecaps London for eight seasons. In 2022, her team finished second in the OPDL Championship, managed a 15-game winning streak, and was named Team of the Month. While there, Lezizidis was named Forward of the year, was the top goal scorer in 2022 with 24, named Best 11 League Two Railway City, named Team of the Month in June 2025, and was the 2025 Golden Boot Winner scoring 14 goals in 11 games. She was also a member of the Ontario Provincial Team in 2019, BVB Waterloo in 2024, and was invited to the National Development Center in 2021-22.

Neidell on Lezizidis:
"We loved Sophia's excitement about WKU and persistence throughout the portal process. As Captain of her Grambling squad, she brings great leadership qualities to our group. She is a versatile and athletic player who competes on both sides of the ball. She can assist, score, press, and defend at a high level."

April McDonald
Lafayette College | Cambridge, Ontario, Canada | Jacob Hespeler Secondary School | Midfielder | 5'8
McDonald comes to WKU as a transfer from Lafayette College. While at Lafayette, McDonald played in 49 games and started in 48. Throughout her time with the Leopards, she scored four goals, notched seven assists for 15 points. McDonald played a total of 3,772 minutes during her three years at Lafayette. McDonald was named to the Patriot League All-Tournament team in 2025.

Prior to Lafayette, McDonald played at Jacob Hespeler Secondary School. While there, she was named MVP her freshman and sophomore years and WCSSAA First-Team Allstar as a freshman. Her team appeared in the WCSSAA soccer finals 2018 and 2018.

McDonald played club soccer with the Hamilton United OPDL team ('15-'20) and earned a spot on the Ontario Provincial Team where she played three years ('17,'18,'19). She played with the Burlington u21 team competing in the OWSL ('20,'21). She was also a member of the Burlington Force Academy competing in the OWSL ('22). McDonald was also invited to play with Waterloo League 1 ('23, '24, '25).

Neidell on McDonald:
"April is a proven leader who has great ambition to excel at the next level. Those leadership qualities will be huge for our group as we continue to push our championship environment. On the field, she is a versatile player who fits our game model. We believe she will make a strong impact in our midfield."

Follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Soccer, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @WKU_Soccer on X and Instagram and @WKUSoccer on Facebook.

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