SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The reigning Big Sky Conference Tournament champion Sacramento State women's soccer team added six more new faces to its roster for the upcoming 2025 fall campaign, gaining four transfers and a pair of standout freshman to the fold Head Coach Randy Dedini announced Thursday.
"We're thrilled to welcome six new additions to our program coming off of our Big Sky championship season in 2024," Dedini said. "These talented student-athletes bring skill, drive, and passion to our roster and we're confident that they'll play key roles in helping us chase another conference title this fall."
The quartet of transfers includes midfeidler Lakshmi Vallabhaneni from Sonoma State, a pair of local junior college All-Americans in Hope Martin-Northrup and Tea Reyes from nearby Folsom Lake College, and high-scoring forward Shawna Larson from Peninsula College in Washington. The incoming freshman duo of Sia Bharadwaj (San Ramon, Calif. / Monte Vista HS) and Elyse McGinnis (Fort Collins, Colo. / Fort Collins HS) round out the group.
Brief bios on the six newcomers are below.
This group joins the four high school student-athletes who committed to the program back in November, bringing the number of newcomers to the program to 10. That collection of new faces included midfielder Bailey Fuller (Loomis, Calif. / Del Oro HS), defender Ella Hershey (Folsom, Calif. / Folsom HS), forward Aryana Martinez (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. / Rancho Cucamonga HS), and goalkeeper Cynthia Waller (Chicago, Ill. / Lane Tech HS).
Sacramento State wrapped up their storybook 2024 season with an appearance in the NCAA Tournament against USC, falling to the Trojans in the first round. The Hornets finished 5-7-9 overall on the season, setting a new school record for draws in the process, while claiming its third Big Sky Tournament title and an NCAA postseason berth for the third time in the program's history.
At the end of the regular season, five Sacramento State players were named to the All-Big Sky team while six student-athletes were named to the Big Sky All-Tournament team, including gaining the MVP, following the Hornets' run of penalty kick victories over No. 4-seeded Northern Arizona, No. 1 Montana, and No. 2 Idaho.
SIA BHARADWAJ (5-4, MF, Fr., San Ramon, Calif. / Monte Vista HS, Bay Area Surf ECNL)
• Two-year varsity letter winner at Monte Vista HS
• Helped the Mustangs to a CIF North Coast Section title as a senior
• Finished her final prep season with eight goals and three assists, including a hat trick against Livermore HS
• Named a CIF section Scholar-Athlete in 2022 and 2025
• Played club soccer for the Bay Area Surf ECNL in San Jose, Calif., for four years, helping her club to three ECNL NorCal Conference championships
• Has established a non-profit, Kicks and Goals (kicksandgoals.org), which is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in the sport
Head Coach Randy Dedini: "Sia is an exciting midfield/forward player who will be able to compete at multiple positions for us. Her creativity, IQ, 1-v-1 ability and vision are just some of the dynamic qualities she'll bring to our team."
SHAWNA LARSON (5-4, F, Jr., Graham, Wash. / Graham-Kapowsin HS / Peninsula College)
• Named the NWAC Player of the Year and was a first-team all-conference selection as a sophomore in 2024
• Her career goal total of 31 and her 17 career assists both rank fifth on the school's all-time list
• Her 79 career points are fourth on the school's list
• Led the NWAC in goals, assists, and points as a sophomore
• First-team All-NWAC selection as a freshman in 2023, scoring 18 goals and 44 points
• Her 18 goals are the third-most by a freshman in school history
Head Coach Randy Dedini: "Shawna is a strong target forward who can hold the ball or run in behind defenses just as effectively. Her goal scoring ability and versatility will be a welcome addition to our team's attack."
HOPE MARTIN-NORTHRUP (5-8, D, Jr., Elk Grove, Calif. / Monterey Trail HS / Folsom Lake College)
• Helped the Folsom Lake college to its second straight California Community College Athletic Association state title and a Big 8 Conference crown in 2024
• United Soccer Coaches Junior College Division III National Player of the Year and a first-team All-American who also earned first-team All-West Region honors
• CCCAA North All-Region and all-state honoree
• Named the Big 8 Conference Defender of the Year and was the state tournament Most Outstanding Player
• Part of a defense that posted 19 shutouts en route to a 23-1-2 overall record and a 9-1-1 mark in Big 8 Conference play
• Finished with four goals and eight points, putting five of her seven shots on the year on goal
• Began her career at San Jose State in 2023, appearing in nine matches
Head Coach Randy Dedini: "Hope is a natural left-footed defender with great speed and athleticism. Her ability to shut down top strikers and initiate our attack will make her a valuable asset to our team."
ELYSE McGINNIS (5-7, F/MF, Fr., Fort Collins, Colo. / Fort Collins HS, Broomfield Blast SC)
• Three-time All-Northern Colorado 5A selection in soccer, including first-team honors twice in 2023 and 2025
• Accumulated 27 goals and 14 assists in 42 matches in her prep career
• As a senior, finished with 10 goals and four assists for 24 points in 14 matches, including a four-goal performance against Greeley West HS
• Added seven goals and five assists as a sophomore and 10 more goals to go with five helpers as a freshman
• Also a standout member of the Lambkins' track and field team in the 400m and 800m as well as a pair of relay teams
Head Coach Randy Dedini: "Elyse's athleticism and versatility stands out. She can play most positions, but is most effective in wide spaces where she can use her elite motor."
TEA REYES (5-6, MF, Jr., San Jose, Calif. / Ponderosa HS / Folsom Lake College)
• Helped Folsom Lake College to a pair of California Community College Athletic Association state titles in 2023 and 2024
• United Soccer Coaches second-team All-American, second-team All-West Region selection, Big 8 Conference Attacker of the Year, CCCAA All-State selection as a sophomore
• Finished with 21 goals and nine assists for 51 points, including six game-winners
• United Soccer Coaches All-American and All-West Region selection as a freshman, scoring nine goals and 11 assists
Head Coach Randy Dedini: "Tea is another experienced forward who was highly decorated at the junior college level. Tea is a proven goal scorer and playmaker over the past two years and we are looking forward to the impact she'll have on our team."
LAKSHMI VALLABHANENI (5-6, MF, Sr., Elk Grove, Calif. / Cosumnes Oaks HS / Cosumnes River College / Sonoma State)
• Attended Sonoma State, but did not appear in a match for the Seawolves in 2024
• Scored five goals and added an assist as a sophomore at Cosumnes River in 2022 while starting all 22 matches for the Hawks
• Five goals were tied for third on the team while ranking fourth on the squad with 11 points
• Finished with a pair of goals and two assists as a freshman at Cosumnes River College in 2021, starting 20 matches
• Twice earned a spot on the Big 8 Conference All-Tournament Team and earned all-conference honors as a sophomore
Head Coach Randy Dedini: "Lucky is another talented player that brings several years of college experience and versatility to our team. Her exceptional soccer IQ allows her to be effective at multiple positions."
