LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Women's Soccer Head Coach Steve Karbowski has announced the addition of six incoming freshmen to comprise the Saints Class of 2029.
 
Olivia Covello | M | 5-5 | Kearny, NJ/Kearny
Covello totaled 70 career points on 23 goals and 24 assists while leading the Kearny Kardinals to three county titles. A First Team All-County selection after amassing 25 points her junior year, she tallied 22 points on seven goals and eight assists this past fall. Covello competed for four years for the Cedar Stars Academy Bergen in the Girls Academy League, which she helped guide to three State Cup Championships. A multi-sport standout at Kearny, she was also a four-year starter on the basketball team.  

"Olivia is a very technical player who excels with her distribution," said Karbowski. "She can play a variety of roles offensively, and can set up her teammates as well as create her own opportunities."
 
Grace Crowley | B | 5-8 | Toms River, NJ/Toms River East
Crowley was an Ocean County All-Star who also earned First Team All-Shore, All-County, and All-Division honors her senior season. She was both a Second Team All-County and All-Division selection as a junior, and Third Team All-County her sophomore season. Crowley competed for nine years with PDA Shore Shockwave – winning league championships each of the past two seasons – and one year with PDA Shore Riptide in the ECNL/RL. A three-sport star at Toms River East, she amassed 100 career goals spanning her first three years of lacrosse, while earning First Team All-County and All-Division honors last season, and also plays varsity basketball.
 
"Grace is a very steady and technical player," said Karbowski. "Her vision and distribution from the back will be a great fit, along with her composure on the ball and ability to get forward."
 
Cece Funseth | M | 5-5 | Pipersville, PA/Central Bucks West
Funseth was named a Top-50 player of Bucks and Montgomery Counties and earned PA AAAA One National Conference Colonial Division Honorable Mention honors her senior season. She was an All-Area Honorable Mention and PA AAAA Suburban One National Conference All-League Second Team selection as a junior. Funseth played six years of club soccer for the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals in the ECNL where she was a part of three straight GA Mid-Atlantic Conference Championships.
 
"Cece is a strong, technical player who excels in the defensive midfield role," said Karbowski. "She is very composed on the ball, is strong in possession, and is a disciplined defender."
 
Maddy Hopeck | F | 5-6 | Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville
Hopeck capped a phenomenal five-year varsity career by leading Mechanicville to the Section II Class B Championship last fall. She amassed 73 points on 32 goals last season, earning Times Union Small-School Girls' Soccer Athlete of the Year honors, in addition to being named a Class B First Team All-State selection, the Class B Player of the Year, and the Wasaren League Offensive Player of the Year. Overall a three-time All-State honoree, Hopeck was the recipient of the NYS PE Leadership Award. She played her club soccer locally for the Albany Alleycats. Her older sister, Ryleigh Hopeck, played for the Saints this past season.
 
"Maddy is a very athletic player who can play in any of the wide positions," said Karbowski. "She is able to distribute from an outside back, and has the speed and 1v1 ability to attack and provide crosses."
 
Sophia Vitullo | F | 5-4 | New Hartford, NY/New Hartford
Vitullo led New Hartford to an 81-6-2 record and four consecutive regional and Section III Championships, highlighted by a 2021 state title. A 2023 TVL All-Star, the 4.0 student earned NYSPHSAA Scholar Athlete honors all four years. Vitullo amassed 31 career goals and 15 assists. She played three years of club soccer for Syracuse Development Academy after competing for the previous eight years for Coliseum Soccer Club.
 
"Sophia is a strong possession-minder striker who holds up the ball well and combines well with her teammates," said Karbowski. "She makes decisive runs in the attacking third and will finish her opportunities."
 
Addison VonLoeser | GK | 5-11 | Wilton, CT/Wilton
VonLoeser earned CT Gametime All-State Honorable Mention and Top-25 Players to Watch List honors. Named the 2025 A Shot For Life (ASFL) Exhibition Game Goalkeeper, she was a 2023 FCIAC All-County Honorable Mention selection. VonLoeser played two years of club soccer with CFC (Connecticut Football Club) in the ECNL/RL where she posted a 1.27 goals against average and .881 save percentage spanning 1,130 minutes in goal. A three-sport athlete, she also competed for four years in track and field and three years of basketball at Wilton.
 
"Addison brings a strong presence in the goal with a great attitude," said Karbowski. "She has the ability to make all types of saves, and is very strong with her distribution."
 
The sextet joins a Siena Women's Soccer squad fresh off its first double-digit win season in six years, and equaled the program benchmark for conference victories.