On June 9, junior Ashley Yenawine announced her commitment to play soccer at Air Force University via Instagram.
Yenawine has grown up with a soccer ball at her feet, loving the game from as young as she can remember, inspired by her soccer-loving family. She started at Westfield travel soccer and, at age 11, transitioned to club soccer, joining New Jersey’s PDA club and staying loyal to this team for six years. Yenawine has been eating, sleeping and breathing soccer since her young teenage years and spends hours each day working on perfecting her abilities.
Yenawine has been playing on the WHS team since her freshman year, and this fall will be entering her senior season as a co-captain. Also entering her senior season on the girls soccer team, Andie Janota said, “I’m so excited to finish my high school career alongside Ashley; she pushes me to perform and give my all to every single practice and every single game.”
Yenawine is primarily an attacking midfielder, who can also play defensively in the midfield and jump on the front line to be a dangerous threat on offense. Her quick feet, precise passing, elevated IQ and powerful yet concise shooting make her a large threat for Westfield’s offense and a great addition to the Air Force 2026 squad.
“Ash is going to be such an amazing captain because she is so passionate about soccer and about her teammates. She is extremely motivating and pushes herself and others to be the best version of themselves,” said senior captain from the 2024 soccer team, Erin Hazard. “Her dedication and competitive drive will be so beneficial as she continues her soccer career at Air Force.”
This past season, as part of the state championship-winning team, she tallied up six goals and eight assists as a junior, with half of her work being done on the defensive side of the midfield as well. Yenawine is described by her teammates as a workhorse whose fitness allows her to make it up and down the field throughout the entirety of games. “She always works so hard to get the ball back and plays a key role in the middle of the field, switching from defense to offense. Without her, many of our transitions would’ve fallen through,” said sophomore teammate Nina Rodrigues.
Yenawine said, “I’m excited and honored to be a captain this year because it allows me to put all of the different leadership influences I have experienced in my soccer career into practice and establish my own unique leadership style that will hopefully help to get our team to another state title this year.”
As for her college decision, Yenawine knew Air Force was the place for her the second she stepped on campus in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She said, “When I went on my visit, I immediately loved the location and I could picture myself spending the next part of my life there.” Academics were equally as important to her as the soccer aspect, so when these two both existed in perfect conjunction at Air Force, she knew she had found her home.
The academy additionally provides Yenawine with a more unique experience than most NCAA Division 1 programs, that being said, she will be serving the country. This was a huge factor to consider in choosing Air Force, but Yenawine said, “Air Force provides me the opportunity to play high-level soccer while also receiving the opportunity to push myself academically. Above all else, it is an honor that I will be able to represent my country while playing the sport I love.”
Clearly, Yenawine has a lot to look forward to, hungry for a second state title in her senior season, and then preparing for her demanding but rewarding years at Air Force University.
