Freshmen focus: Shaela Bradley, Claire Hammill are essential in 1st season with Rutgers women's soccer
As the Rutgers women's soccer team continues to succeed, freshman midfielder Shaela Bradley and freshman defender Claire Hammill are already making their mark on the field. With standout performances early in their collegiate careers, Bradley and Hammill are setting the stage for a promising future on the Banks.
Hailing from different states, Bradley from Washington and Hammill from Michigan, both players have seamlessly integrated into the team, helping solidify the Scarlet Knights' (11-4-5, 6-2-3) defensive strength and attacking core.
Despite the distance from home, Bradley and Hammill felt a strong connection with Rutgers when choosing a place to continue their careers.
"Going all the way across the country, it was really important to me that I was still going to feel like it was a family over here, and I was going to be comfortable and not kind of like isolated," Bradley said. "The coaches and the girls did a really good job with that and were very welcoming when I was on my visits … It was definitely because of the family-like environment that they created."
Hammill echoed this sentiment, noting that even though Michigan and New Jersey are separated by 9 hours, she was drawn to the same family-like environment.
"Everyone seemed so welcoming, and everyone seemed so close and like a family," Hammill said. "Our coaches always say '31 Strong', and from my first visit, I could tell that was something they stuck by and just how our team works is everyone is important and everyone's a part of this program succeeding."
Once they became Knights, Bradley and Hammill were instant starters.
Bradley was previously a United States Youth National Team (USYNT) member at the U14-U19 level and attended the USYNT camp in 2023. She credits much of her early success at Rutgers to the lessons she learned with the national team.
"It was just incredible to be around so many good athletes and know where the level that you need to be at to be playing with," Bradley said. "The coaching was also phenomenal, just the experience in itself was so eye-opening, I really enjoyed it and I'm so glad I was selected … Going into Rutgers, the speed of play was elevated from club, and so just knowing what I needed to work on and then applying that was really helpful."
Bradley has started every game this season and has scored 4 goals, tied for second-most on the team. She has totaled three assists and has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice.
"I wasn't expecting to get it even once but twice — it was just such a cool experience and feeling to have," Bradley said on earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors.
Hammill has been equally impressive, starting 19 of this season's 20 games on defense.
The two freshmen credit the team's leadership to some veteran players. Bradley mentions senior forward Riley Tiernan's impact, and Hammill credits senior defenders Kassidy Banks and Emily Mason.
"Mason and Kass — there's no words to describe how helpful they've been," Hammill said. "They are two of the biggest leaders on this team, and they take pride in that. They've helped me and everything that's happened this season, and hopefully we can have more success."
Bradley echoes head coach Mike O'Neill's motto of 31 strong and the importance of every Knight impacting the team on and off the pitch.
"I think everyone knows that we are all playing for each other," Bradley said. "We're always in line with what we want and what we're trying to achieve, and it's created such an amazing atmosphere at practices and games that it's just been incredible to be a part of."
The team's tight bond has significantly influenced Hammill's instant success at Rutgers.
"My experience here so far has been so much better than I could have even imagined coming into such a close-knit group," Hammill said. "Everyone's willing to work for each other and help each other, whether on or off the field. Our relationship as a team, how close everyone is, and how we are all best friends is what really makes the team special."
The future is bright for Bradley and Hammill, who have already made strides in just their first season on the Banks. The two will play a key role in the Knights' NCAA Tournament game against UConn on Saturday. The contest will kick off at 5 p.m. at Yurcak Field on Busch campus and be broadcast on ESPN+ and 88.7 WRSU-FM.
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