To understand what kind of player Princeton University’s womens soccer team is gaining in Greens Farms Academy’s Julia Johnson ’25, all you have to do is look at the Dragons soccer career over the past four years.
“From the moment JJ stepped on campus, she exuded that big boss energy,” GFA girls soccer coach Andrew Henry said. “Over these four years, she has been a major factor in our success as a program. Princeton has chosen well.”
With Julia on the field, the Dragons have appeared in three straight FAA tournament championship games, winning two. The squad also won this year’s FAA regular season title and a 2023 New England Class C crown as well.
Julia was one of eight GFA athletes who were honored last month in the Coyle Gym as part of the school’s annual commitment ceremony for student athletes who are continuing their careers at a Division 1 or Division 2 university.
Julia looks forward to being a Tiger under coach Sean Discoll ’89, a former GFA graduate..
“I picked Princeton because as soon as I stepped on campus I felt at home,” Julia explained. “The team, the coaches, and the overall atmosphere assured me that not only was I going to be comfortable and taken care of there, but that my college years would be fun! The level of soccer was exactly what I wanted, and I also knew that academically it would prepare me for life beyond college and equip me with skills that would serve me on and off the field.”
Four years being in the classroom and on the pitch at GFA has prepared her well, she feels.
“The experiences I’ve had at GFA helped me navigate my recruiting process, making sure I advocated for myself and ultimately helped me pick a school that aligned with my personal values,” Julia shared. “I will enter college knowing that I have cultivated skills in high school that many don’t until in or after college, and I will be prepared for the next four years knowing that my time at GFA has helped me identify and create a better sense of self.”