News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M soccer team enhanced its back line with the addition of star West Coast Conference defender Isabella Yakel, head coach G Guerrieri announced Thursday.
“Bella is a quiet but impactful leader of defenses,” Guerrieri said. “She is super comfortable on the ball. Her background and three years of experience as a leader of talented lineups at Portland, as well as growing up in uber competitive club soccer in southern California, is going to be huge in the development and training of our Texas A&M back line in 2025.”
Yakel, who joins the 2025 squad as a senior, enjoyed three stellar seasons with the Portland Pilots. She appeared in 58 of the Pilots’ 59 matches over the span, including 55 starts. For her career, she has eight points on one goal and six assists.
Last season, Yakel started all 20 matches on the Portland back line and ranked third on the squad with 1,619 minutes on the pitch. She led the Pilots with five assists on the season. She keyed a defense which boasted a 0.85 goals-against average and eight shutouts.
Yakel appeared in 16 of Portland’s 17 matches in 2023, including 10 starts. A standout in the classroom, she earned WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention and CSC Academic All-District.
As a freshman in 2022, she played in all 21 matches, including 19 starts. Yakel registered one goal and one assist on the year, while helping the defense post 11 shutouts and a 0.91 goals-against average. The effort landed her on the West Coast Conference All-Freshman squad. Her assist on a game-winning goal against Arizona State gave the Pilots their first NCAA Tournament victory since 2013.
A four-year letter winner at Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High School, she was earned All-Moore League First Team on twice and was named Moore League Offensive Player of the Year in 2022. Yakel also garnered All-Moore League Second Team twice and tabbed Moore Rookie of the Year in 2019.