Pomona-Pitzer goalkeeper Hadley Johnson (Pomona '26) just closed out her collegiate career by making history. Despite her athletic journey not always having the smoothest road, Johnson achieved an all-divisions NCAA record 0.974 single season-save percentage and the No. 1 Goals-Against Average across all NCAA divisions in 2025 at 0.089.

Hadley's Journey

Johnson joined the Pomona-Pitzer women's soccer team from her home in Stillwater, Minnesota, which sits at the edge of the St. Croix River on the border of Wisconsin. There she played soccer and became a 2021 and 2022 Minnesota State Cup champion.

Johnson began her collegiate career strong in 2022. However, after tearing her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) her sophomore year and falling victim to a serious illness, she was unable to play until late her junior season.

After the long hiatus, Johnson knew she wanted to come back and make some kind of impact on the field. Still, she also wanted to make a similar impact off the field as a team captain. Hadley explained how her experience with the injury shaped how she approaches leadership by noting how injured athletes can often feel overlooked and "under-recognized."

"I think just having that perspective of, like, what [being an injured athlete] was like," Johnson said. "Now being a senior and a captain was really helpful for making younger players and other injured players feel seen, just knowing the things that would have been or were super helpful for me to hear, or just little acknowledgments throughout practice, like, How's it going? How's your rehab going?"

Bouncing Back and Starting the New Season

As Hadley entered the 2025 season, she was excited for the chance to get back into the game and worked over the summer to earn those minutes, which as Johnson noted, she had not had the opportunity to earn in past years. During Hadley's sabbatical, current junior goalkeeper Patricia DePalma had taken on the role largely for the Sagehens.

Head coach for the Sagehens women's soccer team, Jen Scanlon, noted that the program decided to have both players split time during games, due to high performances demonstrated by both goalkeepers early this past season. Coach Scanlon further spoke to the unique relationship between Hadley and Patricia, which she indicated has been instrumental in their development and the team's success. She stated that both girls have not only pushed each other, but also supported each other, which, typically unlike other positions, is more difficult to see between goalkeepers.

Closing Out Strong

Johnson concluded her collegiate career with an astounding season. In the 2025 season, she achieved notable goalkeeping numbers with a 0.09 goals-against average and a .974 save percentage across 1,010 minutes of play. Hadley allowed only one goal, a penalty shot, in the entire season while contributing to 11 combined shutouts. She appeared in all 22 matches with three starts while splitting time in goal.

Johnson recorded a season-high 12 shots faced against Washington & Lee in the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 match. In the same tournament, she tallied a career-best six saves in the NCAA Tournament Round of Eight match vs. Emory.

Hadley earned the No. 1 Single Season Save Percentage of 0.974 in NCAA history. She also earned No. 1 Single Season GAA of 0.089 across all NCAA divisions in 2025 while being tied for 2nd for Single Season GAA in NCAA DIII History. Additionally, she holds the new Pomona-Pitzer program record in both Single Season GAA and Single Season Save Percentage.

Additionally, Johnson was named for the United Soccer Coaches NCAA DIII All-Region First Team and the United Soccer Coaches All-American Second Team.

Off the Field

Aside from her achievements in goal, Hadley majors in both public policy and environmental analysis at Pomona College and serves as a liaison for the Public Policy Department. She also dubs Marston Quad as one of her favorite places on campus.

Impact and Persistence

Johnson's dedication underscores that resilience and persistence are invaluable, especially in the face of adversity. As she moves forward, Hadley Johnson leaves the Pomona-Pitzer women's soccer program not just with an NCAA record, but also with a striking blueprint for leadership, one defined by empathy, hard work, and community.