Women's Golf Finalizes Signing Class With Three Additions To 2025-26 Squad

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - North Florida women's golf brings in three more newcomers to finish out its eight-player roster heading into the 2025-26 competition season, as announced by Director of Golf Scott Schroeder on Monday afternoon.

"The new players really make our roster more competitive on a daily basis, which is important if we want to try and compete at a higher level," Schroeder stated. "It was important to add a few players that had experience and wanted to play professionally."

Mohea Mansbendel, Brianna Castaldi and Ines Izuzquiza Ruiz de Arana will be joining Ava Cottis as newcomers heading into the fall season starting on Monday, Sept. 1, at the Boilermaker Classic. Kaitlyn Schroeder, Helen Zhou, Braydn Smith and Shivani Karthikeyan are returnees to round out the Osprey squad.

"I'm really excited about this signing class," said Associate Head Coach Courtney Cobb. "Brianna [Castaldi] and Mohea [Mansbendel] will instantly bring a lot of experience and talent to the team. Ava [Cottis] and Ines [Izuzquiza] are competitors and it will be fun to watch them grow throughout their first year."

Mohea Mansbendel

Hometown: Houmea, New Caledonia
Class: Junior
Previous School: Keiser University
Intended Major: Information Technology

Prior to UNF: Was a two-time NAIA First Team All-American while playing for Keiser from 2023-25...also named to WGCA All-American teams as well...was named 2023-24 Sun Conference Freshman of the Year...was named a WGCA All-American Scholar honoree in both 2024 and 2025...also awarded All-Sun Conference Team back-to back seasons...won the Sun Conference Championship with a 5-over 221 score...finished 2025 with five top-five finishes and three tournament wins...finished the NAIA National Championship tied for eighth overall...ranked No. 11 overall by CLIPPD after her sophomore season in 2025...attended high school at Lycée Dick Ukeiwe...earned a European Golf Ranking of 982.

Personal: Born on Feb. 13, 2005...daughter of Jacques Mansbendel and Myriam Mayaud...has two siblings, Emery and Vetea...plans to major in information technology...chose UNF because "I love Florida and Jacksonville is such a pretty city."

Coach's Thoughts:
"Mohea [Mansbendel] is someone we think will only keep getting better over the next two years. She is very intentional with everything she does so I just need her to keep improving and people will be very impressed with her golf game."
-- Director of Golf Scott Schroeder

Brianna Castaldi

Hometown: Port Saint Lucie, Fla.
Class: Junior
Previous School: ETSU
Intended Major: Sport Management

Prior to UNF: Play her first two seasons of collegiate golf at ETSU...posted seven top-25 finishes during the 2024-25 season highlighted by a 10th-overall placement at UNCG...placed 13th overall as an individual in the SoCon Women's Golf Championship in 2025...also adds three top-10 placements from her freshman year in 2023-24 with a runner-up finish at Wofford and a third-place finish at the SoCon tournament...was named a 2023-24 All-SoCon selection and won SoCon Golfer of the Week on Mar. 20, 2024...ranked No. 549 nationally among D-I women's golfers at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season...won three amateur / junior golf tournament titles in 2022-23...also placed top-three at 2023 FSGA Women's Amateur Championship and 2024 USGA Women's Amateur Stroke Play...was a quarterfinalist for the 2024 Women's Amateur Championship as well.

Personal: Born on Nov. 10, 2004...daughter of Randy and Wendy Castaldi...has three siblings, Marissa, David and Vincent...attended The Pine School throughout high school, while also playing basketball...was head of school honor roll and faculty honor roll...plans to major in sport management...chose UNF because "of Coach [Scott] Schroeder and Coach [Courtney] Cobb. They reached out to me as soon as I entered the portal and they did everything they could to get me. I know this will be a place that I can advance my game and play happy."

Coach's Thoughts:
"Brianna [Castaldi] is a player that drives the ball really well and her best college golf is in front of her. If we can do a good job coaching her, it will be fun to see how much better she can get."
-- Director of Golf Scott Schroeder

Ines Izuzquiza Ruiz de Arana

Hometown: Madrid, Spain / Coronado, Calif.
Class: Freshman
High School: Coronado
Intended Major: Business Management

Junior/Amateur: Played four years of high school golf at Coronado HS, where she captained the team since 2023...place in the top 10 on three occasions during amateur tournaments since 2024...most recently played the Mike Riley Junior tournament, where she placed 14th overall in February 2025...scored back-to-back third-place finishes at the Chris Smeal Golf Championship and the Charley Hoffman Foundation Junior tournament the summer of 2024.

Personal: Born on Dec. 27, 2006...plans to major in business management...chose UNF because "I loved the campus, coaches, and facilities."

Coach's Thoughts:
"Ines [Izuzquiza] was a late add to our freshman class and we are excited to see how much better she will keep getting over the next year. Her golf swing is really good. She just needs to work on the short game and learn how to score."
-- Director of Golf Scott Schroeder