OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha women's soccer program will welcome 11 new faces next fall as head coach
Tim Walters officially announced his 2018 class on Thursday afternoon.
"The 2018 recruiting class is a group of talented young women who we expect to come in and continue to push our program forward," said Walters. "They are a high-character group who all work very hard on the field and in the classroom. I am looking forward to getting them on campus in August for the start of the season. Finally, I want to thank (assistant coach)
Kelly Farrell for all the work she put into finalizing this recruiting class in a limited timeframe."
Of the 11 incoming student-athletes, three are from Nebraska including two from Omaha. The Mavericks also welcome two recruits from Kansas and Texas and one each from California, Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri.
Tabitha Allberg | Midfield | Frisco, Texas (Heritage)
Tabitha Allberg, a midfielder from Frisco, Texas, is a four-year letterwinner at Heritage High School under Coach Kaeley Duncan. She was the team's leading goal-scorer as a freshman and earned all-district honors as a junior. Allberg played club soccer for FC Dallas ECNL under Coach Ben Waldrum.
Coach Walters on Allberg: "Tabitha is a skilled central midfielder and an outstanding athlete. Centrally she can run with the ball and be a threat arriving late in the box. She comes from a very well coached FC Dallas ECNL program."
Mara Driver | Midfield | Centennial, Colo. (Regis Jesuit)
Mara Driver is a midfielder out of Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colo., where she played for Coach Will Cropper. Driver earned first-team academic honors in 2017 and will conclude her high school season this spring. She played club soccer for Colorado United White under Coach John Senkosky, and her team was a two-time State Cup semifinalist while capturing the NPL Championship in 2016.
Coach Walters on Driver: "Mara is another center midfielder who came out to our ID Camp and did an excellent job. She is an excellent passer of the ball and has good vision going forward."
Kiana Dualan | Forward | Murrieta, Calif. (Vista Murrieta)
Kiana Dualan, a forward out of Murrieta, Calif., is a three-year starter at Vista Murrieta High School. Dualan totaled 24 goals over her sophomore and junior years as the Broncos claimed back-to-back league titles. She is in the midst of her senior season with the Broncos. Dualan played club soccer for the Murrieta Surf Soccer Club and Coach Joshua Eustace.
Coach Walters on Dualan: "Kiana can play anywhere in the front three and has an incredible eye for goal. She has great strength and strikes the ball well. She does a fantastic job of always putting herself in goal scoring positions."
Kaitlyn Guhl | Defender | Houston, Texas (Clear Lake)
Kaitlyn Guhl, a Houston, Texas native, is a four-year starter at Clear Lake High School. Guhl is a three-time all-district performer and a first-team all-academic selection. As team captain this spring, she has six goals and three assists. She played club soccer for the Albion Hurricanes FC ECNL (Elite Clubs National League) and Coach Dani Hill. Guhl also spent one season with the Texas Rush club.
Coach Walters on Guhl: "Kaitlyn is a super intelligent player with a great engine. She can play right or left back and does a good job of getting up and down the line. She's new to her Albion team and will only going to get better with a couple more months of training with their staff."
Hannah Heinemann | Forward | Minneapolis, Minn. (Washburn)
Hannah Heinemann prepped at Washburn High School in Minneapolis, Minn., under Coach Reuben Ndely. Heinemann scored 14 goals and added 16 assists over her career. As a senior, she tallied 10 goals and seven assists in helping Washburn to a 13-2-2 record while garnering first team all-state honors. Heinemann played club soccer for Minnesota Thunder Academy ECNL under Coach David Alberti and Danny Storlien.
Coach Walters on Heinemann: "Hannah was one of the first players we saw last winter when we started on this class, and we're thrilled she decided that Omaha was the place for her. She is a strong center forward who is great in the air and has extremely soft feet. We look forward to the offensive prowess that she will bring to our team."
Avarie Howard | Forward | Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley Northwest)
Avarie Howard is a three-time letterwinner for Coach Rick Pribyl at Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kan. Howard was an integral part of the Huskies' 2015 state championship run, leading the team in goals. Howard is serving as a team captain during her senior season this spring. Additionally, she played club soccer for Sporting Blue Valley and Coach Doug McLagan. The team was a two-time State Cup champion and claimed the 2018 Regional Futsal Championship.
Coach Walters on Howard: "Avarie is a quick winger from Kansas City who played for an outstanding Sporting Blue Valley team. We love that she is a two-way player who works very hard on both sides of the ball. Her overall athleticism will be a big plus going forward."
Lexi Kajdasz | Forward | Papillion, Neb. (Papillion-La Vista)
Lexi Kajdasz, a local product out of Papillion-La Vista High School, is a three-year letterwinner under Coach April Kelcher. The forward led her team to its first district title in 21 years last season with nine goals and three assists. She also helped the Monarchs to the state tournament for the first time in 20 years as a sophomore. Kajdasz will play her final high school season this spring. She played club soccer for Elite Girls Academy ECNL and Coach Marcus Kelcher. The team was four-time State Cup champions and captured two-straight regional titles.
Coach Walters of Kajdasz: "Lexi is a forward who works so hard on both sides of the ball, and that is going to help us here at UNO. She holds the ball very well and is one of the best headers of the ball I have seen here in Omaha. She has received some great coaching over at Elite Girls Academy the past few years and will continue to get better here. "
Margaret LaVigne | Defender | St. Louis, Mo. (Nerinx Hall)
Margaret LaVigne, a native of St. Louis, Mo., was a four-year letterwinner at Nerinx Hall under Coach Brian Haddock. She earned second-team all-state and first-team all-conference honors last season. LaVigne played club soccer for St. Louis Scott Gallagher. Her team will be the top overall seed at the ECNL playoffs this summer.
Coach Walters on LaVigne: "Margaret is an athletic, ball-playing center back, who fits well into how we want to play at Omaha. She is a great passer of the ball out of the back, is an excellent tackler, and plays for one of the best clubs in the ECNL and coach Ralph Richards."
Kelly Lemke | Goalkeeper | Topeka, Kan. (Washburn Rural)
Kelly Lemke is a three-year starter at Washburn Rural High School under Coach Brian Hensyel. Heading into her senior season, Lemke has won 55 games with 36 shutouts and a 0.66 goals-against average. She is a two-time all-state and three-time all-city performer. Lemke played club soccer for FC Majestic Inferno and Coach Dave Waters.
Coach Walters on Lemke: "Kelly is a super athletic goalkeeper who is a great competitor and loves to win. She works very hard in training and will help push our goalkeeper group and challenge for playing time."
Brylie Meyer | Defender | Lincoln, Neb. (Pius X)
An in-state product, Brylie Meyer is a three-year letterwinner at Lincoln Pius X High School. She is a three-time all-city defender and earned all-state honors last season. Meyer begins her senior season later this spring. She played club soccer for Elite Girls Academy ECNL and Coach Marcus Kelcher, and her team won four State Cup championships and two-straight regional titles.
Coach Walters on Meyer: "Brylie is an excellent athlete who plays the game the right way. She is tough in the tackle, good in the air, very committed and a terrific passer. She can play anywhere along the backline and is going to add some grit to our team defensively."
Mali Seran | Defender | Omaha, Neb. (Marian)
Mali Seran, a local product out of powerhouse Marian High School in Omaha, is a two-year letterwinner for Coach Teresa DeGeorge. The 5-8 midfielder has helped lead the Crusaders to the last two Class A state championships and begins her senior season in March. She played club soccer for Sporting Omaha Elite FC and Coach Neil Hope, her team was a two-time State Cup champion and a regional finalist in 2017, qualifying for the national championships.
Coach Walters on Seran: "Mali sums up this class pretty well. She is an intelligent, tough player who can play just about anywhere on the field. She has played some center back, center midfield and right back for her club team, and I expect her to come in and compete in many spots next year. She is a player who is very brave in the tackle and the air, and most importantly, she hates to lose. She is very well coached by Neil Hope and Alex Mason at Sporting Omaha FC."
