OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha women's soccer team welcomed four of its newest members Friday. All four players hail from Nebraska and include a defender, a forward and two midfielders.
"We are excited to welcome the core of our 2019 recruiting class to our program," head coach
Tim Walters said. "It continues to be important for us to build our recruiting classes around the Omaha area. This very versatile group is going to come in, compete for time, and make us a better team right away. I'm looking forward to adding a few more players to this class as we continue to build our team to compete for Summit League championships in 2019 and beyond."
Maria Eubanks – Defender – Lincoln, Neb. – Lincoln East – Elite Girls Academy
Eubanks, a defender from Lincoln, Neb., is a two-year letterwinner at Lincoln East High School under head coach Chuck Morgan. She also lettered as a freshman at Blue Valley High School in Overland Park, Kan. where she was the team's leading scorer. Eubanks played club soccer for Elite Girls Academy under Marcus Kelcher, and her team captured a state cup championship and qualified for the ECNL Champions League.
Coach Walters on Eubanks: "Maria is an athletic defender who is an excellent one-on-one defender and a good passer out of the back. Long-term she could play right back or center back for us. She's very tough in the tackle, a danger on set pieces, and physically is going to be a really big presence for us the next four years."
Laurin Mertz – Fr. – Forward – Omaha, Neb. – Skutt Catholic – Gretna Soccer Club
Mertz is a three-year letter winner for coach John Carlson at Omaha Skutt Catholic High School. She has led the Skyhawks to two Nebraska Class B State Championships and a runner-up finish. Mertz is a three-time all-state performer who has scored 16 or more goals in her first three seasons. She played club soccer for the Gretna Soccer Club and coach Jose Vargas and was part of the 2018 Nebraska State Cup Championship.
Coach Walters on Mertz: "Laurin is a very versatile attacking player who can play anywhere in the front three. She has scored some big goals for her club and high school teams and made teams change the way they play with her pace and movement. I'm looking forward to adding her dynamic play to our attacking options."
Grace Thede – Fr. – Midfielder – Omaha, Neb. – Marian High School – Sporting Omaha Elite 00/01
Thede is a three-year letter winner at Omaha Marian High School under head coach Teresa DeGeorge. During her career, the Crusaders have won two Nebraska Class A State Titles and been runner-up once. Thede played club soccer for Sporting Omaha Elite 00/01 under coach Neil Hope. The team was a two-time State Cup champion, a regional runner-up, USYS National Qualifier and NPL National Champions.
Coach Walters on Thede: "Grace is an absolute engine on the field. Every single game I've seen her play, she's been the hardest working player on the field. She's going to fit in right away because of that. She'll give us good depth in some spots next year, and I think long-term could be a really good left back for our team."
Regan Zimmers –Midfielder – Pos. – Omaha, Neb. – Millard North – Sporting Omaha FC Development Academy
Zimmers is a three-year letterwinner for head coach James Abeyg at Millard North High School. She led the Mustangs to the 2018 Nebraska Class A State Championship and back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2016 and 2017. Zimmer led Millard North with 17 goals and garnered All-Nebraska and All-State accolades as a junior. She was a member of the Sporting Omaha FC Development Academy under coach
Tim Bennett. The team is a two-time Nebraska State Cup Champion and the 2018 NPL National Champions.
Coach Walters on Zimmers: "Regan has grown as a player over the past 12 months. She can play a box to box role, a holding mid, or even as a center back. She's super long and athletic, strikes a great ball and is one of the best players I've seen in the air come out of Omaha."
