OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha women's soccer head coach
Tim Walters announced the addition of seven players to the Maverick program for 2020-21.
"I'd first like to thank the club coaches who put so much time and energy into this group to prepare them for the rigors of college soccer," said Walters. "All of these players come from demanding coaches who have their players play with a ton of intensity. We are really excited about the 2020 class for a number of reasons."
Four players hail from Nebraska while Texas, Washington and Colorado are also represented in this year's class.
"On the field, this is a very talented group who is going to come in and make everyone better right away," added Walters. "This group trains the right way, goes about their business in the right way and has the ability to go with it. Off the field, this is a high-character group who is going to add greatly the culture of this program. Most importantly, this is a group of winners that want to come to Omaha and win trophies. We're really looking forward to adding this group of competitors and impact players to our team."
Omaha Signees (7)
Lilly Baylor | Defender | Plano, Texas | Dallas Sting ECNL
Baylor is a four-year letterwinner after playing four years at Plano West High School. She helped her team capture the Bi-District Championship in 2019 while guiding Plano West to four consecutive playoff appearances. Baylor totaled five goals and three assists in her junior campaign and was a two-time Second Team All-District selection in 2018 and 2019.
Walters' Words: "Lilly is super versatile and very quick. She can play as a full back or wide midfielder, likes to run at players and does a great job with her defensive responsibilities. She is going to come in and add a lot of energy to our group."
Grace Crockett | Defender | Omaha, Neb. | Elite Girls Academy ECNL
Crocked helped Omaha Marian to back-to-back state runner-up finishes in 2018 and 2019. As a junior, she landed on the all-state first team, all-metro first team and all-state academic team while voted most valuable player and best defender on her team. One of three signees to play for coach Marcus Kelcher at Elite Girls Academy, she was a four-time State Cup champion and finished as North American runner-up in the 2019 ECNL playoffs.
Walters' Words: Crockett is so tough and competitive and will find a way to compete for time right away. Her development has been incredible for the past 2-3 years because of the way she approaches training every day. Grace is also very technical and a fantastic striker of the ball. We are thrilled to keep her here in Omaha."
Sophia Green | Forward | Allyn, Wash. | Crossfire Premier ECNL
Green is a three-year letterwinner in soccer and two-year letterwinner in basketball at North Mason High School. After starting her freshman season on the pitch, she was named team captain as a sophomore starter was named offensive MVP of the team. As a member of Crossfire Premier, she was champion of Surf Cup Silver Bracket in 2017 and Surf Cup U19 Best of Best Bracket in 2019. Green helped her club to a third-place finish in the 2018 Madrid Cup and was crowned Northwest Conference U16-17 DA champions in 2019.
Walters' Words: Sophia is a very composed, intelligent center forward who is as good at making the final pass as she is at finishing it. She has scored a lot of goals for a very good club in Crossfire, and our hope is that can continue at Omaha. She has great feet, can head a ball and is willing to put the work in on the defensive side of things as well."
Alyssa Hansen | Midfielder | Lincoln, Neb. | Elite Girls Academy ECNL
Hansen is a three-year letterwinner at Lincoln Pius X High School. She has helped hear team to three straight district runner-up finishes and was an all-state honorable mention selection as a junior. While playing with Elite Girls Academy, her club was crowned 2020 State Cup champions.
Walters' Words: "Alyssa is a very versatile player who is an excellent passer of the ball and most importantly, always players with a high soccer IQ and great composure on the ball. She has added a lot of toughness and fight to her game the past few months and is going to be a great addition to our team."
Grace Ostergaard | Midfielder | Omaha, Neb. | Elite Girls Academy ECNL
Ostergaard has led her team to a 43-11 combined record in three seasons as a three-year letterwinner at Millard West High School. She has led Millard West to three consecutive district championships, two straight Class A state semifinal appearances in 2017 and 2018 and captured the Metro Conference and Class A State championships in 2019. Ostergaard has led her team in assists the last two seasons and was named all-state honorable mention by the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star in 2017 and 2018. In 2019, she was selected to the Omaha World-Herald's all-metro first team and Class A and all-class all-state first team while named to the Lincoln Journal Star's first team all-state Class A team and Super State first team.
Walters' Words: "Grace is an energetic, tough central midfielder who has a very good understanding of the game and can play out of tight spaces. She has become such a well-rounded player in the two years since she committed. We're really looking forward to getting her here and hope she can be an important player for us at the six or eight as soon as she steps on campus."
Gracie Parsons | Midfielder | Omaha, Neb. | Sporting Omaha FC Development Academy
Parsons lettered as a freshman and sophomore at Omaha Burke High School and played in the Development Academy in 2018-19. She finished eighth in scoring in Class A and was named to the all-metro Class A second team as a freshman. As a sophomore, Parsons led the Bulldogs to their second consecutive district finals appearance while placing fifth in Class A in scoring. She was named to the LJS's Super State second team and Class A all-state team while recognized by the OWH on the All-Nebraska second team, NE Prep Zone Class A first team and NE Prep Zone all-metro first team. While playing with Sporting Omaha FC, she was a state finalist in 2017 and 2018, regional finalist in 2017, a national qualifier in 2017 and NPL national qualifier in 2018.
Walters' Words: "Gracie is a great competitor who keeps getting better. She is super tough and brave, has good vision and has great range of passing in the middle of the field. I love her mentality and professionalism in training as well, which is going to be a great addition to the team."
Jordyn West | Defender | Conifer, Colo. | Colorado Rush Development Academy
West lettered in soccer and basketball as a freshman and sophomore at Conifer High School. She was a first team all-conference selection in soccer and basketball in her freshman and sophomore years while also named to the all-state honorable mention team in soccer as a sophomore. West was named team captain and most valuable player while playing with the Colorado Rush Development Academy.
Walters' Words: "We're bringing Jordyn in for a bunch of reasons on and off the ball. She is a center back who isn't afraid to step out of the back with the ball and make great decisions. At the same time, she is a leader on the backline who is excellent at organizing and leading a line. She's a great competitor and is going to fit in nicely here in Omaha."
