Lobo women’s soccer draws local talent
At least 7 metro-area players expected to sign with UNM
As the University of New Mexico women’s soccer program welcomes a new recruiting class today, think of these three words: Ties that bind.
“She coached me when I was little,” said La Cueva defender Delaney Markham, who is part of this Lobos’ recruiting class, speaking of UNM coach Heather Dyche. “She watched us grow and develop as players since we were little kids.”
This year’s recruits have a definite backyard feel to them.
No fewer than seven metro-area players plan to sign their national letters of intent with the Lobos as the signing period commences today.
That includes Markham and her La Cueva teammate, outside back Kate Browning. Add a pair of Eldorado Eagles: forward/midfielder
Madi Hirschman and midfielder Brianna Rudolph. Also to sign will be Hope Christian midfielder Bella Starkweather, Rio Rancho forward Leilani Baker and Volcano Vista defender Morghan Thomas.
“My view is, it seems like it would be good to pull from locals to get better local crowds,” said Hirschman.
She, like Markham, played for Dyche at the club level. That familiarity was key in her decision.
“I’ve had her as a coach before and absolutely loved her,” Hirschman said. “Her becoming the coach was one of the big things with UNM becoming an actual option for me.”
The prep soccer scene produces more Division I signees than any sport in New Mexico, in particular the girls.
New Mexico State are to get signed letters from St. Pius forward Tatiana Limon and Cleveland midfielder Ashton Forrest.
Cibola’s Jasmine Marwan, who scored the gamewinning goal in the state final against La Cueva 2½ months ago, is signing with D-I University of TexasSan Antonio. Sandia’s Tara Giesen is joining Marwan at UTSA.
There also are a large handful of girls committed to signing at West Texas A&M; former La Cueva High boys head coach Kevin Driggs is an assistant there. BOYS: The state’s best player, Albuquerque Academy forward Charles Touche, is going D-I, as is his brother Alex. Charles is signing with Cornell, Alex with Penn.
“They have a new coach, an old assistant at Stanford (John Smith), and he is an incredible coach and shared with me his vision for the future,” Charles Touche said. Charles examined other options, including UNM, but “Cornell just had everything I wanted and it was the best match for me.”
Smith was part of Stanford’s coaching staff when the Cardinal won the 2015 national title.
Bosque School forward Zech Meddleton plans to sign with D-I Utah Valley University of the Western Athletic Conference.
The list of boys and girls signees appears today on page D4. If a family or school sees a name missing from the Journal list, please submit the information to sports@abqjournal.com.