DENVER – MSU Denver women's soccer coach Kat Mertz has announced a nine-player recruiting class for the 2023 season.
The group includes eight high school recruits as well as junior college All-American forward Taryn O'Brien, who joined the program at the semester break in January.
"We are incredibly excited about the new additions to our Roadrunner Family," MSU Denver coach Kat Mertz said. "We have a good mix of players that will make an immediate impact on our team. It was important to bring in players who not only will push and help our team in our quest to win an RMAC Championship, but who will also be positive role models within our community, and who will be driven academically."
A capsule look at the recruits:
Jenelle Arenibas | 5-6 | M | Las Cruces, N.M. | Las Cruces HS | New Mexico Soccer Academy
High School:
- Did not play high school soccer
Club:
- Rio Rapids Soccer Club
- Played in Olympic Development Program 2017, 2019, 2020
- Captain for Arizona Inferno 04 Girls Black
Ella Castle | 5-6 | D | Phoenix | Pinnacle HS | Soccer Club Del Sol
- Athletic defender will add depth to the Roadrunners' back line
High School:
- Did not play high school soccer
Madrid Mack | 5-3 | F | Manitou Springs, Colo. | Manitou Springs HS | Pride Soccer Club
High School:
- Class 3A All-state first team selection, 2022
- Tri-Peaks League Player of the Year, 2022
- Career totals of 35 goals and 30 assists for 100 points.
- Set school assists record
- All-state second team selection, 2021
- Four-year starter
- Team captain
- Two-time team most valuable player
- Has three goals and one assist in two games to start her senior season
- Had 16 goals and 19 assists for 51 points for 13-4-1 Class 3A quarterfinalists as a junior
- Had 17 goals and 10 assists for 44 points for 10-1 Mustangs team in COVID-19 shortened sophomore season
Club:
- ODP Colorado Travel Team player
- ECNL player was teammates with MSU Denver recruits Monica Yoder and Kai Nuhn
Tayler McKillop | D | 5-8 | Eugene, Ore. | Sheldon HS | Girls Academy Eugene FC
High School:
- All-Southwest Conference first team
- Defensive MVP
- Team captain
Kai Nuhn | 5-4 | F | Colorado Springs, Colo. | Cheyenne Mountain HS | Pride Soccer Club
High School:
- Scored six goals and added one assist for 13 points as a junior in 2022
- Had one goal and two assists in eight games as a sophomore in 2021
Club:
- ECNL player was teammates with MSU Denver recruits Maddy Mack and Monica Yoder
- Played for Southern Colorado Select
Tayrn O'Brien | 5-7 | F | Lakewood, Colo. | Bear Creek HS | Real Edge Soccer Club | Northeast CC (Neb.)
Before MSU Denver:
- At Northeast Community College (Neb.) earned NJCAA Division II All-America first team as well as all-region first team honors in the fall of 2022
- Iowa Community College Athletic Conference Player of the Year, 2022.
- Posted totals of 31 goals and 17 assists for 79 points in 2022. Had six game-winning goals.
- Ranked second in NJCAA Division II in goals and points, eighth in assists.
- Offensive MVP of the ICCAC Tournament
- Led the Hawks to a 19-4-1 record and a trip to the national tournament.
High School:
- Three-time All-JeffCo League honorable mention
- Scored 11 goals as a junior in 2019, five goals as a sophomore in 2018, and five as a freshman in 2017
Elly Peterson | 5-8 | M | Las Vegas, Nev. | Palo Verde HS | Albion Soccer Club
High School:
- Scored four goals as a senior in 2022 for 9-3-2 Panthers, who played in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state tournament
Club:
Maya Woods | 5-6 | F | Vancouver, Wash. | Union HS | Washington Timbers
High School:
- Greater St. Helens League MVP as a junior in 2021
- Four-time All-Greater St. Helens League selection (two times first team, two times second team)
- Career totals of 26 goals and 14 assists for 66 points
- Had five goals and five assists during a senior season limited by injury
- Had 12 goals and five assists as a junior
Club:
- Had seven goals and four assists in Girls Academy play in 2021-22
Monica Yoder | 5-7 | M | Colorado Springs, Colo. | Springs Studio for Academic Excellence | Pride Soccer Club
High School:
- Played soccer for Pine Creek High School
- Scored six goals and had five assists for 17 points as a junior in 2022, helping the Eagles to the Class 5A state quarterfinals in a 16-2 season that included a second straight 10-0 record in Pikes Peak League play
- Had eight goals and four assists for 20 points as a sophomore in 2021, as the team reached the Class 5A state quarterfinals
Club:
- ECNL player was teammates with MSU Denver recruits Maddy Mack and Kai Nuhn
