Kearney, Neb. - Nebraska-Kearney women's soccer head coach Mike Munch today announced the names of 10 high school seniors and two transfers who will suit up for the Lopers in the fall.

This is UNK's first-ever signing day class; the program was started in September 2008 with Munch being hired in January 2009.

The Lopers' first-ever team, which made its debut in August 2009, was a mix of a high school recruits (signed in the spring of 2009), transfers and current UNK students.

“Our initial signing group is heavy on offensive players; players who can create and score goals,” said Munch. “While we have needs at every position, it is nice to have addressed some of our deficiencies in front of the goal. And while we have upgraded our ability to score goals, we have also upgraded our athletic ability and technical skills. Those are important traits in our need to be competitive in the RMAC.”

Those hailing from Nebraska include Sara Downey (central midfielder) and Dani Messersmith (forward/midfielder) of Scottsbluff, Bellevue West product Caitlin Parra (outside midfielder) and Lauren Zach (central midfielder) of Columbus Scotus.

Also, Hastings High graduate Melanie Patrick (central defender) has transferred in from Nebraska-Omaha and will have two years of eligibility remaining. The other transfer is Omaha Burke graduate Jordan Pfeiffer (central midfielder), who has four years remaining after spending this fall at Metro Community College.

Both Patrick and Pfeiffer have enrolled at UNK for the spring semester and are currently working out with the Lopers.

UNK then went into Colorado to pick up Rebecca (forward) and Sara (outside defender) Talcott of Cherry Creek High in Denver, Jordan Hampton (outside defender/midfielder) of Parker's Chaparral High and Raliegh Mercer (forward) and Nicole Thompson (central midfielder) of Arapahoe High in Centennial.

And coming in from Texas is central midfielder Kirsti Rehler of James Bowie High in Austin.

To see more about the new Lopers, click HERE.

In its first-ever game last August, UNK beat Wayne State, 2-1, in front of a Division II-record crowd of 3,227. The Lopers would also tie RMAC power Regis with freshman keeper Marissa Niday of Fremont being among the national leaders in saves.