Mountain West Champion Lobos sign eight for 2019
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Fresh off of their share of the regular season championship in the Mountain West and their second-consecutive appearance in the MW Tournament finals, the University of New Mexico women’s soccer team and head coach Heather Dyche have revealed their signing of eight newcomers for the 2019 season.
“This is an exciting and unique class for UNM, and we are excited to add them to our family” said Dyche. “We have two internationals, some incredibly talented American players who are going to immediately challenge for time. This class has a very-high soccer IQ, they read the game and play the game at high-level. Our goal every season is to raise the standard and I have no doubt this class will do that.”
All eight will join the program from the high school ranks with two coming internationally. Listed among the 2019 signing class for the Lobos are: Allison Arend (San Diego, Calif.), Alexis Christiansen (Council Bluffs, Iowa), Alix Hailey (Los Alamos, N.M.), Myah Isais (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Juliana Kotsios (Escondido, Calif.), Paris McKenzie (Derby, England), Danielle Mosher (Vancouver, BC) and Maysa Walters (Billings, Mont.).
Allison Arend
5-6 | Center Back
San Diego, Calif. | Albion SC
Arend comes to UNM from Southern California where she plays high school soccer at Patrick Henry High School and club soccer for Albion SC.
Why UNM: “After my unofficial visit to UNM, I realized that I loved the campus, the staff, the team, and the city. After that, I realized that there wasn’t’ a campus I’d rather be at!”
Alexis Christiansen
5-5 | Outside Midfielder
Council Bluffs, Iowa | Sporting Omaha FC
Christiansen brings a championship pedigree with her to UNM from Council Bluffs, Iowa. While playing for her high school team, Marian HS, Christiansen helped lead the team to the state championship in 2017 and a runner-up finish in 2018. In 2018, Christiansen was the second-leading goal scorer on her team for head coach Teresa DeGeorge. On the club soccer circuit, Christiansen helped her teams to the state cup championship in 2015, runner-up in the state cup in 2014, and an appearance in the semi-finals of the state cup in 2016.
Why UNM: “I love the coaching staff and the environment! I can’t wait to be a Lobo!
Alix Hailey
5-8 | Midfielder
Los Alamos, N.M. | Rio Rapids
Staying in state, Hailey joins the Lobos from nearby Los Alamos. While at Los Alamos High School, Hailey was named first team all-district from 2016-2018 and was the District 2-4A Offensive Player of the Year in 2018. That year, she scored 26 goals and dished out 17 assists to total 69 points. Additionally, she was named Academic All-State from 2016-2018. For her club team, the Rio Rapids, Hailey has helped her team to U.S. Club Regional and National Championships.
Why UNM: “I love the program and it will be awesome to play so close to home!”
Myah Isais
5-7 | Center Back
Colorado Springs, Colo. | Colorado Rapids
A three-year varsity starter, Isais makes the move south to join the Lobos next season. At the high school level, Isais has helped lead Pine Creek High School to the 5A state playoffs in each of her first three seasons. Through her junior year, Isais has scored 23 career goals and tallied 14 assists. This past season, Isais served as captain and had 10 goals and four assists. Additionally, Isais has been named first team all-conference and honorable mention all-conference at the high school level.
Outside of high school, Isais is an ODP Region 4 Team Member that competed in Costa Rica and plays club soccer for the Colorado Rapids. At the club level, Isais helped her team win the 2017 U17 ECNL Regional Championship and place fourth in the 2017 U17 ECNL Nationals. In 2018, she was on the 2018 U18/U19 team that were the ECNL Northwest Conference Champions and National semi-finalists.
Why UNM: “I choose UNM because of the caring coaching staff, thriving soccer program, and excellent academics!”
Juliana Kotsios
5-7 | Center Midfielder
Escondido, Calif. | LA Galaxy SD
Kotsios joins the Lobos from Southern California. For high school, Kotsios played just her first two years at Escondido High School before focusing in on the club soccer circuit. In her two years of high school soccer, however, Kotsios helped her team make it to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) semifinals both years. Outside of the high school experience, Kotsios has been a regular selection for the Cal South ODP pool. On the club level circuit, Kotsios’ club team made it to the playoffs in their first year among the highly-competitive South Western Conference of the US Soccer Development Academy.
Why UNM: “I choose UNM because of the wonderful atmosphere on campus as well as the team’s great chemistry and willingness to compete!”
Paris McKenzie
5-9 | Center Midfielder
Derby, England | Birmingham City/England U17 National Team
McKenzie will make the farthest journey to Albuquerque to begin her career as a Lobo, coming from England. A member of the England U17 National Team, McKenzie helped the team finish fourth in the U17 European Championships as well as winning the U18 IDP USA Invitational Tournament. She has also lead previous club teams to the U14 Saturday Derby Division 1 League Championship and the U15 Saturday Derby Division 1 Cup Championship. In 2016, McKenzie was on teams that captured the East Midland Championship as well as the Country National Championship. In 2017, McKenzie’s club team were runner-up in the FA WSL Development League.
Why UNM: “I didn’t choose UNM, it chose me! I fell in love with the coaches, the mountain range and of course the team. New Mexico had everything I could ask for to develop me as both a player and person. I feel I can contribute to making it the Top-25 program it should be.”
Danielle Mosher
5-4 | Outside Back
Vancouver, BC | Whitecaps FC
Mosher joins McKenzie as one of the two international signees for the Lobos for 2019. Hailing from Vancouver, British Colombia, Mosher plays club soccer for Whitecaps FC. Additionally as a club soccer player, Mosher helped lead her team to the Canadian National Championship as she scored in the final.
Why UNM: “The coaching staff and the team environment was very welcoming and I knew right away it was very unique and special.”
Maysa Walters
5-5 | Midfielder
Billings, Mont. | Real Colorado
Walters comes to the Lobos from Billings, Mont. Where she played two years of high school soccer and then focused on club soccer. During her high school soccer career, she helped her team finish as state runner up as a freshman. On the club soccer circuit, Walters has played for the Colorado Storm and Real Colorado. As a member of Real Colorado, Walters has been on teams that have been ranked in the Top-10 nationally in 2016, 2017 and 2018. In 2017, Walters helped lead Real Colorado to the quarterfinals of the ECNL.
Why UNM: “UNM allowed me to pursue college athletics as well as academics. The blue collar work ethics of the team appeals to me. The overall atmosphere of the campus is unique and provides a vibe I wanted to be a part of!”
