ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The new era of Lobo Soccer under Head Coach Karley Nelson starts with the signing of five to the 2026 class, as announced on Friday.
Joining the Lobos will be Jessica Darby, Analyse Healy, Kylee Mackey, Emory Villacorta and Laiken van Rooyen, and span from New Mexico to Canada, Nevada to Washington. Of the five, three are midfielders, one is a defender and one can play the midfielder or forward position.
Jessica Darby | Defender | Toronto, Canada
From Toronto, Canada, the defender has played for Markham City Football Club and Pickering Football Club as well as her high school Northern Secondary School. Her club teams were the Provincial Champions in 2023, League Champions in 2023 and 2025, Provincial Finalists in 2025, Canadian National Champions in 2025 and the ESPN Showcase Champions in 2025.
Academically, Darby made the honor roll all four years and intends to be a pre-med major at UNM.
On why UNM, Darby noted, “I chose UNM because of the positive culture and atmosphere, as well as the competitive environment. As soon as I stepped foot on campus it felt like home!”
Kylee Mackey | Midfielder | Las Vegas, Nevada
From Las Vegas, Mackey has played for Albion SC Las Vegas 2008 - Girls Academy at the club level and varsity soccer for Desert Oasis High School.
Her high school team won championships three times (2023, 2024 and 2025). In the past three seasons, she’s scored nine goals with four assists for 22 points, scoring five goals with an assist in her most recent season.
On why UNM, Mackey replied, “I knew UNM was my school as soon as I stepped on the campus. The atmosphere, the team, the coaches, the program - it was outstanding. A sisterhood between a team that is unmatched, and a coaching staff that is exceptional, made saying yes something I couldn’t wait to do.”
Mackey intends to major in biology at UNM.
Analyse Healy | Midfielder/ Forward | Farmington, New Mexico
From Farmington, Healy played for Piedra Vista High School and both New Mexico Rush and New Mexico Rapids at the club level, and is a five-year letterman in varsity soccer.
Healy led her high school in goals, assists and points since her freshman season and finished with 60 points in her senior season.
She intends to major in political science at UNM.
On why she chose UNM, Healy commented, “I chose UNM because it’s the perfect place to keep growing. The program, the culture, and the people all make me want to be my best every day.”
Emory Villacorta | Midfielder |Puyallup, Washington
A midfielder from Washington who has played for both Washington Premier and Seattle Reign, Villacorta joins the Lobos having been selected for the National ID Camp twice.
Villacorta attends Puyallup High School, competing in both soccer and track and field for the past four years, and intends to major in dentistry at UNM.
On why UNM, the newest Lobo stated, “I chose the University of New Mexico because it feels like more than a school; it feels like a place where I can grow as both a player and a person.”
Laiken van Rooyen | Midfielder | Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
The final Lobo to join the class is UNM’s second Canadian, who has played for both Burnaby FC and Team British Columbia. Described as an attacking midfielder capable of finding pockets of space and creating scoring chances from distance or 1-on-1, van Rooyen brings a dynamic threat to UNM. She was named a BCSPL U15 All-Star in 2023.
She represented Canada on the 2024 European Tour, playing against Sweden and Denmark and participated in the Dana Cup.
At her school Burnsview Secondary, her team won the South Fraser title in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Academically, the midfielder carries a 4.0 GPA and made the Dean’s List and honor roll all four years.
She intends to major in kinesiology at UNM.
On why she chose to be a Lobo, van Rooyen said, “I chose to go to UNM because the team, coaches, and community have shown me the love, support, belonging, and belief that I've always been searching for.”