Eastern Illinois women's soccer head coach
Jake Plant has announced the addition of six players that will join the Panthers roster for the fall of 2021. The six newcomers include Nyah Biegler, Sarah Hagg, Tila Malungahu, Maya Rebic, Avery Richardson and Morgan Rinker.
Nyah Biegler
* Freshman from Mahomet, Ill. attending Mahomet-Seymour HS
* Midfield
* Will study Biology
* Played for Jeremy Davis at Illinois Fire Juniors Soccer Club
* With Illinois Fire Juniors, team was 2016 & 2017 ECNL Mid-Atlantic Conference Champions and 2018 ECNL National Tournament Qualifiers
* 2016 U13 Indiana State Cup Champions
* Earned All Sectional, All Area and All Apollo Conference First Team honors
* Says about EIU, "With a combination of a strong athletic program with great coaches, fantastic academics promising access to a medical school and a close-knit school environment, EIU was a perfect fit for me."
Sarah Hagg
* Freshman from Horgenzell, Germany attending Edith-Stein Schul Ravensburg
* Defender
* Will study Business Management
* Played for Chantal Bachteler at SV Alberweiler Soccer Club
* At SV Alberweiler, team was a 4x champion in the WFV Cup of the German Regional Championship
* Team placed 3rd in the National Cup in Duisburg
* Placed 2nd and 3rd in German Junior Bundesliga
* 3x Champion in the WFC Futsal Cup of the German Regional Championship
* Placed 1st and 2nd in the Southern German Futsal Cup
* Placed 4th in the National German Futsal Championship
* Says about EIU, "I chose EIU because I felt very welcome by the coaches and the environment, which also includes professors and teammates. I can grow and improve my soccer skills as well as my school skills and will have good opportunities to get good jobs or placed into a good company after graduation."
Tila Malungahu
* Freshman from Eagle Mountain, Utah attending Westlake HS
* Defender
* Will study Education
* Played for Jason Judy at Westlake HS and Ariel Bravo at La Roca Soccer Club
* Earned Academic All-Region honors at Westlake HS
* Says about EIU, "I chose EIU for the awesome academic opportunities as well as being a part of a team that values hard work."
Maya Rebic
* Freshman from Elmhurst, Ill. attending York HS
* Forward
* Will study Biology with minor in Business
* Played for John Soltani at Eclipse Select Soccer Club
* Was a four-year varsity starter at York HS
* Helped lead team into HS quarter finals
* Was 2019 Dukes Soccer Regional Champions as a sophomore
* Four-year HS Honor Roll student
* Club team competed in National League and played in ECNL Finals in Phoenix
* Says about EIU, "I chose EIU because of the soccer program and the diversity of the team. When I first came to visit everyone was very welcoming, and that environment was what I was specifically looking for. I can't wait to create new friendships and continue to learn new things on and off the field at Eastern."
Avery Richardson
* Freshman from Grand Haven, Mich. attending Grand Haven HS
* Midfielder
* Will study Special Education
* Played for Yconne Mckessy and Dave Prout at Grand Haven HS and Stefan St. Louis at Midwest United FC
* At Grand Haven HS, earned All-Conference and All-Distric Honors
* Was a four-year varsity starter
* At Midwest United, team competed in the MWU National League
* Team was a 2x State Cup Finalist
* Says about EIU, "I chose EIU because the moment I got there I felt seen and wanted. The positive environment that the coaches and team displayed fit what I was looking for and equally as important, they have the academic program I am looking to pursue."
Morgan Rinker
* Freshman from Bettendorf, Iowa attending Pleasant Valley HS
* Defender
* Will study Accounting
* Played for Ed Knupp at Pleasant Valley and Allison Sanyi at Bettendorf Soccer Association
* Was a four-year varsity starter at Pleasant Valley
* Earned 2 All-Conference and 2 All-Area honors
* Team was 2x Regional Champions
* Was 2020 Iowa State Cup winner with Bettendorf Soccer Association
* Played on the Illinois 03 Girls State Team and traveled with the team to Barcelona
* Says about EIU, "I chose EIU for the at home feel I got when I first stepped onto campus."
