Coming off one of its best seasons in recent years, Eastern Illinois women's soccer added four players to next year's roster as the NCAA November signing period began on Wednesday (Nov. 13).
Head coach
Dirk Bennett announced the addition of Amara Leppla, Kaeli McCartney, Sophie Oberheim and Aleah Maderia to the Panthers roster for next season.
EIU posted eight wins during the 2025 season placing fourth in the OVC. The eight wins were the most by the Panthers since the 2007 season. EIU also tied the school single season record for unbeaten matches with nine straight wins or tied.
Information on each incoming player listed below…
Amara Leppla
Position: Winger
Height: 5'5
Hometown: Hartland, Wisconsin
High School and Coach: Arrowhead Union High School - Scott Asher and Logan Martell
Club Team and Coach: SC Wave - Paul Sikinger
Soccer Accomplishments:
Offense MVP (HS),
3x Second team all-conference (HS)
3x School Record Holders (HS)
2x Girls Academy Conference Winner (club),
2x GA finals Qualifiers (club)
Academic Accomplishments:
Ranked in the top 25% of my class (First Quartile)
3.8 GPA
Other Sports/Activities: Wake Surfing
Intended Major: Finance
Kaeli McCartney
Position: Outside Backs
Height: 5'8
Hometown: St. Charles, Missouri
High School and Coach Name: Incarnate Word Academy; Coach Will Martel
Club team and Coach Name: St. Louis Development Academy (STLDA); Jeff Stevens & Vernon Croft
Soccer Accomplishments:
All- Conference Honorable Mention (Freshman Year)
First Team All-Conference (Sophomore & Junior Year)
Intended Major: Undecided
Sophie Oberheim
Position: Center back
Height: 5'8
Hometown: Rockton, Illinois
High School: Hononegah High School
Club Team & Coaches: FC Wisconsin ECNL; Coach Andrew Lee
Soccer Accomplishments:
High school Awards:
Played 2023 and 2024
All games started on varsity
Named captain as a sophomore
Varsity Coaches Award
IHSSCA All Sectional Honorable Mention
Other Soccer Awards:
2023 Proscore Best XI
2024 IL ODP Team
ECNL Club Team Captain
2024 Midwest +ID Center Invite
Milwaukee Torrent USYL National Finalists Coach Austin Backus
FC Wisconsin Super Cup Team
2025 National Cup Midwest Regional Champions
2025 US Club National Champions
USL-W RKC Third Coast Coach Wayne Howard
Academic Accomplishments:
High Honors
Intended Major: Communication Disorders and Sciences
Aleah Maderia
Position: Central Midfielder
Height: 5'3
Hometown: Mount Brydges, Ontario - Canada
High School and Coach Name: Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School; Coach Julie den Ouden & Katherine Esch
Club Team and Coach Name: Alliance FC London (Coach: Jeff Cambridge)
Soccer Accomplishments:
Ranked 73rd in Canada
Offered full professional contract with Sport Clube Torrense (Portugal)
Ms. Soccer Award – All-Conference (High School)
MVP – Futsal Ontario Cup Tournament
Academic Accomplishments:
Honour Roll (Grades 9–11)
Principal's Award for highest overall achievement
Highest mark in Physical Education and Portuguese
Female Athlete of the Year
Other sports or activities you participate in and want to share
Intended Major: Exercise Science & Kinesiology
