Women's Soccer 8/21/2026 9:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Soccer Leans On Experience In New Year

Central Oklahoma Blending Veterans And Newcomers To Improve In 2026

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma kicks off the 2026 season relying on veteran leadership to usher in another successful campaign.

Third-year head women's soccer coach Amel Muhamedagic, who enters his 19th year in the program, says that experience and depth, along with a hunger to improve, are the driving forces for this year's squad.

"We have a lot of players that have played a lot of minutes, and they showed up to fall camp hungry," Muhamedagic said. "They're not satisfied and are ready to do more.

"We have more depth this year than in previous seasons," Muhamedagic said. "And it's depth with experience. We have a lot of players that have seen time on the field that will be able to help multiple rotations and we're not going to have a drop off when we get into second or third positions."

Muhamedagic was hired as an assistant coach in 2007, named Associate Head Coach in August 2021, then head coach in waiting in 2023. In his first season as head coach in 2024, he led the Bronchos to a 12-7-4 overall record and the second round of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship. Last fall, Muhamedagic led UCO to a 10-6-5 mark and an appearance in the MIAA Women's Soccer Championship final for the second consecutive season.

Central returns 15 letter winners from last season, including 11 with starting experience. A trio of players on this season's squad have previously earned All-MIAA honors with the Bronchos and two have been named All-Region.

Senior midfielder Emma Nicholas has played in every game (63) the past three seasons and is a two-time All-MIAA selection. Junior forward Caleah Carter has played in every game (44) the past two seasons and is also an All-MIAA pick. Five players appeared in all 21 games last season, giving the Bronchos not only depth but consistency this fall. Central has six players with at least 40 games played, eight with 30 games played.

Here is a position-by-position look at the 2026 UCO Women's Soccer team.

GOALKEEPER

UCO has four goalkeepers on the roster this fall. Junior Mackenzie Smith is the veteran in the group and has spent her first two seasons working to find minutes in goal. Second-year keeper Maddie Ortwein played in one match during her rookie season and is expected to continue working for minutes of her own.

Another pair of freshmen will also vie for time. Kailey White is from Edmond and Stella Soderbom from Sweden. The two are competing early and will give the Bronchos plenty of opportunities with depth on the backend.

DEFENDER

While the career minutes played are slim in goal, the back line includes a dominating row of veteran presence. Graduate student Megan Wilson and juniors Kaitlyn Cotton, Evelyn Sydnes, Sheridan Ross, and Sophia Sallusti have all logged significant time and will lead the way for the UCO defense this fall.

Sophomore Sophia Gaskins made an immediate impact as a freshman and will be a main force on the back line again this fall. Redshirt freshman Hailey Henfrey, and rookies Kennedy Alexander and Mckenzie Diaz also add depth to the position.

MIDFIELDER

More experience occupies the middle of the field, led by the senior Nicholas. She earned All-MIAA honors in both her freshman and sophomore seasons and will lead the Bronchos on and off the field this fall. Fellow seniors Izzy Van Zanten and Claire Mullen both have improved in each season and are expected to carry the biggest contributions this fall.

Junior Greta Likens played valuable minutes last season and is expected to improve her contributions in the new season. Clare Keeling made minimal appearances in her rookie season but is also ready to make the jump to a regular fixture this fall.

Several newcomers are vying for time and giving UCO the depth needed to stay at a high level for 90 minutes. Addison Guthrie is a freshman but joined the program in January to get a head start. Dannae Gutierrez, Bailey Martin, Nicole Martin, and Aurora Creevy are all freshmen that will compete for minutes.

FORWARD

Carter enters her third year in the program poised to be one of the best strikers in the MIAA. The Edmond product has played in all 44 games over the past two seasons and scored five goals and dished out four assists as a freshman, then had three goals and two assists last fall. With more than 100 career shots taken in two seasons, Carter will be a force up front for the Bronchos.

She'll be joined by Sami Allen and Jane Lockhart. Allen is ready to make her UCO debut after sitting out with an injury last fall. The all-time leading goal scorer in Oklahoma high school history is anxiously waiting to leave her mark at the Bronchos. Lockhart played in all 21 games as a true freshman last fall, making 14 starts. She scored four goals to aid the Central offense.

Jordan Hahn is ready to return to form after missing last season. She played valuable minutes in her freshman season and is poised to help again. Newcomers Keely Niehues (sophomore) and Monica Bird-Montilla (Graduate student) should both play key roles. Freshmen Ariana Kingsberry, Camila Mujica, and Autumn Brown are all competing for minutes and adding more depth to the postion.

KICKOFF COMING UP

Central Oklahoma opens the 2026 season with a pair of non-conference home games next weekend. The Bronchos host No. 15 Minnesota State on Friday, Aug. 28 and Augustana on Sunday, Aug. 30. UCO has a third non-conference home match on Sept. 9 against Southern Nazarene and begins MIAA play Sept. 18 at Missouri Western.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#4 Sami Allen: F; 5' 6"; Junior

#8 Caleah Carter: F; 5' 6"; Junior

#16 Kaitlyn Cotton: MF; 5' 10"; Junior

#6 Sophia Gaskins: D; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#2 Jordan Hahn: F; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#15 Hailey Henfrey: D; 5' 3"; Redshirt Freshman

#13 Clare Keeling: MF; 5' 3"; Redshirt Freshman

#20 Greta Likens: MF; 5' 3"; Junior

#17 Jane Lockhart: MF; 5' 6"; Sophomore

#25 Claire Mullen: MF; 5' 4"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#4 Sami Allen
: 5' 6"; Junior
: F

#8 Caleah Carter
: 5' 6"; Junior
: F

#16 Kaitlyn Cotton
: 5' 10"; Junior
: MF

#6 Sophia Gaskins
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: D

#2 Jordan Hahn
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: F

#15 Hailey Henfrey
: 5' 3"; Redshirt Freshman
: D

#13 Clare Keeling
: 5' 3"; Redshirt Freshman
: MF

#20 Greta Likens
: 5' 3"; Junior
: MF

#17 Jane Lockhart
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: MF

#25 Claire Mullen
: 5' 4"; Senior
: MF