July 30, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M soccer head coach G Guerrieri announced the transfer of former North Carolina forward Merritt Mathias (Birmingham, Ala.) on Friday.
One of the top-ranked recruits in the nation out of high school, Mathias was a Parade Magazine high school All-American and a two-time National High School Coaches Association All-American who graduated from Oak Mountain High School in 2008. During that time she was also a member of the U.S. Under-17, U-16 and U-15 Women's National Teams.
Mathias is eligible to play for the nationally-ranked Aggies immediately this fall.
"We are very excited to have Merritt join our Aggie soccer family," said Guerrieri. "Merritt brings a resume filled with great personal and team accomplishments on the national, international and collegiate levels. I'm thrilled about how those experiences can help our squad. I think she has the ability to make an immediate, positive impact on our team's success."
In her two seasons as a member of UNC's deep attacking corps, Mathias celebrated back-to-back national championships with the Tar Heels, played in 39 matches, scored three goals and added an assist for seven points. Two of her three career goals were game-winners.
As a freshman, she was one of the first forwards off the bench in the first 16 matches before an injury sidelined her for the next eight games. She returned, however, to play in the final four NCAA matches of the season. Mathias saw action in 19 matches as a sophomore and provided one assist.
Mathias is the daughter of Mark and Mary Jane Mathias of Birmingham, Ala. and has a younger brother, Mitch (17). She plans to major in agriculture leadership and development.
"I decided to come to A&M because when I visited I fell in love with team, the campus and the coaches," Mathias said. "I look forward to playing for another national championship team here in Aggieland."
The Aggies and the Tar Heels have squared off three times over the past two seasons, including a double overtime match in the Elite Eight of the 2008 NCAA Championship.
After an exhibition match against Rice on Aug. 14, Mathias and the Aggies face UNC for the fourth time in three years by kicking off the 2010 campaign with a 7:30 p.m. match against the 20-time national champions on Aug. 20 at the Aggie Soccer Stadium.