July 24, 2025, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College women's soccer team is gearing up for an exciting 2025 season, led by first-year head coach Mario Zuniga-Gil and a wave of new energy both on and off the field. The Raiders return five experienced sophomores and welcome an impressive group of 16 freshmen as they prepare to kick off a new chapter in the program's growth.

Coach Zuniga-Gil, entering his first season at the helm, has high hopes for the 2025 squad. "We've brought in a group of players who not only have talent, but also high character and an eagerness to compete," he said. "Our returning sophomores set the tone last year, and now we've added a large class that will bring depth, versatility, and passion."

Returning for their sophomore campaigns are defenders Eevi Eskola, Julianna Post-Morales and Keaton Morris. Defenders/Midfielders Olivia Dykstra and Taylor Bent round out the second year players. 

A Standout Freshman Class Set to Make Immediate Impact

Coach Zuniga-Gil had high praise for each of the incoming freshmen, who represent a wide range of high school and club experiences:

Ava White, Forward, Midfielder, 5'8'', Mattawan HS, Force SC
"Ava was a huge contributor for her club winning State Cup last fall and for Mattawan HS having a great run in the spring. She's very athletic and fast, and brings versatility in both the midfield and forward lines. We can't wait to add her dynamic presence to our team!"

Eileen Campos, Forward, 5'0'', Lee HS, Club Omega
"Eileen brings a relentless passion to work hard and improve every day. She's a very committed player and was a clear leader during her time at Lee HS. We are very excited to add her to our group!"

Ellie Lazowski, Midfielder/Forward, 5'5'', Byron Center HS, Midwest United
"Ellie is tenacious with a high work rate in both midfield and forward roles. She plays a simple, effective game and was an integral part of a Byron Center HS team that won a state title. We're thrilled to bring her championship mentality into our program!"

Emily Meyers, Midfielder/Forward, 5'4'', Belding HS, PASS FC
"Emily has the ability to play multiple positions and brings great speed and energy in the midfield. She served as a leader and captain for Belding HS, consistently performing at a high level. Her leadership qualities will be a huge asset to our squad!"

Hadley Fox, Midfielder, 5'8'', Big Rapids HS, Midwest SCOR
"Hadley is a well-rounded athlete, able to shoot from distance and dominant in the air. She made a big impact in midfield with her strength and presence, and was an absolute stud at Big Rapids HS. We're excited to watch her grow into a key player for us!"

Hannah Pleiman, Midfielder, 5'6'', Zeeland West HS, Midwest United
"Hannah shows a strong understanding of the midfield role. She connects passes with purpose and strikes the ball well, playing a pivotal role at Zeeland West HS. Her composure and technical ability will shine at the next level!"

Lanee Lewkowski, Forward, 5'8'', Rockford HS, Midwest SCOR
"Lanee has a great understanding of the target forward role. She was a key contributor to her very successful Midwest SCOR team and Rockford HS, bringing a ton of talent and attacking presence. We're looking forward to seeing her make an impact up top!"

Linde Clark, Defender, 6'0'', Union HS, Great Lakes FC
"Linde offers great athleticism and speed in the backline, paired with natural defensive instincts. She was a captain and leader at Union HS and has a strong drive to grow and contribute. Her presence in the back will be a great asset for us!"

Mallory Amaya Allen, Goalkeeper, 5'7'', Zeeland West HS, Holland Rovers
"Mallory a very talented and athletic goalkeeper. She's capable of making difficult saves and was the starter during her time at Zeeland West HS. We're excited for her to strengthen our depth and competitiveness in goal!"

Melanie Bautista-Villa, Forward, 5'2'', Lee HS, Club Omega
"Melanie is a technical and pacey forward with great tenacity and work rate. She played a vital role for Lee HS with her dynamic attacking play. Her creativity and speed will bring a spark to our front line!"

Myah Lapekes, Defender, 5'0'', Caledonia HS, Midwest United
"Myah is a natural defender with sharp instincts to win and retain possession. She's strong in the tackle and comfortable building from the back, making her a key player for Caledonia HS. We're really excited to have her defensive grit on board!"

Nadia Perez, Midfielder/Forward, 5'4'', Fennville HS, United Soccer Athletes
"Nadia brings technical skill and strong vision of the game. Gritty and determined, she was a standout player at Fennville HS in both midfield and attacking roles. She's going to be a fantastic addition to our creative core!"

Nyleese Bazan-Hernandez, Goalkeeper, 5'5'', Union HS, Great Lakes FC
"Nyleese is a composed goalkeeper with excellent distribution and agility. She was a consistent starter for Union HS, anchoring their defense. We're thrilled to welcome her between the posts!"

Quincy Brown, Midfielder/Forward, 5'8'', Rockford HS, Great Lakes FC
"Quincy has a tremendous work rate and is capable of covering a lot of ground. She's a powerful presence in the midfield and dangerous in the attacking third. Her versatility will give us an exciting edge in multiple areas of the field!"

Skyelar Albrecht, Forward, 5'4'', Grandville HS, Midwest United
"Skyelar uses her speed to break behind defenders and deliver quality crosses into the box. She was a consistent offensive threat for Grandville HS. We're excited to add her pace and final third instincts to our attack!"

Valerie Rosas, Midfielder, 5'1'', West Ottawa HS, United Soccer Athletes
"Valerie excels at connecting play near the opponent's goal and creating opportunities for her teammates. She's gritty, hardworking, and was a key playmaker at West Ottawa HS. We're looking forward to seeing her creativity flourish in our midfield!"

"This class is incredibly exciting," said Zuniga-Gil. "Each player brings something unique, and together they form a group that will raise our level of competition and push us forward."

A Fresh Look on the Sidelines

The coaching staff has been bolstered by the addition of Izzy Imes as Assistant and Goalkeeper Coach. A standout former goalkeeper under Zuniga-Gil at Grand Valley State, Imes brings both experience and energy to the program.

"Izzy was already interested in coaching during her time as a player, and has gathered a lot of coaching experience in the club where she played (Indy Premier)," said Zuniga-Gil. "We are very excited to add her to our group, as I feel strongly that she will significantly improve our goalkeepers, and also enhance our team's culture and competitiveness through her ability to connect with others and her championship mentality."

Zuniga-Gil also added Chris Denham and Molly Woiteshek as his first assistant hires earlier this year. Their combined backgrounds in coaching and player development will complement the growing roster.

In addition, two Raider alums, Lillian Burns-Walker and Cameran Roelofs, return to support the team as Student Managers. 

"They both showed relentless dedication to the program during the spring season, and it's clear how passionate they are about this team," said Zuniga-Gil. "We are thrilled that they will stick around helping in multiple aspects of the program."

Eyes Set on August

The Raiders will kick off their season on August 12 with a home scrimmage against College of DuPage, followed by their official season opener on August 24 at Morton College.

With a full schedule ahead and a rejuvenated roster, expectations are high for the 2025 campaign.

Full schedule available at: grccraiders.com/sports/womens-soccer/schedule

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Interested in supporting GRCC Athletics?  All donations can be done through GRCC Athletic's Scholarship Fund and can specify what scholarship fund the gift is going to, such as the Hofmann scholarship. If you have any questions on how to support Athletics at Grand Rapids Community College, contact the Athletic Department via phone at (616) 234-3883 or email grccathletics@grcc.edu. Any support is appreciated and goes towards assisting our student-athlete scholarship funds.