Bruins stay local with first 2016 signee

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- The Bellevue University women's soccer team, under head coach Andy Nicolarsen, has announced the signing of Morgan Sheard (Papillion, Neb./Papillion-LaVista HS) to  a letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic careers at Bellevue beginning in the fall of 2016.

Sheard is a four-year member of the soccer program at Papillion-La Vista High School, playing for coach April Kelcher and earning distinction as an all-state honorable mention selection. In addition to her work on the field, Sheard excels in the classroom where she is an honor roll student. She plays club soccer for Phoenix Fiera under coaches Goat Scherlizin and Rick Esparza.

Andy Nicolarsen on Morgan Sheard:

"We are very excited to have Morgan in the program. She is physically strong and fast and comes to us from a great coaching background. Goat and Rick have a passion and understanding of the game that translates to their players. Morgan has trained to play anywhere across the back line and into the midfield, primarily securing things defensively. She is a great student, teammate, and soccer player and will be ready to take the next step into the college ranks."

Bellevue posted a 12-4-0 record this past season and finished the year receiving votes in the postseason NAIA Coaches' Poll while reaching the North Star Athletic Association Championship Game in their first year as a member.