DALLAS (SMU) – As the SMU women's soccer program begins its spring season, the team will be focusing on building chemistry after Head Coach Nicole Nelson added six transfers to its roster ahead of the 2026 season.

The transfer class of Ella Zimmerman, Olivia Silcox, Jessica Osborne, Kaia Elverum, Maleeya Martin and Amelia Malkin adds valuable experience to the roster as multiple players in the class come to the Hilltop with NCAA Tournament appearances under their belts.

"Our staff, led by recruiting coordinator Miles Vaughn, did an incredible job with this transfer class, Nelson said. "The entire staff, including all support staff, worked tirelessly during the portal periods to help us build an ACC-level roster. They are driven to achieve our vision for this program, and it is evident in the quality of players we've added. This talented and experienced group will elevate our roster in multiple positions."

The class consists of all-conference-caliber players and boasts five players transferring from Power 4 institutions. All six will be on campus during SMU's spring season.

In total, SMU added 13 newcomers, with six transfers joining seven freshmen who will all make their Mustang debuts this fall. Key returners for the Mustangs include sophomore Lindsay Nicholson, who was named a Top 100 Freshmen by TopDrawerSoccer, redshirt freshman Brooke Bunton, who missed the majority of last season due to an injury, will return with national team experience after being invited to the U.S. Soccer U/18-U19 Women's National Team training camp this winter and senior goalkeeper Aubrey Brown, who started 14 games in net for the Mustangs last season.

The Mustangs' freshmen class was ranked as high as No. 19 in the country as Kamiya Beck, Peyton Hayes, Ryann Dedmon, Julianne Richter, Kenlea Swadener and Abby Goldean all signed on National Signing Day to play for the Mustangs during the 2026 season. Four of the six incoming freshmen are from the state of Texas.

SMU finished year two in the ACC with an overall record of 8-8-2 and a home record of 6-3-1. The Mustangs totaled six shutouts during the season and recorded 26 assists on 25 goals scored and had 13 different goal scorers during the season.

SMU faced five ranked opponents throughout the season, four of which were ranked inside the top-10. The Mustangs also faced eight teams that made the 2025 NCAA Tournament during the regular season.

SMU recorded 245 shots and scored 25 goals this season, which ranked eighth and 12th in the ACC, respectively.  SMU's 245 shots are the most in a single season under Nelson and the most since 2019 (346).

The Mustangs ranked 51st in the nation in corner kicks per game at 5.83 and totaled 105, the seventh most in the ACC in 2025. The 105 corners are the most in a single season since 2019 (111). 

NEWCOMERS

# 5 Jessica Osborne / 6-0, Sr., DEF / Summerville, S.C. / Auburn
2025 (JR at Auburn): Saw 168 minutes off the bench over six matches... Totaled three Shots, including one on goal... made season debut against Samford (8/17), playing 36 minutes... Saw a yearly-high 54 minutes of action versus Kennesaw State (8/24)... made two appearances in conference play, helping the Tigers defeat Texas A&M (9/18) and draw No. 19 Georgia (10/19) on the road. 

2024 (SO at Auburn): Starting center back in 19 of 21 matches, saw 1,473 minutes total... went the full 90 in four matches, played at least 75 minutes in six others... Helped the Auburn defense to 12 clean sheets, including eight in a row to begin the season... Got off 11 shots and placed five on goal... Tallied one goal and one assist... Turned in a solid full-match performance to open the season against No. 5 Clemson (8/15), holding the opposition scoreless to secure the Auburn victory... earned first career assist on a ball to Sydnie Thibodaux the very next match against Southern Miss (8/22)... finished the nonconference slate with back-to-back 90-minute outings against No. 17 Ohio State (Sept. 8) and Old Dominion (9/13) to send the Tigers into SEC play as one of two teams in the nation that had yet to concede a goal... Contributed to four clean sheets in league play, shutting out Florida (9/22) and Ole Miss (9/29) at home and LSU (10/4) and Kentucky (10/18) on the road... Scored second career goal on a great near-post header in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against FIU (11/15). 

2023 (FR at Auburn): Saw 835 minutes at center back over 13 matches, also earned 10 starts... Made career debut at Ohio State (Sept. 10), playing 47 minutes of dominant defense to fill in for an injured Madeline Moore... Earned first start the following match at Mississippi State (Sept. 15)... Crucial member of the Tiger defense that posted seven shutouts, including four in SEC play and a 0.90 goals-against average in league matches... Scored first career goal off a corner kick in the 21st minute against LSU (10/22), becoming Auburn's first true freshman to score on an SEC opponent since Sydnie Thibodaux versus Arkansas (11/4/21) and the first to score in an SEC regular season match since Sydney Richards versus Alabama (10/27/19).

Prep: Graduate of Pinewood Preparatory School... Played club for Florida Elite Soccer Academy... Multi-sport athlete in soccer and tennis… Member of Beta Club & Hispanic Honor Society... 2023 South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year... 2022-23 United Soccer Coaches HS Girls All-America and Scholar All-America...2022-23 United Soccer Coaches HS Girls All-Atlantic Region...2023 Post & Courier All-Low Country Female Athlete of the Year... 2022 ECNL National Training Camp Invitee… Member of U17, U18 and U19 England Women's National Team… 2022 ECNL Southeast Conference Player to Watch… 2022-2023 ECNL SouthEast All-Conference First Team... 2022 ECNL Conference Selection Program… iD2 and ODP National Training Camp Invitee…Captain of 3-Peat South Carolina State Championship teams (2021/2022/2023)...2022/2023 Region Player of the Year… Four-time SC All-State and All-Region honoree… 2022/2023 Pinewood Prep Athlete of the Year... 2022 Post and Courier Soccer Player of the Year… 2022 Best of Prep Sports Female Soccer Player of the Year… NHSCA First-Team Academic All-American… Spring 2022 United Soccer Coaches HS All-Atlantic Region.

# 6 Ella Zimmerman / 5-8, R-Sr., DEF / Cumming, Ga. / Iowa State
2025 (R-JR at Iowa State): A team captain, Zimmerman was a standout for ISU in the backline … Appeared in all 17 matches, starting 16 … Recorded three goals, a personal single-season high … Notched her first multi-goal game at UNI (9/11), the team's only one of the season … Had with a personal best four points against UNI … Finished the year with six points on three goals, having taken 15 shots and placing eight on target …Transferred to SMU following the season.

2024 (R-SO at Iowa State): Recorded her first collegiate points in her first year with the Cyclones … Finished the year with one goal on eight shots to pair along with one assist for a total of three points … Notched all three of her points against UNI, scoring her first career goal and earning her first-ever assist … Became the first Cyclone since 2016 to earn Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors (8/28) … Was the linchpin of the Cyclone backline, helping ISU to five shutouts.

2022/23 (FR/SO at Vanderbilt): Zimmerman arrived in Ames after spending her first two collegiate seasons with Vanderbilt … Appeared in 27 matches for the Commodores, making six total starts … Recorded 841 total minutes of play with Vandy … Played the full 90 against No. 20 Northwestern, Ball State and MTSU in her sophomore season.
Prep: Helped lead her high school to being 7A Regional Champs … Ended up being state runner-up … Was rated as a Top-Drawer Soccer top-150 recruit by IMG Academy … Was tabbed as captain of the TopHat Soccer Club … Finished first regionally with TopHat in all three years she was a member.

# 7 Kaia Elverum / 5-7, So. MF / Olso, Norway / Jacksonville State
2025 (FR at Jacksonville St): Named C-USA Third Team All-Conference… Named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team… Started all 18 games for the Gamecocks in her first season of college soccer ... Notched the first goal of her career against UNC Asheville (8/24) ... Tallied two assists, with the first of her career coming at Alabama State (9/12) ... Put up four points ... Totaled 29 shots and 10 shots on goal in 1536 minutes of action.

#14 Amelia Malkin / 5-8, Sr., FWD / Sarasota, Fla. / Florida
2025 (JR at Florida): Appeared in 12 matches… Tallied 158 minutes played during the season and logged a season high of 34 against UCF (8/28)… Recorded her lone assists of the season versus North Florida (8/24)… Member of WPSL's West Florida Flames, which won the Sunshine Conference championship in 2025.

2024 (SO at Florida): Appeared in all 17 games with two starts… Took eight shots with five on goal… Played 532 minutes during the year, with a season high of 66 versus Vanderbilt (10/18)… Member of WPSL's West Florida Flames that won the Sunshine Conference championship in the summer of 2024… Southeastern Conference Fall 2024 Academic Honor Roll.

2023 (FR at Florida): Appeared in 16 games… Recorded her first collegiate assist against Stetson (8/27), where she also played a season high 49 minutes… Took six shots with two on goal during the season… SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.

Prep: Played with Riverview High School varsity soccer team in 2019-20 and 2020-21…Herald Tribune 2020-21 All-Area Team Selection (Manatee/Sarasota/Charlotte Counties) after 19 goals and eight assists… 2020-21 Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-State team… 2021 All-Star nominee… 2020-21 Riverview H.S. Golden Boot award (Most goals and most points)… 2019-21 & 2020-21 Riverview High School Scholar Athlete Award (Soccer)… 2019-20 Riverview H.S. Freshman of the Year after leading team with 23 goals and 50 points… Also played lacrosse at Riverview H.S., earning team's Scholar-Athlete Award as a freshman and sophomore… Coached by Edgar Marquez at Riverview High School… Member of IMG U17 Elite and U18/19 Elite teams… Led U18/19 team with 24 points off eight goals and eight assists… Led U17 team with 50 points (20 goals and 10 assists)… 2022 Girls Academy League Southeast Talent ID Showcase invitee… Led previous club team (Braden River Soccer Club 2019/20) with 37 goals and 82 total points… Coached by Don Cameron & Sam Blackburn (21-22), Miguel Rodrigues (22-23) at IMG Academy. 

#15 Olivia Silcox / 5-2, Jr., MF / Peachtree City, Ga. / Memphis
2025 (SO at Memphis): - Appeared in 16 games, making 11 starts… Played at least 70 minutes in seven games… One of 14 players to log at least 750 minutes… Made a 13-minute cameo in her NCAA debut, helping to see out a 2-1 win over Illinois (11/15).

2024 (FR at Memphis): Appeared in four games… Made collegiate debut against Alabama A&M, playing a season high 38 minutes… totaled 58 minutes played during the season.
Prep:  Played her prep career at Starrs Mill High School…  Named to the All-Conference First Team in her two seasons on Varsity… Received First Team All-Region Honors and All-State Honors in 2024… Played club soccer for United Futbol Academy ECNL… Named ECNL Southeast First Team All-Conference in 2022 and 2023… Was called to the 2021 US Soccer YNT Regional Identification Center and 2020 Girls National Team U14 East Region Mini Camp.

# 20 Maleeya Martin / 5-6, So., DEF / Leesburg, Va. / Michigan State
2025 (FR at Michigan State): Appeared in nine games...  Made her collegiate debut at home against Dayton (8/17)… Totaled 116 minutes played with a season high 31 against Xavier (8/31)

Prep: 2025 USWNT College Camp participant… Played club soccer for Northern Virginia Alliance in Leesburg, Virginia, under coach Phil Liversedge and for DC Power FC in the USL Super League in Washington, D.C. for coaches Frederic Brillant and Zaneta Wyne ... Ranked as a four-star prospect by TopDrawerSoccer and as the No. 20 defender and No. 88 overall in the class of 2025 ... Three-time ECNL First Team All-Conference (2022-24) ... 2022 ECNL National Training Camp selection in 2022 and was named to the National Training Camp Best XI ... Played in the 2022 ECNL Selection Game in Nashville ... Invited to US Soccer Talent ID Center in 2021 and 2022 ... Attended Loudoun County High School ... Played two years of varsity soccer at Loudoun County, where she was named First Team All-District and Second Team All-Region in 2021 and 2022 ... All-A Honor Roll member at Loudoun County and graduated with an Advanced Studies Diploma.