Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Add Midfielder From New Zealand
May 03, 2019 | Women's Soccer
Tech picks up youth international with experience playing for New Zealand National Team.
LUBBOCK, Texas – Head coach Tom Stone's strong recruiting offseason continued Friday with the addition of New Zealand midfielder Nicole Mettam, who will be the 10th newcomer – and second with national team experience – to the Texas Tech squad this fall.
"Nicole's addition to our squad is a big boost for the upcoming season," Stone said. "She is highly technical and very mature on the ball in the midfield."
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Mettam believes her technicality can be useful in a Big 12 Conference that boasted the highest RPI in the nation last year.
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"Coach Stone and Coach [Nick] Hallam seem very passionate and keen to get me on the ball," she said. "I hope to bring something new to my game through the great experiences I will get playing at Texas Tech and in the Big 12."
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Mettam, a native of Auckland, New Zealand, will join the Red Raiders with valuable international experience under her belt. The midfielder represented her country for the first time in 2016 at the U-17 FIFA Women's World Cup, then again last year as a member of the U-20 squad at the 2018 U-20 FIFA Women's World Cup.
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"Nicole's international experience and successes will serve her well in her transition to college soccer here in the United States," Stone said.
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"The world cups were unbelievable," Mettam said of her international experiences. "I grew and learned so much from both as a person and a player. Representing New Zealand is an amazing feeling because I love my country and playing with some of my best friends on the world stage was just awesome."
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Mettam is the 10th signee Tech has gained since the end of the 2018 season. She is the second youth international that has committed to the Red Raiders since the first of the year, the other being Luana Munoz, a Tyler JC transfer from Argentina. Also coming to Lubbock via transfer is Amanda Porter, a versatile scorer with two years under her belt at Arizona. These three will be joined by five high school signees: Penelope Mulenga, Haley Smith, Marissa Weichel, Madison White and Taya Lopez. The final two, Hannah Anderson and Macy Schultz, are already on campus after enrolling early.
"Nicole's addition to our squad is a big boost for the upcoming season," Stone said. "She is highly technical and very mature on the ball in the midfield."
Â
Mettam believes her technicality can be useful in a Big 12 Conference that boasted the highest RPI in the nation last year.
Â
"Coach Stone and Coach [Nick] Hallam seem very passionate and keen to get me on the ball," she said. "I hope to bring something new to my game through the great experiences I will get playing at Texas Tech and in the Big 12."
Â
Mettam, a native of Auckland, New Zealand, will join the Red Raiders with valuable international experience under her belt. The midfielder represented her country for the first time in 2016 at the U-17 FIFA Women's World Cup, then again last year as a member of the U-20 squad at the 2018 U-20 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Â
"Nicole's international experience and successes will serve her well in her transition to college soccer here in the United States," Stone said.
Â
"The world cups were unbelievable," Mettam said of her international experiences. "I grew and learned so much from both as a person and a player. Representing New Zealand is an amazing feeling because I love my country and playing with some of my best friends on the world stage was just awesome."
Â
Mettam is the 10th signee Tech has gained since the end of the 2018 season. She is the second youth international that has committed to the Red Raiders since the first of the year, the other being Luana Munoz, a Tyler JC transfer from Argentina. Also coming to Lubbock via transfer is Amanda Porter, a versatile scorer with two years under her belt at Arizona. These three will be joined by five high school signees: Penelope Mulenga, Haley Smith, Marissa Weichel, Madison White and Taya Lopez. The final two, Hannah Anderson and Macy Schultz, are already on campus after enrolling early.
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