The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Soccer adds Amelia Abbott to standout 2020 recruiting class
02.25.2020 | Soccer
The New Zealand midfielder is the ninth player inked to Top Drawer Soccer’s No. 10-ranked recruiting class
AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Texas soccer program and head coach Angela Kelly announced on Tuesday the signing of New Zealand international midfielder Amelia Abbott (Nelson, New Zealand/Nelson College for Girls/Nelson Suburbs Division I Men's/New Zealand Under-20) for the 2020-21 academic school year.
The Longhorns class was rated No. 10 overall in the Top Drawer Soccer 2020 NCAA Division I recruiting rankings, prior to both Charlotte Bluemel and Abbott's recent signings, with five of UT's signees listed among IMG Academy's Top 150 recruits.
"Amelia is one of those players that is so hungry to play at the highest level," Kelly said. "She will be training full-time to make the New Zealand U-20 World Cup squad and has shown a wonderful ability to play make and dictate tempo at the international level. She is preparing herself to step right on to the Forty Acres in top form."
Previous signees included (Position/Hometown/High School/Club Soccer Team): Charlotte Bluemel (Telgte, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany/Gymnasium St. Mauritz/FSV Gütersloh 2009), Sophia Claros (Midfielder/Carrollton, Texas/Hebron High School/Solar Soccer Club), Presley Echols (Forward/Dallas, Texas/Highland Park High School/Dallas Sting SC), Kelsey Hranicky (Midfielder/Houston, Texas/Memorial High School/Albion Hurricanes FC), Lauren Lapomarda (Defender/Prosper, Texas/Prosper High School/Solar Soccer Club), Morgan Pace (Defender/Dallas, Texas/Duncanville High School/Solar Soccer Club), Shezan Samanani (Defender/Midfielder/Colleyville, Texas/Grapevine High School/Solar Soccer Club) and Avery Vander Ven (Midfielder/Lone Tree, Colo./Highlands Ranch High School/Real Colorado DA).
Amelia Abbott
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Nelson, New Zealand
High School: Nelson College for Girls
Club: Nelson Suburbs Division I Men's (only female in league)
International: New Zealand Under-17 & Under-20 teams
A New Zealand international player with experience both as part of her country's Under-17 and Under-20 squads, Abbott earned six caps and played 499 total minutes (most by any New Zealand outfield player) during New Zealand's run to a bronze medal at the 2018 FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup in Uruguay. She even scored a 17th-minute goal during the 1-1, quarterfinal tie against Japan (N.Z. advanced on penalties, 4-3) that was nominated for FIFA "Goal of the Tournament." Most recently, Abbott helped the New Zealand Under-20 team qualify for the upcoming 2020 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Costa Rica and Panama, by virtue of winning the 2019 Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) U-19/U-20 Women's Championship in the Cook Islands. She currently plays club soccer for Nelson Suburbs Division I Men's, serving as the first and only female to play Division I men's football, while earning a 2018 nod as the Nelson/Tasman Region Female Footballer of the Year. Previously, Abbott was a part of national title winners (2017, 2018) with Canterbury United Pride and in 2018 as a guest player for Waimakariri United at the New Zealand U-17 Tournament. Abbott has also been a Swimming Sports Preparatory Champion in both swimming and diving and earned a NCG Old Girls Association Rose Bowl Award for the Highest Achieving Athlete.
