PITTSBURG – Pittsburg State University head women's soccer coach, Wes Branstetter announced the addition of eight student-athletes for the upcoming 2026 season on Saturday (June 6).

"We are excited to welcome eight outstanding student-athletes to our 2026 Pitt State Women's Soccer team," Branstetter said. "Four of these players joined us during the spring semester and made an immediate impact both on and off the field. Beyond their talent, all eight players are exceptional people who strengthen the culture, values, and vision of our program. They will raise the level of competition every day in training and make us stronger when we step onto the field for matches. A tremendous amount of credit goes to AK (Alesha Kostrzewa) and Lucca Munhoz, who have worked tirelessly to help this program improve year after year. Their efforts were instrumental in identifying, recruiting, and bringing this talented group of players to Pitt State. We are excited to get our entire team together this fall and begin the work of chasing our very best. The future of Pitt State Women's Soccer is bright, and we can't wait to get started."

Transfers
Sammie Edwards: 5-6 Midfielder from Centennial, Colo. | University of Nebraska – Omaha

Sammie began her collegiate career at Division I, University of Nebraska – Omaha and will be a junior in 2026 for PSU. Appeared in 25 matches at UNO with one start, a goal, eight shots and three shots on goal in 496 minutes of play. In 2025, as a sophomore, started in one match while appearing in 17 total for 408 minutes and registered her lone goal as a Maverick. Played in eight matches off the bench in 2024 as a true freshman. Prepped at Cherry Creek High School in Colorado where she was a four-year letterwinner for coach Maren McCrary. As a senior she scored eight goals and provided four assists and during her prep career was named the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year to go with being an All-State and All-Conference performer. The daughter of Tracy and Chris Edwards, Sammis plans to major in business at Pittsburg State.

Sthefany Oliveira da Silva: 5-6 Defender from Betim, Brazil | Cowley College

Sthefany will be a redshirt junior in 2026 for the Gorillas after beginning her collegiate career at Cowley College. At the junior college level, Oliveira da Silva was a two-time first-team All-Conference performer, being named the KJCCC Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2025. Oliveira da Silva helped Cowley claim a pair of conference and regional titles during her tenure and helped lead the program to the NHCAA D1 National Tournament semifinals in 2025. In 43 career matches as a Lady Tiger, Sthefany scored two goals and provided one assist. Played in all 22 games for Cowley in 2025 where she helped the team complete 11 shutout performances and give up 0.67 goals per game. Suffered a season ending injury in 2024's opening match of the season and in 2023 played in 21 matches where she provided an assist as a true freshman. The daughter of Juliana de Oliveira and Adriano Pereira da Silva, Sthefany is a business major at Pitt State.

Sarah Payton Webb: 5-6 Defender from Prosper, Texas | University of Texas

Sarah joins the Gorillas after beginning her collegiate career at Division I, University of North Texas. While at UNT, she played with current Pittsburg State student-athlete Danae Hobson in 2023 when the duo were true freshmen. At North Texas appeared in 20 matches with six starts for the Mean Green. In 2025 as a redshirt sophomore she played in nine matches off the bench with two shots in 125 minutes of play. Suffered a season ending injury in the preseason of 2024 and did not play that season. Began her collegiate career in 2023 where she started in six matches for UNT with 11 overall appearances and 563 minutes of action logged. Prepped at Prosper High School in Texas for coaches Taylor Baca and Matt Dickinson on the soccer pitch. A three-year starter at PHS, Sarah was named a captain for the Eagles and for her club team during her tenure with both. Helped Prosper High claim two district championships and led her club team to a third place finish in the ECNL playoffs in 2022. A three-time first-team All-District performer, the daughter of Alexis and Drew Webb, she plans on pursuing a nursing degree at Pittsburg State.

Kaiao Zoller: 5-4 Forward from Honolulu, Hawaii | Westminster University

Kaiao began her collegiate career at Division II, Westminster University and will be a sophomore in 2026. Westminster is a school that competes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). Zoller made 14 appearances off the bench for the Griffins in 2025 as a true freshman with one goal scored from six shots in 356 minutes of action. Prepped at Punahou School in Hawaii for coach Shelley Izuono on the soccer pitch. A three-year member of the soccer team at Punahou, Kaiao was part of the HHSAA Division I 2025 State Championship team where she was also named All-State that season. A member of the track program throughout her prep career, Zoller was also an All-State performer on the track, helping Punahou claim the 2023 and 2024 State Championships. The daughter of Mahealani Monteilh-Zoller and Matthew Zoeller, Kaiao plans on majoring in political science at Pitt State.

Freshman
Creighton Allen: 5-3 Midfielder from Lincoln, Neb. | Lincoln Southwest High School

Creighton completed a championship laden prep career at Lincoln Southwest High School in Nebraska where the Silver Hawks claimed the Class A State Championship in 2024 and 2025. Coached by Thomas Nettleton at LSHS, Allen has been a four-year letterwinner on the pitch and been an Academic All-State selection during her prep career. The daughter of Heidi Bartlett-Allen and Kirk Allen, Creighton plans on pursuing a nursing degree at Pittsburg State.

Makenna Herrick: 5-2 Midfielder from Newhall, Calif. | Hart High School

Makenna wrapped up a standout prep career at Hart High School in California where she provided 10 assists and scored nine goals as a senior. Coached by Brett Croft on the pitch, Herrick was a first-team All-Foothill league performer in her final prep campaign. The daughter of Brandee and Joe Herrick, Makenna plans on majoring in criminal justice at Pitt State.

Leah Pugliese: 5-7 Defender from Omaha, Neb. | Millard West High School

Leah comes to Pittsburg State after completing a productive prep career at Millard West High School in Nebraska. A four-year starter at MWHS for coach Jacque Tevis-Butler, Pugliese for her career provided 10 assists and scored nine goals. A captain for Millard West High, she helped lead the team to three Class A District championships from 2023-25. The daughter of Tara and Billy Pugliese, Leah plans on pursuing a nursing degree at Pittsburg State.

Zoe Ryan: 5-4 Forward from Papillion, Neb. | Bellevue West High School

Zoe wrapped up a standout prep career at Bellevue West High School in Nebraska for coach Alan Carr, where she was a four-year letterwinner on the pitch. Also involved with the cross country team at BWHS, Ryan provided 39 assists and scored 25 goals for her career on the pitch as a Thunderbird. A four-time All-State performer, Zoe is the daughter of Shannon and Patrick Ryan and plans on pursuing a nursing degree at Pitt State.