By: Ryan Henry
Follow KSU Soccer - X / Instagram
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State soccer coach
Chris Cahill completes his 2026 freshmen class, inking three more student-athletes in Natalie Bruno, Melissa Mert and Maci Stancil. There will be 11 newcomers joining the Black and Gold this upcoming season.
"I'm happy to announce the additions of Natalie, Melissa, and Maci," Cahill said. "Natalie and Melissa will add more international level experience and bring a dynamic to our attack that I expect to create and score goals. Maci is also another addition from Georgia that is staying home and will represent our back line well. All three are talented, driven individuals that will fit well into the rest of the 2026 roster and continue to raise the standard."
Natalie Bruno | 5'4 | Midfielder/Forward | Lake Worth, Fla. | Somerset Canyons | Team Boca
Member of the Dominican Republic Senior National Team … Capped for the first time in the CONCACAF Qualifiers against Suriname (Dec. 2, 2025) … Former member of the Dominican Republic U23 team … Participated in the 2024 U17 World Cup and U20 CONCACAF Championship … Currently has 25 goal contributions (five goals, 20 assists) in her senior year campaign … 2025 FHSAA Class 3A state champion … 2025 regional champion … 2025 district champion … 13 goals contributions as a junior (three goals, 10 assists) … 2024 First-Team All-County with 12 goals and 11 assists … Played last summer for Fort Lauderdale United FC of the USL Super League … Two-time ECNLR national champion … Placed third at the ECNL Nationals with Team Boca … Three-time state champion with FC Prime … Played at Boynton Knights FC and South Florida FA.
Melissa Mert | 5'5 | Forward | Halifax, Nova Scotia | Halifax West HS | Halifax Tides FC
Represented Team Nova Scotia at the 2025 Canada Games where her team finished third … Captained for Halifax West High School … Two-time Provincial champion … Earned 2025 First Touch Football Halifax MVP … Named team's MVP in 2025 … Named team's Rookie of the Year in 2024 … Won the Johnham Memorial Cup with Halifax Tides FC … Two-time Toyota National Championship participant (2022, 24) … Selected to the Whitecaps Program and attended the Vancouver Whitecaps Combine … Team's top goalscorer on U17AAA Halifax Dunbrack as a 14-year-old … Uncle played for the Calgary Mustangs of the USL and Montreal Impact (now CF Montreal) of the MLS.
Maci Stancil | 5'10 | Defender | Burford, Ga. | Buford HS | Atlanta Fire United 08
Four-year varsity player at Burford High School … Captain her junior and senior seasons … Two-time state finalist (2024-25) … 2023 state championship qualifier … 2025 team's Wolf Award recipient … 2024 team's Tenacious Award recipient … 2024 ECNL Nationals participant with Atlanta Fire United 08 … Member of school's Pack Life Leadership … FCA4 Year Letter in Academics.
The Owls Fund
The Owls Fund is the primary fundraising arm of Kennesaw State Athletics with the goal of supporting our student-athletes, coaches and each of our 18 NCAA Division I programs. Through initiatives such as Legacy Lockers, the Dot Martin Scholarship Golf Classic, sport-specific giving opportunities, general donations and season tickets, The Owls Fund connects fans with KSU's programs and student-athletes. Members receive exclusive benefits such as hospitality seating areas and events at Kennesaw State home games, and more. Join The Owls Fund here and discover more opportunities on how you can support Kennesaw State Athletics.
