Upcoming Event: Women's Soccer at Cincinnati on September 18, 2026 at TBA
-
TBA
Women's Soccer
at Cincinnati
2024 Women's Soccer Roster
Roster
GK
/ Women's SoccerDEF
/ Women's SoccerDEF
/ Women's SoccerF/M
/ Women's SoccerDEF
/ Women's SoccerMID
/ Women's SoccerMID
/ Women's SoccerMID
/ Women's SoccerFOR
/ Women's SoccerD/F
/ Women's SoccerDEF
/ Women's SoccerMID
/ Women's SoccerM/D
/ Women's SoccerDEF
/ Women's SoccerDEF
/ Women's SoccerM/D
/ Women's SoccerFOR
/ Women's SoccerFOR
/ Women's SoccerM/F
/ Women's SoccerGK
/ Women's SoccerFOR
/ Women's SoccerMID
/ Women's SoccerMID
/ Women's SoccerDEF
/ Women's SoccerF/M
/ Women's SoccerDEF
/ Women's SoccerFOR
/ Women's SoccerMID
/ Women's SoccerGK
/ Women's SoccerFOR
/ Women's Soccer
Jersey Number 12
Makayla Merlo
- Position:
- Midfielder
- Height:
- 5-3
- Class:
- Graduate Student
- Hometown:
- Broomfield, Colo.
- High School:
- Legacy HS
- Prev School:
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Get to Know Makayla ...
At what age did you start playing soccer and how did you get into soccer?
- At three years old. My mom played so she wanted me to be like her.
- I'm named after my great-grandfather.
- I just want to play simple and keep it.
- Basketball, I mean who doesn't love hoops?
- I'm scuba dive certified.
- My parents, they are the most supportive and hardworking people.
- Abby Wambach was my favorite player growing up. Now I want to play like Kevin De Bruyne or Luke Modric.
NAME & HOMETOWN PRONUNCIATION
REDSHIRT SENIOR – 2024
- Transferred to Kansas with one year of eligibility remaining
- Committed in March 2024
- Appeared in all 23 matches (22 starts)
- Tied for the team lead in assists with seven
- Tallied nine points; fifth on the team
- Scored one goal on the season against TCU in the Big 12 Tournament Championship; also the game-winning goal
- Attempted 16 shots, including 10 shots on goal
- Logged 1,563 minutes; fourth on the team
- Played a season high 96 minutes against West Virginia (Nov. 2)
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO COLORADO SPRINGS – 2020-23
- Spent four seasons in the University of Colorado Colorado Springs program
- D2CCA All-South Central Region First Team (2021, 2023)
- United Soccer Coaches Women's Scholar All-American First Team in 2023
- United Soccer Coaches All-South Central Region First Team in 2023
- All-RMAC First Team (2021, 2022, 2023)
- United Soccer Coaches All-South Central Region Second Team (2021, 2022)
- D2CCA All-South Central Region Second Team in 2022
- Appeared in 75 matches (71 starts) and logged 5,926 minutes in four seasons at University of Colorado – Colorado Springs
- Scored 22 goals and recorded 10 assists in her four seasons at UCCS
- Totaled 1,959 minutes of action in 2023 which was the third most in a season in program history
- CSC Academic All-District Team (2022, 2023)
- RMAC All-Academic First Team in 2023
- RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll in 2021 and 2022
BROOMFIELD SOCCER CLUB
- President Cup Nationals MVP
- President Cup National Champions
HIGH SCHOOL
- Played four years of soccer at Legacy High School in Broomfield, Colorado
- Second Team All-State
- Golden Boot Award
- 21 goals during freshman year
- First Team All-Conference
- Player of the Year Runner Up
- Playoff appearance 2016 – 2019
- Three-time Student Leadership President
- Two-time Academic Letter
- Two-time Academic All-State
- Student Leadership DECA Olympians
- ODP Regional Team Colorado State Champions
PERSONAL
- Daughter of Jim Merlo and Evelyn Schane
- Has one older brother, Josh
- Chose Kansas because, “I wanted to further my career and challenge myself both in aspects on and off the field. I felt like the environment here at KU was something I could thrive in and continue my career in and reach my fullest potential.”
- Received her bachelor's degree in exercise science from University of Colorado Colorado Springs in May 2024
- Currently pursuing her master's degree in sport management
Wednesday, April 22
Monday, March 02
Sunday, November 23
Friday, November 21
