BENTONVILLE - NWACC Women's Soccer collected the commitment of its final Class of 2026 member, as announced by head coach Nick Marquez Friday.

Anahlysa Meza heads to Bentonville in August from Las Cruces, N.M., hailing from Marquez's home state. The defender previously spent time at Real Salt Lake NM's 2008 girls team and played high school soccer for Centennial High School.

"Growing up in New Mexico, there’s a toughness and humility to a lot of the players there," Marquez said. "They’re used to earning things. There’s pride in preparation, pride in representing where you come from, and a quiet competitiveness that I’ve always respected."

"Anahlysa embodies that completely," Marquez said. "She’s mature, steady, coachable, and incredibly intentional in how she approaches her development. Nothing about her feels entitled."

As a senior at Centennial High School, Meza made 18 appearances and contributed to nine clean sheets. She led the Hawks to a 14-win season and reached the state tournament.

"The more we evaluated her, the more she felt tailor made for this cohort," Marquez said. "She’s the type of player who just goes to work every day."

Meza adds to a highly diverse back line, including players from across the United States and in Europe.

Expected to be the final contribution to the inaugural women's soccer roster at NWACC for 2026, Meza is one of many who hoped to make the cut.

"At this stage, every remaining roster spot mattered," Marquez said. "We’re honestly still getting calls even now from players interested in joining the program, so this wasn’t about simply filling the last spot. We wanted the right fit."

The cultural fit of Meza's profile in combination with her talent and experience on the pitch in New Mexico was evident to the program early on during her visit to campus last month.

"One thing that stood out immediately was the commitment her family showed just to come experience this," Marquez said. "Driving 12-plus hours for a visit honestly reminded me a lot of our UK families who made the trek and players like Gizelle [Fierros] coming from Texas. The players who recognize what this opportunity is, especially being part of the historic first season of a program, tend to approach everything differently."

Meza arrives in August with the rest of the roster ahead of the start of the 2026 season this fall.

CURRENT SQUAD

Goalkeepers (3): Alissa Dumas, Oklahoma; Naomi Rasburn, England; Natalie Ibarra, Florida

Defenders (11): Ellen Piggott, England; Jessica Vallejo, Arkansas; Molly Docherty, England; Mia Germano, England; Amy Stratton, England; Bryn Butler, Arkansas; Hailey Bond-Strickland, Arkansas; Vanessa Flores, Arkansas; Alesha Beach, England; Kora Kidd, Oklahoma; Anahlysa Meza, New Mexico

Midfielders (11): Jackie Ayala-Gonzalez, Arkansas; Carla Samblás Benito, Spain; Leila-Mae Per, England; Erin Clarke, England; Lilia Carvalho, England; Mariana Araujo-Martinez, Arkansas; Jada Damian, Arkansas; Isis Chapa, Texas; Nadia Soto, Texas; Monica Rogel, Arkansas; Nikki Langhans, Oklahoma

Forwards (8): Rylee Hamill, Canada; Ava Sherfield, England; Deisy Mendez, Arkansas; Faith Baker, Texas; Gizelle Fierros, Texas; Lucy Willoughby, England; Michaela Beach, England; Izzy Murphy, England