Men’s soccer welcomes Mejia into the fold
Forward Neftali Mejia (Lexington, Neb./Schuyler Central HS) signs with Bellevue
BELLEVUE, Neb. - The Bellevue University men's soccer program, under the direction of 2014 MCAC Coach of the Year Matt Briggs, has announced the signing of Neftali Mejia (Lexington, Neb./Schuyler Central HS) to a letter of intent to continue his academic and athletic careers at Bellevue beginning in the fall of 2015.
The son of Rigoberto and Rosa, Mejia was coached by Lyndon Beebe at Schuyler Central High School where he twice helped lead the team to appearances in the state tournament. Mejia was also a four-year member and three-year letter winner on the football team where he earned Class B honorable mention status after compiling 1,011 all-purpose yards and scoring four touchdowns.
For his career Mejia, a forward, has scored three goals and assisted on 19 others while earning second team all-conference and honorable mention all-Class B accolades as a junior.
While undecided on his major at Bellevue, Mejia is now the fifth Nebraskan to sign with program this offseason continuing Briggs' promise to bring the top local talent to the Bruins' program.
Coach Briggs is naturally very pleased to have signed Mejia, saying, "We are very happy to have signed Neftali, a fast, creative attacking option in wide areas. Nef first came to the coaching staff's attention after (assistant coach) Mark Heath-Preston watched him during his high school season and at the Nebraska State Tournament, where Nef put in several fantastic performances for Schuyler."
Mejia was recruited by Bellevue assistant coach Mark Heath-Preston who "highlighted Nef as a potential player and after working with him over the last few months and after having him visit our campus and join us for a home match we are delighted to have signed Neftali today."
"Mejia will add another attacking option to our team, trying to help fill the void after (first team all-MCAC selection) Manny Lira's graduation," said Briggs. " It is obvious after meeting Neftali several times that he is a fantastic young man, who is very humble and polite and he is the perfect player to join our program. He has plenty of quality on the pitch and oozes class off of it."
Mejia joins earlier signees Jonas Starkus (Omaha, Neb./Bellevue West HS), Austin Obermeyer (Gretna, Neb./Gretna HS), Matthew Robbins (Omaha, Neb./Omaha Burke HS), and Jacob Krug (Plattsmouth, Neb./Plattsmouth HS) in the 2015 recruiting class.
Bellevue posted a 15-3-2 record this past season and finished the year ranked No. 11 in the postseason NAIA Coaches' Poll. The Bruins won both the MCAC Regular Season and Tournament championships this past season on their way to their winningest season since 2006 (15-6-0). They defeated Hastings College in the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round and advanced to the final site for the first time since 2009 and just the second time in school history.