2027 Prospect Fit Report — Maryville University
Skyler Hoefener
2027 CDM / Center Back — St. Louis, MO -- AFA Fillies ECNL -- Villa Duchesne High School
Skyler has met Head Coach Lori Lawson (Chalupny) personally on multiple occasions at St. Louis GISL (Girls Independent Schools League) events. Villa Duchesne is a GISL member school. This is not a cold recruiting contact — there is an established, face-to-face relationship between the prospect's family and the head coach.
Overall Maryville Fit Assessment
Near-perfect alignment across every dimension. An existing personal relationship with the head coach, a hometown school with deep St. Louis roots, DII scholarship opportunity, and a program at the peak of its competitiveness under a world-class coaching staff. This is as close to an ideal fit as recruiting gets.
Roster Turnover & Positional Need
Defensive and midfield projection for Fall 2027 based on the 2025 published roster.
Below are defenders and defensive-midfielders identified from the Maryville Saints roster. Players with St. Louis area connections are flagged. Class years are based on 2024/2025 listings; Fall 2027 projections assume standard eligibility.
| No. | Name | Pos. | 2024/25 Cl. | Fall '27 Status | Hometown | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Lotte Brands | D/MF | Sr. | Graduated | International | 2024 GLVC Defensive POY, All-GLVC First Team. 13 shutouts in games played. |
| 3 | Ulrika Bredin | D | Sr. | Graduated | Gothenburg, Sweden | International recruit. Multi-year starter. |
| 3 | Reese Cannon | D | Fr. | Junior | -- | Young defender in pipeline. |
| 17 | Brooke Slater | D/MF | Jr. | Graduated | -- | Versatile D/MF. Grad Spring '27. |
| -- | Maddie Dickerman | D | Jr. | Graduated | St. Louis, MO | Cor Jesu HS. Started all 20 games in 2023. Grad Spring '27. |
| No. | Name | Pos. | 2024/25 Cl. | Fall '27 Status | Hometown | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Nika Vemdal | MF/F | Sr. | Graduated | Gothenburg, Sweden | International. Multi-year contributor. |
| -- | Sara Lawler | MF/D | Jr. | Graduated | Washington, MO | St. Francis Borgia HS. Started all 21 games 2023. 3 goals. Grad Spring '27. |
| 7 | Lauren Dickhut | F/MF | So./Jr. | Senior | -- | Returning attacking mid/fwd. |
| 13 | Gina Catanzaro | F/MF | Fr. | Junior | -- | Young player in development. |
| -- | Sophia Carter | MF | Fr. | Junior | -- | 2025 GLVC Freshman of the Year. Key piece for the future. |
By Fall 2027, at least 6 defenders and midfielders from the current roster will have departed, including the 2024 GLVC Defensive Player of the Year (Brands). Hoefener's CDM/CB versatility directly addresses the coming turnover in the defensive corridor. Her 5'11" frame would add aerial dominance the program needs to replace.
A 5'11" ECNL captain with a 4.1 GPA, All-Region honors, and 16 assists from the back line will draw attention at every level. Programs that engage first with a personalized pitch win these recruits.
Player Evaluation
Scouting assessment based on film review, statistical analysis, and competitive context.
Physical Profile: At 5'11", Hoefener brings elite size for the DII level. She wins aerial duels through height, strength, and timing. The 300+ game Iron Man streak confirms durability that translates directly to the GLVC's physically demanding schedule. A player of this frame alters how opponents approach set pieces against you -- both offensively and defensively.
Defending 1v1: A lockdown defender who consistently neutralizes top attackers at the ECNL level. Missouri All-Region and All-Conference First Team as a sophomore -- in one of the strongest soccer states in the country -- validate the quality. Coach Lawson, as a former USWNT midfielder who played alongside the best defenders in the world, will recognize the composure and intelligence on film.
Distribution: 16 assists in a single season from the CDM position -- leading her entire conference. Not as a winger or a 10, but as the deepest-lying midfielder on the pitch. Most DII defensive midfielders register 3-4 assists per season. She quadrupled that while maintaining her primary defensive responsibilities. Maryville's system under Coach Lawson -- who played as a creative midfielder at the highest level -- values midfielders who can progress the ball from deep. Hoefener's passing range is a direct fit for how the Saints build from the back.
Engine / Fitness: Cross Country All-Conference and a 3rd-place finish in the Greater St. Louis 10k confirm an elite aerobic base. The GLVC schedule -- with nationally ranked opponents like UMSL, Rockhurst, and Indianapolis -- demands sustained high-intensity work across 90 minutes and across compressed weekends. Hoefener's endurance is a competitive advantage, not a baseline.
Leadership / Culture: ECNL captain. Founder and President of Villa Duchesne's FCA chapter. Duchesne House Leader. 100+ hours of community service. She didn't join existing organizations -- she built new ones. That initiative becomes program culture. For a Maryville program that just achieved four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, maintaining a championship culture requires recruiting leaders, not just players.
Academic Fit: 4.1 GPA (vs. Maryville's 3.49-3.58 average), ACT 33 (well above Maryville’s average ACT of 22), 5 Honors and 1 AP through sophomore year, NHS member. Zero admissions friction -- she significantly exceeds Maryville's academic profile. She would be a standout in the classroom in addition to the pitch.
Bidirectional Fit Analysis
The case from each side -- and why this is a uniquely strong match.
Skyler has ECNL showcases throughout spring 2026 and Playoffs in June -- every event is an opportunity for competing staffs to engage her. A 5'11" ECNL captain with a 4.1 GPA and All-Region honors from a top club program will draw attention at every level. The existing personal relationship with Coach Lawson is a massive advantage -- but only if it's leveraged. Programs that convert familiarity into formal recruitment first tend to win these recruits.
Credential Summary
Verified athletic and academic honors.
Opportunities for Engagement
A personal relationship already exists. Here's how to formalize it.
A 5'11" ECNL-level CDM/CB with a 4.1 GPA, All-Region credentials, 16 assists from the back, and a personal relationship with the head coach. She lives 20 minutes from campus. She exceeds the academic profile. She fills positions that are turning over. She brings leadership traits that sustain championship culture. And she already knows Coach Lawson. This is not a prospect you go find -- this is one who has already found you.
The personal connection between Coach Lawson and the Hoefener family is a significant first-mover advantage -- but advantages depreciate without action. A prospect of this caliber is being actively recruited across DI, DII, and DIII. Every week without formal engagement is a week another staff fills the gap. Target: campus visit by end of spring 2026, before juniors finalize lists and commit. The relationship exists -- now formalize it.
SkylerWren.com -- (314) 914-0472 -- PrepSoccer -- Instagram @skyler.hoefener.2027 -- YouTube Highlights -- [email protected]