Coaching Staff

Erica Mertz - Head Coach

Erica Mertz, (formerly Erica Jensen) was named head coach of the Lane women’s soccer program in July, 2014.

Coach Mertz by the numbers;

· Overall record at Lane: 52-16-10

· 2 Southern Region Championships (2014, 2015)

· 2 Southern Region Most Valuable Players (Taylor Boyer 2014, Pikake Hix 2015)

· 20 NWAC All-Stars (5 - 2014, 6 - 2015, 4 - 2016, 5 - 2017)

· 1 Final Four appearance

· 4 NWAC Quarterfinal appearances

· 9 All-Southern Region Players (3 – 2014, 3 – 2016, 3 – 2017)

· 1 Southern Region Coach of the Year (2015)

· 2 NSCAA All-West Region Team (Anna Goodrie 2015, Ally King 2016)

· 15 NWAC Academic Excellence Awards (4 – 2015, 9 – 2016, 2 – 2017)

· 1 NSCAA All-America Scholar Athlete (Kylee O’Connor, 2015)

In her first season at the helm, Mertz guided the Titans to their first Southern Region Championship title in program history and the programs second-ever appearance in the NWAC Final Four. The 2014 season saw the Titans earn a 15-3-2 record and finish 3rd overall in the NWAC, while having several players pick up individual accolades; Sophomore Taylor Boyer was named the Southern Region Most Valuable Player, five players were named to the NWAC All-Star team and three additional players were named to the All-Southern Region team.

Mertz 2015 team saw similar success, as Lane earned its second consecutive Southern Region Championship title on its way to recording a 13-4-3 (10-1-1, Southern Region) record. The Titans scored 80 goals (3rd most in NWAC, 1st in South), gave up just 13 goals (5th in NWAC, 1st in South) and earned 13 shutouts (T-3rd in NWAC, 1st in South). The Titans fell one-game short of advancing back to the NWAC Final Four, as they tied Shoreline CC in the quarterfinal game and saw Shoreline advance in PKs.

For the second straight year, Lane earned the Southern Region Most Valuable player honor; this time in Freshman Pikake Hix. Six players were named to the NWAC All-Star team – tying for the most players named from one school in the NWAC in 2015. In addition to respective NWAC All-Star nominations, sophomore Anna Goodrie was named an NSCAA All-West Region performer and sophomore Kylee O’Connor earned the programs first ever NSCAA All-America Scholar Athlete award. Four Titans were awarded the NWAC Academic Excellence Award and Mertz was named the Southern Region Coach of the Year.

The 3rd season on Lane’s campus proved to be the most challenging yet, seeing the Titans finish second in the region after going 10-1-1 in the South and 13-4-3 overall. Lane finished with 74 goals for (3rd in NWAC, 1st in South), 16 goals against (5th in NWAC, T-1st in South) and earned 13 shutouts (T-2nd in NWAC, 1st in South). The Titans advanced to the NWAC Quarterfinals where they ran into 2015 defending champions, Spokane CC, and dropped the game on the road. It was the 3rd consecutive trip to the NWAC Quarterfinals for the Titans.

Lane had 4 players named NWAC All-Stars, 3 players named to the All-South Region team, 1 player named to the NSCAA All-West Region Team and had a program record 9 student-athletes earn NWAC Academic Excellence Awards.

In 2017, the Titans earned an 11-6-2 record (9-3-0 in region), earning a 2nd place finish in the Region and advancing to the NWAC quarterfinals for the 4th consecutive year under Mertz. Lane had five players named All-NWAC, three named All-Southern Region and had two sophomores earn the NWAC Academic Excellence award.

In addition to their success on the field at Lane, Mertz has helped her graduating sophomores transfer to successful NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III and NAIA programs over the past three years. For more information on transferring student-athletes, visit our ‘Playing After Lane’ link on the main page.

Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, she played collegiately at Division I Cal State Fullerton (freshman year) and Division I UNLV (sophomore-senior years). While at UNLV, she was a two-year team captain and helped the Rebels to three consecutive Mountain West Conference Championships and three Division I NCAA tournament appearances. She was named to the All-MWC First Team as a senior, the Second Team as a junior and was a three year All-Academic selection.

Before arriving in Eugene, Mertz served as an assistant coach at Washington University in St. Louis, where she helped the Bears reach the 2012 NCAA Division III Elite 8 and garner a 19-2-1 overall record. Before joining the Wash U staff, she served as an assistant coach at her alma mater, UNLV, in which she assisted with every aspect of running a Division I program.

In addition to her collegiate experience, Erica served as camp director of UNLV’s youth summer camps, was head coach for several teams at Player’s Soccer Club (Las Vegas, NV) and has several years of experience working with ODP.

In addition to her role with Lane, Erica serves as the head coach of Eugene Timbers Girls 00 team, Director of the ETFC Girl's Development Academy and assists with other age groups in the club.

Erica holds a double Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism & Psychology and a Master’s degree in Sports Education Leadership, all from UNLV. She holds her USSF ‘C’ License as well as the NSCAA National Diploma.

 

Harley Hix - Assistant Coach