Soccer Adds Eight on National Signing Day

The Nebraska soccer program and Head Coach John Walker announced the signing of eight players on National Signing Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11. 

Remy Brawner, Cooper Dally, Maddie Debro, Peyton Gillis, Mia Martin, Kat Stalin, Ansley Throener, and Savanna Varbanov will all join the Cornhuskers for the 2027 season. 

“It is a talented group covering most positions on the field,” Head Coach John Walker said. “There is a nice combination of athleticism, soccer playing ability, and strong competitive play.   We have an excellent returning core of players and feel that with the addition of the recruiting class, we should have a strong team for 2027.”

2027 Nebraska Soccer Signing Class

Remy Brawner • Forward • St. Louis, Mo. • Parkway North High School
• All-State and All-Region selection at Parkway North
• Finished with 61 goals and six assists last season
• Plays club for Lou Fusz Athletic
• Also ran cross country and competed in track & field
• Daughter of Jessica and Dan Brawner
• Has a brother, Truman
• Intends to major in Nutrition and Health Sciences at Nebraska

Why Nebraska?
“I chose Nebraska because the staff were so welcoming and made me feel like I belonged from the start. I fell in love with the coaches, campus, and facilities on my visit; everything felt like home. I also love the staff’s attention to detail and commitment to the program.”

Cooper Dally • Midfielder/Forward • Omaha, Neb. • Marian High
• Nebraska Super-State First Team (2026)
• Nebraska Class A All-State Team (2026)
• All-State Honorable Mention (2024)
• Second-Team All-State (2025)
• Omaha World Herald Metro First Team (2025-26)
• Led Marian to the 2026 Class A State Championship
• Plays club for Gretna Elite Academy
• ENCL Midwest All-Conference First Team (2024, 2025, 2026) selection with Gretna Elite
• Intends to major in physical therapy at Nebraska

Why Nebraska?
“I chose Nebraska because I connected with the coaches and the program,” Dally said. “I want to be somewhere that will challenge me and give me the opportunity to play at the highest level. Getting to play at this level while representing my home state makes it even more special.”

Maddie Debro •  Defender • St. Charles, Mo. • Francis Howell Central High School
• Attended Francis Howell Central High School
• Gateway Athletic Conference (GAC) Second Team (2025, 2026)
• GAC Academic All-Conference (2024, 2025, 2026)
• Played club soccer for St. Louis Scott Gallagher under coach Brian Woodward
• Led club team to the ECNL Playoffs in four straight seasons (2022-25)
• Intends to major in psychology at Nebraska
• Daughter of Diallo and Nicole Debro
• Has two brothers, Deven and Dominic  

Why Nebraska?
“You can tell they truly care for their players, and everyone is very kind,” Debro said. “I also chose Nebraska for the player development and technology, along with all the amazing facilities!”

Peyton Gillis • 5’10 • Goalkeeper • Overland Park, Kan. • Blue Valley Southwest
• Attends Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park, Kan. 
• Rated the No. 7 goalkeeper in the class of 2027 per TopDrawerSoccer
• Also ranked No. 6 player overall and No. 1 goalkeeper in the Heartland Region
• Played club for Kansas City Athletics
• Has posted 17 shutouts in her club career, allowing just .71 goals per game
• Plans to major in Economics at Nebraska
• Daughter of Eric and Katie Gillis
• Has a sister, Taylor, and two brothers, Brent and Henry 

Why Nebraska?
“I chose Nebraska because of the coaching staff’s focus on developing not only better soccer players, but better people, and how Nebraska supports their athletes in their academic pursuits,” Gillis said. 

Mia Martin • 5’8 • Midfielder/Defender • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • Burnaby Central Secondary School
• Attended Burnaby Central Secondary School in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• Played for Vancouver Rise FC under coach Esteban Mora
• Helped lead the Rise to the 2026 BCPL League Championship
• Won the 2025 U16 Players Player Award 
• Plans to study human sciences in the nutrition and health sciences programs at Nebraska
• Daughter of Todd Martin and Shelby MacDonald
• Has a brother, Jack

Why Nebraska?
“I chose Nebraska because I admire the whole coaching staff’s passion for developing athletes and their dedication to supporting us in achieving our individual goals as women’s soccer players, Martin said. "I also felt that Nebraska is a positive, competitive environment that will help me learn and grow as a player and as an individual. Go Big Red!”

Kat Stalin • 5’8 • Midfielder/Defender • Overland Park, Kan. • Blue Valley Southwest High School
• Daughter of Christian and Marissa Stalin
• Has a brother, Alexander
• Attended Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park, Kan.
• Played for Kansas City Athletics under Marcus Kelcher 
• Intends to major in Business Law at Nebraska
• Represented the Indonesian National team at the age of 15 in 2024, playing in five matches

Why Nebraska?
“I chose Nebraska because from the moment I first visited, I knew it was going to feel like home," Stalin said. "The girls were so welcoming, the coaching staff was amazing, and the facilities and academic opportunities were everything I could have hoped for in a school.”

Ansley Throener • 5’7 • Midfielder/Forward • Lincoln, Neb. • Lincoln Southwest
• Led Lincoln Southwest to the Class A State semifinals in 2026
• Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year (2026)
• Lincoln Journal Star Super State Team Captain (2026)
• Omaha World Herald All-Nebraska Team Captain (2026)
• Set the single-season Nebraska All-Class state record with 59 goals 
• Plays club for Gretna Elite Academy
• Also played basketball for Silverhawks
• Plans to major in Health Science and Nutrition at Nebraska
• Daughter of Randy and Bethany Throener

Why Nebraska?
“I chose Nebraska because I get the opportunity to represent my home state while playing at the highest level in the Big Ten," Throener said. "I’m also so excited to be part of the Husker nation!”

Savanna Varbanov • 5’6 • Midfielder/Forward  • Lakeville, Minn. • Lakeville North High School
• Daughter of Nik and Varbanov and Tawnya College-Varbanov
• Attended Lakeville North High School in St. Louis Park, Minn.
• Has also lettered in track & field and cross country
• Played club for Tonka Fusion Elite 09 for Head Coach Sinisa Angelovski
• Has totaled 54 goals and 14 assists for Fusion Elite
• Qualified for Talent ID in 2026
• Intends to major in Pre-Law at Nebraska and pursue a degree in corporate law
 
Why Nebraska?
“I chose Nebraska because from the moment I stepped on campus, I felt a calling to be there," Varbanov said. "I had attended numerous ID camps and visited several schools throughout my recruiting process, but nothing ever compared to the feeling I had when I arrived at UNL. There was something different about Nebraska that I couldn’t quite explain, but I knew in my heart that it was where I was meant to be. It felt like more than just choosing a school to play soccer; it felt like finding the place where I was supposed to grow, both as a player and as a person.”