2012: Senior: Played in 13 games and started 12 as a senior ... logged over 1,000 minutes during the year, bringing her total to 6,398, the most in program history ... allowed 16 goals for the season for a 1.33 goals-against average and 49 saves (.754 save pct.) ... had two shutouts to her credit as a senior, including one at UNLV in which she had 10 saves to garner MW Defensive Player of the Week honors for the third time of her career ... as a Cowgirl, earned 63 career starts in 79 games played, which is the most in program history ... her 318 career saves arrived at No. 3 on the all-time UW list for the category as she registered 17 career shutouts ... achieved a final 1.21 career goals-against average, third-best in program history.
2011: Junior: Broke the school record GAA of .93 set by Jamie Scarcliff in 2005 by allowing just .78 goals per game this season ... started 15 games and appeared in 20 while setting another school record of minutes played in a season at 1856:01 ... in her 20 appearances, compiled a 4-3-1 overall record with five shutouts ... her most impressive shutout came during the Mountain West Championship semifinal against San Diego State, keeping three SDSU shots on goal out of the net, including a game-saving play in the 87th minute ... made 87 saves and saved 84.5 percent of shots taken at her ... named MW Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 17.
2010: Sophomore: Earned her starting spot in goal for the Cowgirls again during her sophomore season ... played in 19 games and started 18 for UW ... recorded 1,615 minutes in goal during the season, while adding a 1.50 goal against average ... recorded 86 saves during the season and saved 76.1 percent of shots taken ... recorded five shutout victories during the season ... earned her second UW letter award.
2009: Freshman: Started in goal as a freshman in every game for the Cowgirls and recorded five shutout victories ... made a total of 96 saves on the season and anchored the defense to the third-best season goal against average in school history at 1.00 ... set the school record in single-season minutes played with 1,801 and ranks second in UW soccer single-season history with a GAA of 1.00.
High School: Merkle was the top goalkeeper and earned the fewest goals against average with her club team, Foothills Colts. Her team earned Provincial Champions three times, and was a Provincial Team Member for four seasons. Merkele was also a National Honor Society member.
Personal: She was born on Aug. 21, 1991 in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. She is the daughter of Carol and Dan Merkle. She is majoring in kinesiology and health promotion.
