Six Academy players join the Greenville Liberty team as they prepare for their junior season
Greenville, SC (March 25, 2024)-Exciting times are ahead for the Greenville Liberty as they welcome six promising Academy players into their ranks. As the anticipation builds for the upcoming season, we look back at the USL Academy Cup tournament, which is concluded last week. The ladies kicked off on March 14th at the Hillsborough County Tournament SportsPlex in Tampa, Florida, with a 6-0 win. Keep reading to learn a little more about the amazing talent that will be joining the Liberty in the 2024 season!
Elle Bissinger
Position: Defender
Club: Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA)
High School: J.L. Mann Class of 2025
CESA midfielder, Elle Bissinger, is set to join the Greenville Liberty for the 2024 season pending league and federation approval. Bissinger has verbally committed to Clemson University, where she plans to continue both her academic and athletic pursuits. The midfielder has a string of accolades under her belt, including making the ECNL Girls Southeast All-Conference U-17 Second Team in 2023, as well as the Girls Class 5A high school soccer all-state selection picked by the South Carolina Soccer Coaches Association. She was also named to the ECNL Girls Mid-Atlantic All Conference First Team in both 2021 and 2022.
Serra Rich
Position: Forward
Club: Malaga City FC
High School: Thornton Academy Class of 2024
Yabeserra “Serra” Rich, joins the Greenville Liberty 2024 Roster, pending league and federation approval. She found success early in her career with the FC Stars ECRL and ECNL notching 25 goals, 16 assists, and a conference championship as a 15-year-old. The Maine forward has a great track record, scoring 10 goals in one season with Thornton Academy and earning All-Conference Team her junior year.
Rich brings international experience after playing for Burnley FC Ladies and Manchester United U21 as a training player in England. Most recently, Rich has trained with Malaga City FC in Spain last fall. Since concluding the USL Academy Tournament with the Liberty, Rich will return home to train with Seacoast United in New England until this summer. With her sights set on a professional career, Rich is determined to make her mark with the Liberty.
Macie Mietz
Position: Defense
Club: Connecticut FC
High School: Bethel H.S. Class of 2024
Macie Mietz, who has been involved with the Greenville Liberty before, officially joins the club, pending league and federation approval. The Connecticut defender is set to continue her soccer career at Butler this upcoming fall. Despite being a defender, Mietz has been all over the field, with impressive career numbers of 51 goals and 55 assists. Throughout her high school and club campaigns, she earned a spot on the Connecticut All-State Team and the SWC All Conference Team in 2021, 2022, and 2023, making the All-Conference Academic team during those years as well. The defender also won All New England twice and received NSCAA All-State, along with numerous other soccer honors.
Mietz had a total of two assists in this year’s USL Academy Cup, helping her teammates knock back goals.
Jaleah Simmons
Position: Forward
Club: Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA)
High School: Brynes H.S. Class of 2024
The Greenville Liberty brings on CESA forward, Jaleah Simmons pending league and federation approval. Simmons will continue her soccer career at Furman this fall. As a junior at Brynes H.S. in 2023, the Upstate South Carolina local secured both Player of the Year and All-Region 2-5A honors. Additionally, she clinched the captain’s award, marking her as the three-time Offensive MVP for her high school team. Simmons is an integral part of the CESA club soccer team, where she earned recognition as the Mid-Atlantic Conference Player of the Year and earned ECNL All-American in 2021.
In this year’s tournament, Simmons a contender for the U20 Elite Girl’s Golden Boot with seven total goals, leading the team to their cup victory. She was also named U20 Girls Elite Player of the Tournament alongside Julie Carlson who was named U20 Girls Elite Coach of the Tournament.
Henley Grunst
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA)
High School: T.L. Hanna HS Class of 2023
Goalkeeper Henley Grunst, returns to the Liberty, now as an official 2024 roster signee, pending league and federation approval. Currently competing at Flagler College as a freshman, concluded the 2023 season with six shutouts. The South Carolina native was selected as the PBC Goalkeeper of the week three separate times. During her high school years, the goalkeeper competed with CESA, helping lead them to the national tournament, while also spending two seasons with the Liberty Academy team.
Marianne Maxon
Position: Forward
Club: Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA)
High School: West Henderson H.S. Class of 2024
Another Academy player makes a comeback to the club since playing with the team in 2022 and 2023. She joins the Liberty’s official roster, pending league and federation approval. North Carolina foward, Marianne Maxon, is set to play at UNC Charlotte this fall after an incredible high school campaign. She became the school’s all-time leading goal scorer, with over 150 goals throughout 60+ games. Notably, Maxon ranked 6th in North Carolina and 46th nationally during the 2023-2024 season, accumulating a total of 40 points.
