BELLEVUE, Neb. - The Bellevue University men's soccer team, under the direction of 2014 MCAC Coach of the Year Matt Briggs, has announced the signing of Travis Hurd (Gretna, Neb./Gretna HS) to a letter of intent to continue his academic and athletic careers at Bellevue beginning in the fall of 2015.
The son of Dave and Beth, Hurd was coached by Dave Fisch at Gretna High School, twice leading the team to appearances in the Class B State Tournament, including a trip to the state final last season. This past season the central attacking midfielder finished second on the team with 25 points on seven goals and 11 assists. He was named to the ITG All-Star team and as an All-State Honorable Mention Class B for his outstanding play.
Hurd played club soccer with NFC for coach Ryan Amdor where he was named the Most Improved Player and the NFC "Perseverance Award" for 2013/14.
Bellevue coach Matt Briggs targeted Hurd through the club system and is very pleased to have added him to this year's class, saying, "Travis is a player I have watched in club soccer over the years and I have followed his progress and seen him develop into a very good attacking player. He is neat and tidy technically and has been very well coached with his time under the Amdor brothers at NFC. Travis had a very successful junior season with Gretna High School and we are looking forward to watching him play this spring."
From a more technical and soccer standpoint Briggs points out, "Travis will offer us another option in attacking areas, on either side of the pitch, he has the ability to go beyond players as well as link up play with the front man and bounce passes around defenders. Travis has a good shape for an incoming freshman and has obviously put a lot of work on improving physically over the last 12 months."
Briggs went on to say that, "Travis comes from a footballing family where his sister Katie played Club soccer for OFC and then progressed to Augustana College. Again we couldn't be happier to have signed another fantastic player and a wonderful young man."
Hurd joins earlier signees Josh Bush (Omaha, Neb./Westside HS), Neftali Mejia (Lexington, Neb/Schuyler Central HS), Jonas Starkus (Omaha, Neb./Bellevue West HS), Austin Obermeyer (Gretna, Neb./Gretna HS), Matthew Robbins (Omaha, Neb./Omaha Burke HS), and Jacob Krug (Plattsmouth, Neb./Plattsmouth HS) in the 2015 recruiting class.
Bellevue posted a 15-3-2 record this past season and finished the year ranked No. 11 in the postseason NAIA Coaches' Poll. The Bruins won both the MCAC Regular Season and Tournament championships this past season on their way to their winningest season since 2006 (15-6-0). They defeated Hastings College in the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round and advanced to the final site for the first time since 2009 and just the second time in school history.
