| Previous College: | American '04 |
| Position: | Head Coach |
Anabel Hering '04 will be entering her seventh season as head coach of the American University women's soccer team and 11th overall season as a coach.
Hering's 2018 squad saw American go unbeaten in its first five games and finish 5-2-2 at Reeves Field. Senior Yari Bradfield, a forward from Hialeah, Fla., led the Patriot League in goals (13), points (28) and shots (60). Bradfield was American's first PL Offensive Player of the Year and first Player named to United Soccer Coaches All-Region Team. Bradfield was the 11th Eagle selected to the All-PL First Team and the first since Hannah Tatro in 2012. Seniors Audrey Denkler and Gabriela Maldonado each earned a spot on the PL Academic All-PL Team.
In 2017, 20 members of the Eagles were named to the Patriot League Honor Roll and senior Kira Flaherty was named to All_PL Third Team and the PL Academic All-PL Team.
In 2016, Hering placed 18 players on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll and Kira Flaherty was named to the PL Academic All-PL Team. During the season, the team hosted Tennesee and played eight home games at Reeves Field.
In 2015, Hering led the Eagles into the Patriot League Quarterfinals against Navy. The team battled its way into the league tournament after not qualifying the previous season.
In 2014, the Eagles picked up local wins against Mount St. Mary's, Howard and Delaware State. The team received Public Recognition Awards as having achieved Academic Progress Rate figures in the top 10 percent of their sport.
In Hering's first season at AU as a head coach, she led the Eagles to the Patriot League Tournament Semifinals for the second-straight season. She previously served the past five years as an assistant coach.
The former AU player has served five seasons as an assistant coach at American before assuming the title of interim head coach last December.
During Hering's five seasons as an assistant coach at American, the Eagles registered a 15-12-8 record in Patriot League play, including a berth in the 2009 conference championship game. AU has recorded a winning Patriot League record in four of the last five years.
"I am excited and honored to lead my alma mater," said Hering. "I look forward to the challenge of building on our past successes, keeping old traditions and creating new ones," stated. "I feel privileged to continue to be a part of the AU family and represent such a wonderful institution."
Hering has been directly involved with practice and gameday preparations including goalkeeper training sessions and scouting reports as well as recruiting, team activities, academic oversight, team travel, budget management and clinics and camps during her time as an assistant for the Eagles.
Hering began her coaching career as a volunteer assistant at George Mason in January 2007. She holds an NSCAA Premier Coaching Diploma.After graduating from AU, Hering played professionally for the VFL-Wolfsburg in Germany. She was also a member of the Bay Area Breeze of the Women's Premier Soccer League in San Francisco, Calif. Additionally, she competed for the Northern Virginia Majestics, Washington Freedom, Maryland Capitols and Maryland Pride.
Hering is a native of the Washington D.C. area. She played four years of high school soccer at Bullis High School in Potomac, Md., and was named All-Met. Hering played club soccer for the Bethesda Scorpions, winning seven state titles. She also played two years for the Freestate United. She was a member of the Olympic Development Program for seven years and was selected to Regional Camp each year. Her team finished second at Nationals in 1998.
Updated 8/19