Here’s a fun fact about Rachel Mercik:  

In nine years of competitive soccer, Mercik has never spent more than one year with the same coach. It’s odd, but true. For no other reason than life can often be inauspicious in that way, the talented winger has experienced a revolving door of leadership.

“I don’t know if it’s some kind of curse or something,” Mercik said, jokingly. “But every single year a coach is fired, leaves because of a new job – I leave the team to go to a new one, or move to a different city. There’s always something.”

Mercik is hoping that her recent commitment to California will put that instability well behind her. Now the irony of that – and we’d be remiss not to mention as much – is that her new coach, Neil McGuire, seemed to be treading on thin ice last season when he reportedly made an impromptu resignation after a match before resuming his duties as coach the next week.

But if we are to believe McGuire’s statements to TopDrawerSoccer.com back in October that he was rededicated to the program, and Cal’s subsequent endorsement of him as coach, than Mercik may have very well found the consistent environment she so seeks.

Mercik, of MVLA (NorCal), will join a high-profile list of freshman at Cal including Kate Bennett, Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick, Emily Kruger, Emi Lawson and Kathleen Messinger.

Mercik’s calling card, and differentiating factor, is her 1v1 ability. She has a deep admiration for players like Messi, Xavi and Marta and it shows via her flair for taking on defenders.
 
She is an exciting talent who wants to push the envelope and isn’t afraid to say so.

“I watch women’s soccer here in the U.S. and I want more pizzazz,” Mercik said. “I like to try to beat players with fancy but productive moves then get a cross off to a player in the box and watch them score.”

That’s Mercik’s ideal sequence and she’s hoping that Cal is the perfect platform for her to play it out.

In the meantime she wants to improve upper body strength in preparation for her older competition, and sharpen her air game.

There are no guarantees when a player entrusts their career to a university, no matter the program.

But one thing’s for certain; no matter how stable the footing around her future coach, Cal certainly has Mercik’s commitment.  

“Hopefully we can win some NCAA titles in the next few years,” Mercik said. “I would like to earn a starting position on Cal and to beat Stanford next year! Go Bears!”