SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College women's soccer team begins year two under head coach Kevin Gregory in 2023, and the 'Roos will be looking to make a jump in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference standings after finishing last season with a 1-15-1 overall record and a 1-13 mark in conference play.
Gregory and assistant coach Jaya Wilson nearly doubled the size of last year's roster, and that strong group of newcomers will be expected to make immediate contributions and help the 'Roos continue to build a strong foundation for the program. Along with a big group of freshmen and transfers, the 'Roos also return several key contributors from last year's team, including All-Conference performer Priscilla Garcia. Last season, Garcia made an instant impact in her first collegiate campaign, scoring a pair of goals and adding an assist while proving to be the team's most consistent offensive threat when it came to both creating chances for herself and her teammates.
Joining Garcia on the attack will be senior Brittany Hutton, who had a late-season offensive surge that made her the team's top scorer with three goals. That pair combined for five of the team's seven tallies last season, and will be called upon to find the back of the net again this season.
Among the other key returning players for the 'Roos are senior captain Sarah Davis, who will once again anchor the Austin College defense, as well as All-SCAC goalkeeper Kenedie Lane. Last season, Lane led the SCAC in saves with 121, nearly 40 more than the next best total in the league. Lane reached double-digits in saves five times last year, including 16 against Trinity. Heaven Barber, who shared time in goal with Lane last year, will shift to the field this season as a forward while first-year keeper Amanda Zyla steps in to help between the pipes for the 'Roos. Emeri Watson, Caitlyn Hernandez, and Jessica Hayakawa all return with starting experience, while other returners such as Tanya Gonzalez, Heather Foster, Ari Ruocco, Bryanna Cortes-Pinedo, and Sage Newton also saw plenty of action a year ago.
Austin College will welcome in 16 new faces this season, including transfers Ranee LeVasseur, who played previously at Millsaps, as well as Allison Clark and Rebekeh Gutierrez, who spent last season playing in the Junior College ranks at Richland and Indian Hills, respectively. Junior defender Paulina Porter, a member of the 'Roo women's basketball team who was also a standout at the club soccer level during her high school days, also joins the squad this year.
The 'Roos open up the 2023 campaign on September 1 with a home match against LeTourneau University at 6:00 p.m.