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Belton, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women’s soccer team opens the 2010 season on Wednesday with what may be the highest expectations in the history of the program. The Cru women are coming off the best season in the history of the program after posting a school-record for wins last season and winning an American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament match for the first time. The UMHB women will open the 2010 season at home on Wednesday, September 1
st with a 4:00 PM start against Southwestern University. The Cru women will then have almost a full week off before returning to action with a 7:00 PM start at Trinity University next Tuesday, September 7
th.
The Lady Cru will return 13 letter winners from last year’s team this season and another player who is returning after a year absence. There are four seniors, four returning juniors and six returning sophomores on the roster this year. The Cru women return five players who earned All-ASC honors last season and another that earned All-ASC honors two years ago.
F’s Erin Salyer (Sr., Keller) and Lexy Smith (Jr., Belton) were both Second Team All-ASC selections last year and return as the top scoring threats for the Cru women. Salyer led UMHB with 13 goals, seven assists and 33 total points. Smith added six goals, five assists and 17 total points. MF Angel Kemmerer (Jr., Little Elm) was a Third Team All-ASC pick after scoring six goals and adding an assist for 13 total points. She will also be counted on to provide scoring punch. MF Kim Wobecky (Sr., Plano) is a three-year starter who finished with three goals and eight total points last season. She is a talented and steady player who should claim a starting job once again this year. MF’s Jordan Powers (So., Deer Park) and Camryn Powell (So., Frisco) both earned All-ASC honors last year. Powers was an Honorable Mention choice and Powell was voted ASC Co-Defensive Freshman of the Year and also earned Second Team All-ASC honors. Those players combined for three goals, five assists and 11 total points and should once again be team leaders in the midfield. The Cru also has returning depth at midfielder with Samantha Thomas (So., Schertz), Darla Gregory (So., Belton), Bailey Walker (So., Rockwall) and Jenna Womack (So., Garland). Those four players all performed well in reserve roles and have a chance to make bigger impacts this year. Newcomers could also have a say in the starting jobs at midfield and forward. F Amanda Kim (Fr., Kingwood) is the lone freshman forward in camp and she could spell Salyer and Smith at that position. MF Taylor Bullock (Jr., Rockwall) is a transfer from Texas Woman’s University who sat out all of last season with an injury. She is healthy again and her talent and experience could make it hard to keep her off the field. MF Tori Seiler (So., Belton) transferred in from Ranger College and she will also have a chance to make an immediate impact. Several freshmen will also have a chance to play their way into the midfield rotation and provide depth. That group includes: Paige Marlar (Fr., New Braunfels), Maizey Cardy (Fr., San Antonio), Kate Schladenhauffen (Fr., Houston), Laura Briner (Fr., Bryan) and Kristyn Rhorick (Fr., Harker Heights). Rhorick can also play defender and might see some time on the back row for the Cru.
Powell headlines the defense for the Cru, but there is more returning talent there. Megan Jones (Sr., Humble) was a two-year starter for the Cru and earned All-ASC honors before sitting out last season. She returns to the team this year, looking to pick up where she left off in 2008. Kellee Shearer (Sr., College Station) is also a returning starter who has been slowed by an injury in camp but should return to the starting line-up when she is healthy. The Cru will also count on some newcomers to step up at defender. Alison Bullock (Fr., Rockwall) is the younger sister of Taylor Bullock and she could give the Cru a sister act in the starting line-up. Maegon Sauer (Fr., Valley Mills) is also in the mix at defender. Meanwhile, Meredith Norman (Jr., Arlington) is a transfer from Sam Houston State University and she brings a wealth of talent and experience to the position.
UMHB will have a new starting goalkeeper this season following the graduation of All-ASC selection Allyson Sargeant. Erica Harris (Jr., Rockwall) and Meredith Harris (Jr., Keller) both have experience and have started games for the Cru. West held opponents to a 0.55 goals against average in seven games last season and Harris posted a 1.12 goals against average in six appearances. Kristin Martinez (Fr., Taylor) is a talented freshman who could also see time at that position for the Cru.
“We’ve worked hard through some scrimmages and worked on some things that needed the work,” Cru head coach Meg Brown said. “Now we are just excited to get back out on the field and to have a home game to start the season. We have high expectations for this team and the girls know what I expect of them this season. But they have lofty goals set for themselves this year, too.”
Brown is entering her ninth season as the head coach of the Cru women’s soccer program and she has guided the Cru women to three straight trips to the ASC Championship Tournament. The UMHB women will open ASC play with a road match against LeTourneau University in Longview on September 17th at 2:00 PM.