Incorporating 15 freshmen and two transfers on a roster of 37 can be challenging. Still, when St. Edward's women's soccer team opens its season at 4:00 p.m., the Hilltoppers expect to hit the ground running in the same direction thanks to talented newcomers and outstanding leadership from its returners. 
 
"We've got a great group of returning players with a lot of collegiate experience and a cohort of freshmen with excellent club soccer experience," St. Edward's head women's soccer coach Nick Cowell says. "We're looking forward to the blend between the two, and it should be one of the most talented teams we've had in a few years." 
 
Last year, St. Edward's graduated all-conference players and longtime lineup mainstays like Cat Gonzalez, ARI RAMIREZ, KATIE GAY, and MADDI DAVIS. However, a handful of Hilltoppers excelled stepping into the new minutes, shots, and opportunities. 
 
TRISTYN CABELLO and MCKENNA KEELEY emerged as natural leaders in the spring, leading a graduation-depleted roster through a competitive off-season to become team captains. 
 
Cabello is the team's lead returning goal scorer, finishing first and second in 2022 and 2023 with career numbers of 12 goals and five assists for 29 points. 
 
"This is my fourth year with the team, and the people before me set a great example. I hope I can follow that to lead this team in the best way possible," Cabello says. "We built a strong connection over the spring, and the main thing we're going off is unity. I'm excited for my senior season and think it will be a big year." 
 
Keeley started 15 of 16 games in her first season at the Hilltop after transferring from Texas A&M Commerce and quickly became an integral part of the defensive line. She finished third on the team in minutes, scored a goal, and earned Lone Star Conference All-Tournament Team honors.
 
"Spring was a grind for everyone, but I'm grateful for my teammates' pushing each other daily," Keeley says. "We have so much potential with many talented newcomers and returning players. We will do great things if we can build excellent team chemistry from our work ethic."
 
Seniors Carina Wüst, Cabello, Keeley, and ALYSSA GARCIA, as well as juniors Elena Ramos and BAILEY WILLIAMS, played significant minutes last year. The return of KATIE FITZPATRICK will also bolster the team after the midfielder missed half of last season with an injury. The junior from Katy, Texas, was a 2022 LSC All-Freshman and All-Tournament Teams member. 
 
The number of sophomores like ABIGAIL HALL, RAINEY SIMMONS, AMREY WENNEKER, and goalkeeper DARIA SCHLUMBOHM, who earned minutes last year, is just as promising. As is a freshman class that brings athleticism and transfers like MARIE HANNEDOUCHE ready to step in immediately. 
 
The result is a potentially effective offensive team with an on-the-rise defense to take on one of the toughest conferences in NCAA Division II. 
 
"We learned last spring that our senior class has a strong leadership core. It's impossible to predict where their leadership will be needed most, but they're prepared for it, and I'm excited to see their growth," Cowell says. "We took a page from men's soccer's book and brought in some graduate players we haven't had in the past, and our freshmen have high-level experience, so they should be able to fit in right away."