St. Edward's women's soccer enters the 2025 season with renewed confidence after closing the previous campaign by winning seven of the final eight games and taking Texas Woman's University to a 1-1 draw in the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Tournament, ending the season on the wrong end of penalty kicks.
 
Entering his 20th season at the helm, St. Edward's head coach Nick Cowell seeks to create the right blend of seasoned leadership and rising young talent on his 38-player roster to build on last year's foundation. 
 
"You know, it's competitive every day. We're trying to grow a very close-knit team, all on the same page, and very competitive when they play," Cowell says. "Winning isn't everything, but trying to win is a valuable skill — it builds resilience and persistence, which naturally leads to becoming a competitive athlete and a unified team."
 
At the forefront are five seniors – co-captains KATIE FITZPATRICK and BAILEY WILLIAMS, ELENA RAMOS BANET, KARLEE FRIEBELE, and ANDREA SANTANA – who bring leadership and strength to the team, with each wanting to leave a lasting mark on the program in their final season. 
 
"Our expectations are definitely high for my senior season. We had a pretty good run last year, making it to conference, but we want to go all the way and win it this year," Fitzpatrick says. "That starts with the simple things, being united, and making sure we're all on the same page." 
 
The team also welcomes back graduate students MARIE HANNEDOUCHE and MCKENNA KEELEY, who will play key roles in the project. Hannedouche made an immediate impact after transferring to St. Edward's last season, recording six assists and a goal, earning a spot on the LSC's 2025 Preseason Players to Watch list. Keeley returns to bolster the defense after missing all but two games last season due to injury.
 
Beyond the seniors and graduates, a deep junior class and talented sophomores are ready to take on greater responsibilities. DARIA SCHLUMBOHM recorded nine shutouts in the net and earned LSC All-Academic Team honors. Fellow juniors ABIGAIL HALL, RAINEY SIMMONS, and RILEY SISSON provide consistency and depth. 
 
The sophomore class boasts key players looking to build on significant playing time last season, headlined by forward ANNIE ROCHA, whom the LSC named its Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after leading St. Edward's with 10 goals last season, earning LSC Freshman of the Year, All-LSC First Team, and All-Region recognition. 
 
"I am most excited about playing with this new team alongside girls I've never met before, improving my stats, and building off what I achieved last year," Rocha says. "It's about staying consistent and doing what my team needs. I like being someone they can rely on." 
 
LANE ROGERS joined Rocha on the All-Freshman Team. She was quietly just as valuable from the centerback position, finishing second on the team in minutes played behind only Schlumbohm, who played every minute at goalkeeper. 
 
SIERRA PADILLA, JISELL ZAVALETA DENOVA, and ISABELLA RUIZ ("Izzy") also give the Hilltoppers confidence after proving their ability to adapt to the college game as freshmen. 
 
With 11 new freshmen joining the squad, this large group of newcomers will compete for playing time while learning from the returning core, bringing more depth to the lineup and a foundation for the program's future. 
 
"I think we have an excellent team this year. After our first scrimmage, it was pretty evident that we're going to have a solid foundation to build from," Williams says. "While we have things to work on, the potential is extremely exciting for me." 
 
St. Edward's has a veteran leadership core it can rely on to set the tone early, while a deep roster finds its footing with the potential to crystallize into something more than last year's late-season surge.