Women's soccer opens season at home Sept. 3

It's been a great three years for the Western Washington University women's soccer team.

The Vikings have made three consecutive NCAA Division II national tournament appearances, reaching the West Region finals in 2012, the national semifinals in 2013, and posting an undefeated regular-season record last year before falling to Cal State Stanislaus in the second round of the West Regional. Their combined record over that stretch was 55-7-5.

WWU had an overall record of 16-1-4 last year, going 11-0-3 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference to win a third straight regular-season crown. It enters the season ranked 14th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA II Preseason Poll.

"It's hard to maintain that success, because everyone you play gives you their best shot," said WWU coach Travis Connell (13th year, 157-62-24), the 2014 GNAC Coach of the Year and the winningest coach in school history. "But you wouldn't have that any other way, our players thrive under those conditions.

"We had one of the best spring seasons we've ever had, and we have a great core of players coming back. All those things point to a real positive season."

At the core of the squad is a large group of seniors, many of whom have been big contributors since their freshman seasons. Of the nine seniors on the roster, seven have spent their entire careers at WWU, although one, forward Jessica Bertucci (Bellingham/Sehome), a first-team NSCAA West Region all-star pick, is likely to sit out the season while recovering from knee surgery.

"It's a special group," Connell said of the senior class. "They've had tons of success, but you ask them about it and they want to give the credit to everyone else. It's a very team-first group."

Seven starters return from last year's squad, led by forward Catherine Miles (Anacortes), a second-team all-region pick and a first-team CoSIDA academic all-District 8 selection. Miles had a team-high eight goals last season, and has 32 for her career, which is tied for fifth in school history.

Another returning starter up front is junior Elise Aylward (Renton/Lindburgh), who can play both wide or centrally in WWU's 4-3-3, and had five goals and four assists last year.

Also back is junior Anna DeWeirdt (Sammamish/Skyline), who had two goals in eight games before having her season ended by injury. Freshman Gabriela Pelogi (Federal Way) and Sophia Kallas (Boise, ID) also figure to contribute. Pelogi was a two-time Class 4A all-state pick, and Kallas was the consensus Idaho Player of the year as a senior.

The most experienced player in a veteran midfield is senior Stephanie Hamilton (Orting/Bellarmine Prep), who has made 49 starts over the last three seasons. Hamilton had two goals and three assists last year, and has the knack for scoring big goals. Of her seven career goals, five have been game-winners including two in NCAA tournament play.

Hamilton figures to be primarily in an attacking role. Junior Caitlyn Jobanek (Springfield, OR/Thurston), who has started in multiple positions her first two seasons, and senior Savanna Moorehouse (Bonney Lake), a transfer from Central Washington where she was a second-team all-region pick in 2013, might also see action there.

Returning deeper in the midfield is sophomore Emily Webster (Bellingham/Sehome), who made 15 starts as a freshman, notching two goals and a team-high five assists to earn second-team all-GNAC honors. She'll be joined by senior Kami Deeb (Ogden, UT), who sat out last year after lettering the two previous seasons, and junior Becca Cates (Poulsbo/North Kitsap) also figures to see significant time.

Two seniors lead the backline. Delanee Nilles (Poulsbo/North Kitsap), who has played a variety of positions in her career, scoring 10 goals, figures to be one center back. The other senior, Chelsea Jackson (Surrey, BC/Fraser Heights Secondary), like Nilles a three-year letter winner, can play right back or centrally.

Sophomore center back Sierra Shugarts (Federal Way/Decatur) and junior left back Erin Russell (Brier/Mountlake Terrace) also are likely to start. Further depth comes from sophomore Malia Maack (Spokane/Mead), a transfer from New Mexico Highlands, where she started 16 times as a freshman, and freshman Taylor Hallquist (Vancouver/Columbia River).

Returning in goal is senior Ashley Haden (Brush Prairie/Hockinson), a second-team all-West Region pick last season after posting 11 shutouts and a 0.32 goals-against-average. Senior Miranda Head (Marysville/Lakewood) and junior Ashley Homer (Puyallup), a transfer from College of Saint Rose NY where she helped the Golden Knights to a 21-1-3 record with a 0.38 GAA and 16 shutouts, provide excellent depth.

"We still have some things that have to come together for us," Connell said. "A lot will be determined by how quickly we can hit on all cylinders and get our combinations right."

The Vikings are the preseason pick of the GNAC Coaches to win a fourth consecutive regular-season conference title. Prior to GNAC play, WWU opens the campaign with four West Region non-conference contests, starting with a home match against Cal Baptist on Sept. 3. WWU's final non-conference game is in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 16, against nationally No. 22-ranked St. Edward's.

"The first five matches are important and could set us up really well," Connell said. "But our focus still just has to be on doing the best we can every day, in every game, every practice. We do that, good things will happen for us."