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Sierra Anderson returns for her junior season after leading the Rambelleswith seven goals and adding three assists last season as a sophomore." alt="10690" src="/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_id=13&image_path=/images/2013/9/22/DM4_7616.jpg" />

SAN ANGELO – The 20th season of Angelo State soccer begins this weekend when the Rambelles host Adams State at 5 p.m. on Friday in the season opener and then New Mexico Highlands at noon on Sunday at the ASU Soccer Field.

Angelo State is coming off one of its best seasons in program history after earning its first Lone Star Conference championship in program history. The Rambelles, who went 11-5-2 last season, return 15 players from last year's roster and welcome in 10 newcomers. The team, which went 1-1-1 in preseason scrimmages, was picked to finish second in the LSC preseason poll behind Midwestern State. This weekend's contests are the start of an eight game non-conference schedule and are both in-region games which could play a role in NCAA Division II postseason bids in November.  

ASU is 10-6-3 all-time in season openers dating back to the inaugural season when the Rambelles took a 0-2 loss to College of the Southwest on Sept. 1, 1995.  

Schedule note: With the addition of lights at the ASU Soccer Field, game times have been moved to 7 p.m. for upcoming contests against Oklahoma Christian (Friday, Sept. 19), Midwestern State (Friday, Sept. 26), Texas A&M-Commerce (Friday, Oct. 3) and Eastern New Mexico (Friday, Oct. 24).

Gate entrance: All fans will enter through the west entrance of the ASU Soccer Field which is also used for softball games.
 
ADAMS STATE GRIZZLIES
Friday, Sept. 5 @ 5 p.m. // ASU Soccer Field
Adams State is coming off a 6-6-6 season where it also went 3-5-6 in RMAC play. The Grizzlies were 3-1-4 away from their home field and lost 0-1 to Eastern New Mexico in their only game against a LSC opponent. A former assistant coach on the Adams State men's team, Doris Sullivan is entering her first season at the Grizzly head women's coach. Sharing the same acronym isn't the only common aspect of this matchup as the all-time series is tied 2-2. The Grizzlies took the last game of the series 2-1 back on Sept. 11, 2011 in a double-overtime decision in Pueblo, Colorado. Adams State will follow its game against the Rambelles with a contest against Texas-Permian Basin in Odessa on its travels back to Colorado.
 
NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS COWGIRLS
Sunday, Sept. 7 @ Noon  //  ASU Soccer Field
In the season-opener for both teams last season, Angelo State and New Mexico Highlands played to a 1-1 draw in Las Vegas, New Mexico. This season, the matchup will come in the second game of the season for the teams with the game being hosted at the ASU Soccer Field. The Cowgirls are coming off a 9-7-3 season last year and went 7-6-1 in RMAC play. The team went 3-4-1 away from home and saw its season end with a 0-2 loss to Regis University in the RMAC Soccer Tournament. The Rambelles own a 1-0-1 all-time advantage in the series history after taking a 2-1 win over the Cowgirls on Sept. 1, 2012 in San Angelo. NMHU is led by Justin Wagar who is entering his sixth season as the team's head coach. The Cowgirls will start its season on Friday, Sept. 5 in Odessa with a game against UTPB.
 
PLAYER QUOTES
Sierra Anderson  ||  Junior  ||  Forward  ||  Wichita Falls, Texas
On keys to victories against Adams State and New Mexico Highlands:
"We really need to be able to move the ball around the field and be good with our passes. It's exciting to get going but we have to be focused and ready. We are ready to show our fans what we are made of this year."
 
Selena Alvarez  ||  Junior  ||  Midfield  ||  Austin, Texas
On keys to victories against Adams State and New Mexico Highlands:
"I think we just need to continue and build on what we did on the field last season. We had a good camp and we are ready to get going. We just need to go out there on the same page and have fun to get the victories."
 
Jenny Kotowych  ||  Sophomore  ||  Forward  ||  Humble, Texas
On keys to victories against Adams State and New Mexico Highlands:
"We've been working really hard and are ready to see what we can do in a real game. We have a lot of skill and technique, but we really need to put it together as a team by communicating."
 
ROSTER REPORT
A senior captain, Caitlyn Conaway has been a strong defensive leader for the Rambelles the past three seasons. A defender with athleticism and intelligence, Conaway has 57 games of experience entering the 2014 season. Along with her defensive prowess, she also has three assists and one goal in her career. Two of those assists came last year in a road win at Oklahoma Christian.

"Caitlyn needs to be a leader on and off the field by setting a strong tone," McCorkle said. "Her strength is her passion for winning. She is very competitive and is that way in training and in games. That's what separates her. She always has that drive to be the best and that carries over to her teammates when they see the way she approaches every day."

Conaway was named to the LSC second-team last season.

One of the premiere goal scorers in the conference, Sierra Anderson enters her junior season with nine goals and four assists. Anderson led ASU in all offensive categories during her sophomore season, including scoring seven goals and assisting on three goals. A Wichita Falls native, she had five game-winning goals for the Rambelles last season. Each of Anderson's goals last season came in different games with her goals coming against St. Mary's, Midwestern State, Oklahoma Christian, West Texas A&M, Eastern New Mexico, Texas Woman's and Texas A&M-Commerce. She scored goals in four straight LSC games during the stretch against WT, ENMU, TWU and A&M-Commerce.

"Sierra is becoming a more complex player who is able to beat the opposition in multiple ways," McCorkle said. "She's not just relying on her speed anymore. She can set up players and her finishing is constantly getting more refined."

Anderson was named to the LSC first-team last season and was also named to the 2013 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Continental Tire NCAA Division II All-South Central Region second team.

Brittany Martinez is coming off a season where she moved from the midfield to defense. The transition was smooth, giving Martinez more playing time and also adding speed to the ASU defense. Martinez played in 17 of the 18 games last season and recorded one goal and one assist.

"We don't know exactly where Brittany will play this season and it's great that she's flexible enough to be a midfielder and defender for us," McCorkle said. "She can play multiple spots like she did last year and we're looking forward to her helping us again this season."

Jenny Kotowych enters her sophomore season with five goals and two assists to her name. Kotowych, a forward from Humble, recorded ASU's only hat trick of the season last year with a three-goal game against Texas Woman's in a 4-1 win. Kotowych also scored two goals in a game against Wayland Baptist. She finished the year with two assists, one against Texas A&M-Commerce and another in a 1-0 win at West Texas A&M.

"Jenny really got things going last season and we need her to continue developing like she showed she could last year," McCorkle said.

Kathleen Keoughan scored a goal in her first collegiate game last season in the 2013 opener at New Mexico and turned in a solid freshman season for the Rambelles. A Fort Worth native, Keoughan finished her freshman season with three goals and competed in all 18 games. She scored her goals against Highlands and Wayland Baptist before scoring the game-winning goal in the waning minutes of the game against West Texas A&M.

"Kathleen was quiet in the fall, but I really saw her step up her leadership in the spring when she was more comfortable with her role on the team," McCorkle said. "I want to see her increase her leadership in the midfield and make corrections on the field."

Selena Alvarez enters her junior season with six career goals after providing five goals during the LSC championship season for the Rambelles last year. A midfielder from Austin, Alvarez was efficient with her goal scoring, converting on five shots on 17 attempts. She scored her five goals in separate contests, with goals against Ouachita Baptist, St. Mary's, Oklahoma Christian, Texas A&M-Commerce and Midwestern State. Her final goal of the season came against MSU in the regular-season finale and helped the Rambelles secure the LSC's top seed going into the postseason.

"Selena has done a great job the past two seasons," McCorkle said. "She needs to become a little more consistent throughout the year. She had great games for us last season and was a catalyst for us. We know she's going to be physical and take control. She has a great personality and does a great job of lightening the mood."

Lauren Perry established herself as a stifling defender right away for the Rambelles as freshman. A Plano native, Perry started 14 games and played in all 18 during ASU's championship run and finished the season with three shots on goal, including two against West Texas A&M in the semifinals of the Lone Star Conference tournament. Perry's strength is on the defensive side of the field and with a year of experience, she could be one of the top defenders in the conference as a sophomore.

"Perry did a very good job last season on the defensive side of the field" McCorkle said. "She had some great moments, but this season as a sophomore, we'll expect those freshmen moments to be gone. I want to see her improve in the air and take on a more consistent performance level."

Perry was named to the LSC second-team last season.

Brianne Brown is a senior forward who is entering her third year with the Belles. Brown, a LaVernia native, redshirted the 2012 season after transferring to ASU. Brown is coming off a 2013 season where she scored one goal and assisted on three goals. She scored her goal in a 2-0 win over Colorado Mesa and assisted on two goals in a 4-1 win over Texas Woman's.

"Brianne is a unique player who can do some very special things on the field," McCorkle said. "We want to see her score 7-10 goals this season. She has a lot of experience and needs to use that experience to put herself in position to finish goals. No matter what happened on the last shot, she needs that confidence in the next shot to put it away."

Cynthia Andrews and Haley Mendel return as experienced sophomores following playing in all 18 games last season as freshmen. Andrews is a forward from Fort Worth, while Mendel is a midfielder from Bastrop. Andrews scored one goal as freshman with the goal coming in 2-1 win over West Texas A&M in San Angelo during the regular season, while Mendel assisted on a goal against Colorado Mesa.

"Cynthia and Mendel will be relied upon for a lot minutes this season," McCorkle said. "We don't have Katie Squires here anymore, so those two players will have to fill that void on the field for us. They had some good games last season and we'll need them to be consistent throughout the season and continue to elevate their games."

Ashley Exford and Shay Williams redshirted last season after playing a majority of the games during the 2012 season. Exford and Williams are strong defenders and will help bolster an experienced group of defenders.

"Having Ashley return is going to help us out a lot," McCorkle said. "She is a very technical player and is smart and fast. She is ready to play and we're more than ready to have her back on the field for our team."

"Shay started to understand her impact on the team during the last part of her freshman year and then was gutted when she was injured and found out she would have to miss the entire season," McCorkle said. "I know that she wants to get right back out there and be an impactful player. She is working as hard as she can and is a very competitive player. Because she had to watch last season, I think she'll come out ready to compete this season even more."

A void in goal with the departure of Dani Edwards, the goalkeeper duties will be competed for by Shantel Wittke, Natalie Nielsen and Lauren Eschelman. There is a lack of experience with Wittke being the only keeper with playing experience from last season, but not a lack of talent.

"Shantel is a goalkeeper who works extremely hard," McCorkle said. "She has some technical issues we are working with her on with her hands and confidence in her feet. She is a good goalkeeper who has a lot of potential. She will be as good as she allows herself to be."

Nielsen, who redshirted last season due to injury, played as a reserve in the 2012 season and was selected as a team captain this season. She spent last season as a student-assistant coach while rehabbing from her injury.

"Natalie is one of the hardest working players that I've ever been around," McCorkle said. "She has been a workhorse who is always doing whatever she can to make herself a better athlete. She is also a great teammate and will do anything she can to help her team and our staff. If we need help with something, she is always the first to volunteer. I think she'll come in confident during training."

The Rambelles will have 10 first-year freshmen on their roster this season in Amalia Garcia (Tucson, Arizona), Dakota Briseno (Burbank, California), Loni Byers (Murrieta, California), Callie Smith (Round Rock), Elizabeth Rodriguez (Arlington), Morgan Sibson (Oro Valley, Arizona), Molly Warren (Longview), Lanie Bennett (Kilgore), Tiffany Dang (North Richland Hills) and Eshelman (Red Oak).

"We have tried to make our bench stronger and I think we're going to have a lot of depth," McCorkle said. "You're always going to have to be ready to make changes throughout the season because of injuries and other things, so it's very important to have that depth with players who prepare themselves to be ready for their opportunities. There should be a lift in energy when we bring someone off the bench for a substitution and not a drop in talent. How strong a bench is for a team is what separates a good team and a great team."

UP NEXT: The Rambelles will be on the road next weekend with two neutral field games against Fort Lewis and Colorado Mesa on the Dallas Baptist campus. ASU will play Fort Lewis at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11 before playing Colorado Mesa at noon on Saturday, Sept. 13.