HARTSVILLE, S.C.- Eyeing success moving into the 2017-18 season, the Coker College Women's Soccer team seeks to improve upon the outcome of their 2016 campaign. The Cobras are hungry and ready to face the competition with ferocity.

Hitting Rewind

Coming off their 2016 season, third-year Head Women's Soccer Coach Debbie McGuinness sets new objectives and goals for her team to score this year.

"The girls are really beginning to get cohesive. They're starting to understand the Coker culture and embracing it fully," McGuinness stated. "Our older girls have really stepped up into the leadership roles, taking the younger girls under their wings. It's been nice to spend some time getting to know one another this year. They've been accepting and receptive and it's been great." 

The women saw their largest victory of the season on Sept. 7 last season facing Barton College, snagging the 3-2 victory away from the Bulldogs.

Analyzing the Schedule

With the season starting officially on Aug. 31, Coker will kick things off with UNC Pembroke at 7pm for their first non-conference contest. The Cobras have five home games (Aug. 31 UNC Pembroke, Sept. 6 Converse, Sept. 9 Shaw, Sept. 13 Newberry (SAC Contest), Sept. 16 Francis Marion) to begin the 2017 season. All home games will be played on the Coker Athletic Field.

Slated with 15 games in 2017, including 10 home contests, five on the road and 10 SAC contests, the Cobras will have ample opportunity to strike. Scoring 7 goals in the previous season, coach McGuinness is determined to spearhead offensive production from her squad.

What to Watch for

Bolstered by a strong six-member senior class that consists of: Ashton Knopf (GK- #0), Trisha Thompson (M- #2), Autumn Fetterolf (M- #9), Lexi Garcia (M- #10), Pheobie Eshen (F- #14), Batavia Mata (M- #25), Coker's upper-class leadership on the pitch will be well represented.

Additionally, the Cobras have welcomed in nine new faces to the program to include: seven freshmen signees, Madelyn Becker (M/D- #11), Skylar Davis (M- #12), Claire Slamka (M- #13), Lillia Rodriguez (F- #21), Gaby Sturla (M- #23), Jamie Jernigan (F- #24) and Samantha Hoffman (GK- #28). Coker also added two transfers in Dominique Walker (D- #5) and Julianne Bales (M- #6).

Eshen and Ashley Hogg (M- #2), the top two scorers for the Cobras, will return for the 2017 season. Eshen played in all 13 games with four starts and was the team-leading scorer with three goals. Hogg, in her freshman year, was second on the team with two strikes in the back of the net, while playing in 13 games and starting 12. Hogg also finished the campaign with a .750% (6-for-8) mark of shots on goal.

Looking into the season, coach McGuinness is ready to take her squad out on the pitch and to compete. "We're looking forward to every game this year," McGuinness said. We will take each game one at a time as we have a lot of great competition. We respect every one of our opponents and we're excited to prove our quality as we hopefully make a couple of shakes this year."

You can follow the Coker women's soccer season at www.cokercobras.com.

2017 SAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll

2017 Preseason All-League

First Team All-Conference

F- Lauren Wade, Carson-Newman

F- Holly Talbut-Smith, Carson-Newman

F- Alyssa Ortega, Newberry

F- Thea Mallett, Queens

MF- Abigael McGarel, Lenoir-Rhyne

MF- Charlotte Ring, Queens

MF- Breona Tate, Mars Hill

MF- Katja Aandersson, Tusculum

D- Helen Seed, Carson-Newman

D- Helen Ramsey, Lenoir-Rhyne

D- Mariah Lewis, Queens

D- Carlie Thornber, Tusculum

GK- Jacqueline Burns, Carson-Newman

Second Team All-Conference

F- Kimmi Moore, WIngate

F- Hannah Van Eerden, Lenoir-Rhyne

F- Becky Frost, Catawba

F- Taylor Lyble, Wingate

MF- Colleen Zickert, Wingate

MF- Sonja Ballmert, Tusculum

MF- Lara Hallgrimsdottir, Carson-Newman

MF- Cheyenne Upton, Tusculum

D- Averi Williams, Carson-Newman

D- Kaitlyn Fletcher, Wingate

D- Christina Shimshock, Lenoir-Rhyne

D- Alex Brandan, Carson-Newman

GK- Alexis Jones, Wingate

2017 Coker Women's Soccer Preseason Video