MARSHALL, Texas – Combining 15 freshmen with the returners, East Texas Baptist University women's soccer head coach Erik Solberg anticipates a fun season. ETBU advanced to the American Southwest Conference tournament last year in Solberg's first year as six players also earned All-ASC honors. Taking those first year accomplishments and meshing them with a new, talented freshmen class could equal a very successful season.
 
ETBU returns Heather Brady who was the top point scorer last year with 11 points (four goals, three assists). Brady enters the year following a successful 2016 season, where she managed an All-ASC honorable mention along with a .571 on goal shooting percentage. Emilee Laxson and Kendall Vogt add offense that is returning. Vogt had a .682 shots on goal percentage recording one goal and one assist.
 
Defensively, Karrigan Falber returns with a 1.79 goals against average and 34 saves. Megan Friend and Kristi Freund are both defenders returning, too. Freund comes into her final season with ETBU after being named All-ASC Honorable Mention and a .556 on goal shooting percentage and one goal.
 
The Tigers open the regular season on the road September 1, in Kerrville, Texas, facing SCAC member Schreiner University. Though last season's matchup against the Mountaineers ended in a tie, ETBU has had considerable success against Schreiner in past matchups. The Tigers will have their first home contest on September 5 when they take on Hendrix College at 5:00 pm.
 
Solberg comments on the upcoming season, "I am really excited for the season to start. Schreiner and TLU (Texas Lutheran) are very good programs and we expect very good challenges from both those teams. We have some speed and athleticism that we haven't had in years past so we're up for the challenge."