The Kentucky Wesleyan women's soccer team will travel to Evansville for Friday and Sunday matches at Strassweg Field against Illinois-Springfield and Southern Indiana. The first match of the year against UIS will begin at 5 pm. Sunday's match against USI has been tabbed for a 2 pm start.
KWC is coming off a program-record 11 wins in 2015. The Panthers' season ended in a shootout loss to Ursuline last year in the G-MAC semi-finals. Kentucky Wesleyan also loses six seniors from last year, who were an integral part to last season's success.
Head coach Jamie Duvall spoke on the transition that will take place with the incoming freshman class: "We're really proud of our freshman class. They are really talented, but they are still freshman in college, which is a huge change for them. We're bringing in 10 new kids, and we're obviously hoping to find that chemistry that we had last season."
Ellen Tichenor and Penni Pluimer are the lone seniors on the 2016 squad, but Duvall spoke on their valuable experience. "I really like our core leadership. Our senior class has really stepped up this year, and we have some important age at key positions."
Duvall also commented on what he felt will be the biggest challenge for the Panthers. "It's always the little things that are a factor, and they can make or break you when you get into conference play. Finding our chemistry and maintaining our shape is going to be essential for us down the road."
Kentucky Wesleyan is on the road for the first four matches of the year. The Panthers will play their home-opener on September 15 against Ursuline.
