MIDWAY, Ky. -- Following a year where they lost just one senior to graduation, the Midway University women's soccer team will be relying on experience as they open the 2019 season on Thursday night at Kentucky Christian University.
The Eagles open the season with a pair of road trips to Grayson, Kentucky. They open with a 7 p.m. ET kickoff against Kentucky Christian on Thursday and then on Saturday, they head back to Kentucky Christian to battle Oakland City (Ind.) in a neutral site contest.
Coming off a season that saw them finish at 6-9 overall and 2-7 in River States Conference play, the Eagles will be looking to make their first trip to the playoffs since the 2014 season.
"We're excited to get our season underway and see exactly where we are," said head coach, Sherill Smith, who is entering his fifth season in 2019. "Our returners have done a great job being leaders both on and off the field and I really like what our newcomers have added."
One luxury that the Eagles have this year – that not many teams ever have – is they return all scoring from last season. The Eagles return a total of 24 players from last season including eight seniors who will be asked to carry the bulk of the workload.
The seniors include Rebekah McKee (Rossville, Ind.), Alexis Little (Nicholasville, Ky.), Saydie Matthews (Lexington, Ky.), Hala Ayyash (Somerset, Ky.), Larissa Cussins (Cheyenne, Wyo.), Alexa Meier (Edgewood, Ky.), Jordyn D'Oench (Missouri City, Texas) and Regan Snyder (Monroe, Ohio).
Snyder returns as the leading scorer from last year as she scored 16 goals and assisted on four others in 2018. Little added seven goals and four assists, while D'Oench found the back of the net for one goal in 2018. Cussins is also back after missing the 2018 season due to injury.
McKee, meanwhile, is also back after appearing in 10 games in goal last year. She made eight starts and recorded a team-high 49 saves. Sophomore, Alexandria Klimek (Okinawa, Japan) also appeared in 11 games in goal last season with a 4-2 record including 26 saves.
Midway returns four starters from last season to join Little, D'Oench and Snyder. Juniors, Brynn Bradley (Nicholasville, Ky.) and Kali Knepper (Arlington, Wash.) are back for their third year, while sophomores, Shelbie Williams (Brandenburg, Ky.) and Marissa Sauer (Henderson, Ky.) are also back after playing key roles in 2018 as freshman. Sophomore, Taylor Harley (Lawrenceburg, Ky.) is back after scoring three goals as a freshman last year.
Coach Smith has also noticed a couple of newcomers who could step-in and play right away. Destinee Epperson (Owenton, Ky.), a freshman, scored 38 goals as a senior at Owen County High School, while Abbey Greene (Ashland, Ky.), a freshman defender from Paul G. Blazer High School could also step-in and play right away.
Coach Smith added, "I think we have the right mix of returners and newcomers, we just need to play against outside competition to see how we matchup."
After their two trips to Kentucky Christian to open the season, the Eagles will host Berea (Ky.) in their home opener on Saturday, September 7, at 1 p.m. ET at the Midway Soccer Field.
Follow Midway Eagles Athletics
