KENOSHA, WIS.—The Carthage College women's soccer team will open their 2017 campaign at home on Friday, September 1 against University of Northwestern (MN.) at 5:00 p.m. with 14 days of workouts and a pair of scrimmages under their belt. Fourteen returners and 15 newcomers represent a 2017 Lady Reds squad that lost seven players to graduation a season ago.
 
"We lost seven seniors last season, which is a large class to lose," said head women's soccer coach Sara Meyer. "I feel our returners have done a fabulous job of stepping into leadership roles and coming in ready to play. Our returners have also done a great job of blending this team together and working well to get to know the new players that have come in."
 
Among those newcomers are seven returning starters in junior Maggie Washelesky, sophomore Jacey Kent, senior Danielle Noverini, junior Talia Jaramillo, senior Darcy Stoecklin, junior Taylor Stenmark and sophomore goalkeeper Emily Furmanek. Washelesky, who paced the Lady Reds in scoring last season with five goals and three assists for 13 points, was named to the 2017 All-CCIW First Team and NSCAA Second Team All-Central Region.
 
Junior Joanne Stanfa, freshman Samantha Sisto, junior Aubrey Quick, sophomore Maddie Kempf, sophomore Kelly Evancich, sophomore Alexis Malka and senior goalkeeper Kate Perry round out the Carthage returners.
 
One senior, one junior, three sophomores and 10 freshmen represent the 2017 Lady Reds newcomers. Junior Anna McHatton comes to the Lady Reds via Parkland College while sophomore Samantha Cervantes arrives after a one-year stint at NAIA Harris-Stowe State University.
 
"I am excited about our transfers and how their collegiate experience and style/speed of play will make an impact," said Meyer.
 
Senior Morgan Harris, who's been a member of the Lady Reds basketball team the past three seasons, is another upperclassman in the Lady Reds' first-year player group. Sophomore Kelsey Dejno, sophomore Nicole Nitti, and freshmen Brittany Lee, Rachael Blair, Courtney Lee, Erin Otto, Libby Snyder, Mackenzy Jankiewicz, Sonja Katt, Jes Sendef, Mary Kate Healey and Andrea Archer will also vie for time as newcomers.
 
The Lady Reds played a pair of scrimmages that included a 2-0 victory over WIAC foe UW-Platteville on August 25, followed by a 2-2 draw at Lake Forest College on August 29. Those two games gave Meyer every reason to believe it will prepare them for the gauntlet that is the 2017 schedule.
 
"Scrimmages are a great way to try some new things and see where players are going to fit playing against someone else," said Meyer. I am excited with what we saw in our two scrimmages of being able to possess the ball well and finish on goal, which will prepare us for opening weekend coming up with Northwestern and Dubuque, as well as the remainder of our non-conference games."

The Lady Reds will host Northwestern (MN.) at Art Keller Field on Friday, September 1 at 5:00 p.m., followed by 4:00 p.m.-road tilt at University of Dubuque on Saturday, September 2.
 
ABOUT UNIVERSITY NORTHWESTERN (MN.) (0-0, 0-0 UMAC)
 
University of Northwestern (MN.), a member of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC), is located in St. Paul, Minn. The Eagles' 2016 campaign (9-8, 5-3 UMAC) ended with a 2-1 loss to Bethany Lutheran University in the UMAC Tournament Semifinal.
 
Back for the Eagles is Linley Norman, who paced the Eagles in scoring as a freshman with five goals and three assists for 13 points last season. Junior goalkeeper Samantha Dewey, who tallied a 1.50 goals against average and a .771 save percentage in 16 starts last season, also returns for Northwestern (MN.).
 
The 2017 season will mark Josh Pettit's 12^th as Northwestern (Minn.) head women's soccer coach.  The Lady Reds and Eagles will square-off for the first time ever.
 
ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE (0-0, 0-0 IIAC)
 
The Spartans will host UW-La Crosse prior to their showdown with Carthage on Saturday, September 2. The Lady Reds defeated Dubuque 1-0 OT last season behind Washelesky's goal in the 94^th minute under the lights.
 
Junior Lauren Cangelosi is Dubuque's returning-leading scorer with four goals and five assists for 13 points last season. Back for the Spartans is junior goalkeeper Megan Moll, who tallied a 1.37 goals against average and a .761 save percentage throughout 13 starts last season. Dubuque finished the 2016 season with a 6-10-1, 2-6 IIAC mark. 
 
Jason Berna is in his 17^th season as University of Dubuque head women's soccer coach. Carthage owns a 9-2-2 all-time record against the Spartans.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
 
The Lady Reds will host Milwaukee School of Engineering on Tuesday, September 5 at 7:00 p.m. before they face UW-La Crosse in a road game on Thursday, September 7 at 5:00 p.m. Carthage will end their three-game week at home on Saturday, September 9 at 3:30 p.m. against St. Norbert College.