WEBSTER GROVES – Webster University will begin its 20th season of women's soccer play here Friday evening as the six-time reigning St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season champion Gorloks host Concordia-Chicago in a 7 p.m. match at World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton.

The Gorloks, who were tabbed to win its seventh straight SLIAC regular season title in the league's Preseason Coaches' Poll, return six starters, including two First-Team All-SLIAC performers and its top goalie from last year's 19-2-0 squad that captured its sixth straight SLIAC regular season title, took home the SLIAC Tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 13th time in program history.

"We're excited about the season. We have a combination of veterans and incoming recruits that are working hard to achieve the goals we've set for 2018," Webster head coach Luigi Scire said. "The key in the preseason has been to make sure we are confident in our approach and execution of the game. I am looking for our players to be complete players. Giving equal effort both offensively and defensively."

Among the key returners for Scire's 20th Gorlok team are senior midfielder Carolyn Ries (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh) and junior forward Melissa Kasper (Oswego, Ill./Oswego). Ries was a First-Team All-SLIAC performer a season ago after scoring four goals, recording four assists, tallying 10 points, taking 31 shots, including 19 shots on goal, while Kasper led the Gorloks in goals (11), assists (12), points (34), shots (60) and shots on goal (37) en route to earning First-Team All-SLIAC honors and also earning SLIAC Tournament MVP honors.

Other key returning players for the Gorloks are junior defender Lilly Brauer (Belleville, Ill./Belleville East), senior forward Nicole Bascio (Wentzville, Mo./Timberland) and senior goalie Alisa Coralic (St. Louis, Mo./Mehlville). Ries, Kasper, Brauer and Coralic are all serving as captains this season for the Gorloks.

"I am looking for one thing out of my returners and that is leadership. Showing their teammates the right approach in preparing for a game. They've been here awhile, they've executed it very well for two, three years depending on who you're talking about," said Scire when asked about what he wants out of his returners. "That is my expectation for my upperclassmen, especially the four captains. Alisa has been tremendous in practice, while Lilly will provide leadership and communication on defense. Carolyn offensive-minded and Melissa will dictate the pace and tempo for the forwards and Carolyn in the middle part of the field. It is all about leadership, discipline and bringing it all the time in practices and games. These four individuals are committed to leading the way."

While Webster returns six starters, they also bring back nine other letterwinners from a season ago. Additionally, Scire added nine freshmen and a junior transfer from Lindenwood University to his 2018 roster.

"We have a nice mix of players this season. I have faith and confidence in our newcomers. They've quickly adapted to the college game. It is a faster, aggressive style of play we're playing and you need to be engaged at all times," the Webster coach said. "We want to not only be physically strong and tough, but mentally strong and resilient in terms of our approach. At this level, you cannot afford to take a play off or take a few minutes off, because if you do, you are going to be under pressure for the rest of the game. The newcomers have really bought into it and I really love the way they bring the intensity and energy to each practice."

Scire said that this season is special for his program as the Gorloks are celebrating their 20th season of women's soccer at Webster University and Scire has been around for all 20 of those years as he began the program in 1999. Entering the 2018 campaign, Webster has compiled a 291-87-15 all-time record and the program has won 13 regular season SLIAC titles, nine SLIAC Tournament titles, earned 13 NCAA Tournament berths and have advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament four times. Additionally, the program has produced 142 All-SLIAC selections, 10 SLIAC Player of the Year honors, two SLIAC Hall of Fame inductees and Scire as earned SLIAC Coach of the Year honors six times.

"The bar continues to be set higher and higher and each team continues to meet those challenges and some have exceeded those challenges. But that is what it means in the 20th season, is to keep the tradition going in the right direction," Scire said. 

Throughout the previous 19 years of Webster women's soccer, the Gorloks have always been balanced offensively and defensively. 

"The crux of our success on the defensive end is how we defend as a team. The pressure just isn't on our back four to do their job, but how well the midfielders are doing in front of them and the forwards," added Scire.

Last season, Webster's defense was strong again as they allowed a total of 18 goals in 21 matches, including recording eight shutouts. In SLIAC play, Webster's defense was even stingier as they allowed just two goals and posted seven shutouts in the nine league matches.

While is defense is expected to be strong once again this year, Scire must find replacements to two of its top defensive players that graduated from last season's team – Elena Bloma and Sydney Tedesco. Bloma was the SLIAC Defensive Player of the Year the past two seasons and ended her Webster career as a four-time All-SLIAC selection, while Tedesco was a two-time All-SLIAC honoree, including a Second-Team selection in 2017.

"When you lose a two-time (SLIAC) Defensive Player of the Year in Elena, you have a big void to fill, but I feel we have an answer for that with (freshman) Riley Grommet (Rolla, Mo./Rolla). Sydney Tedesco our right back last year, started and had a great season and (freshman) Chloe Dedic (St. Louis, Mo./Oakville) has done some great things this preseason and has the capability and talent to step right in and do the job Sydney did for four years," Scire stated. "We have two freshmen coming in who will provide toughness on the defensive side."

Scire said being successful on both ends of the field will be key for their continued success this season.

"For us, it starts with our defensive approach. We set the tone with our pressure and counter-attack off the defensive pressure," added Scire. "We are a high energy and aggressive team focusing on doing well on both sides of the ball."

Despite being picked to win its seventh straight SLIAC regular season title in the league's Preseason Coaches' poll, Scire said he doesn't put much stock in the preseason poll because it is all based on what you've done in the past.

"I think it is nice to be acknowledged by the other coaches in the league. The poll has nothing to do with what is going to happen moving forward this season," stated Scire, who enters the 2018 season ranked 25th among active women's soccer coaches at all levels in winning percentage (.760). "Our approach in conference play is to win another conference title. This team is eager to prove themselves this season."

Webster will play three matches in a span of six days at home to open the 2018 season and in fact, will play 12 of its 19 matches at Soccer Park this season. Following Friday's season opener with Concordia-Chicago, the Gorloks will host NCAA Tournament participant from last season, Dominican (Ill.) University, in a 12 p.m. match on Monday, Sept. 3 and then welcome Millikin (Ill.) University for a 7 p.m. match on Wednesday, Sept. 5.

"We'll challenge ourselves this season with our schedule and these first three opponents will provide an early season challenge, and I know the veterans and newcomers are up for the challenge," Scire said about his team's early season schedule. "We're not easing ourselves into three easy games, we're going to challenge ourselves right off the bat."

Scire said that Friday's opener with Concordia-Chicago will be an evenly-matched contest between two teams that match up well tactically. Webster is 3-0 all-time against the Cougars, including picking up a 2-0 win on Labor Day last year in River Forest, Ill.

"The home opener with Concordia-Chicago is a team we played last year. They are a big, physical team," the Gorloks coach said. "Their tactics match-up well with ours, so it's going to be an evenly-matched game."

Scire said that the second match on Labor Day with Dominican will give his team an early idea of where they are at in the region. Last season, Dominican finished 17-1-4 and fell 5-0 to WashU in the first round of the NCAA Division III Soccer Tournament. Dominican is 2-0 all-time Webster with the most recent meeting being a 1-0 Dominican victory on Sept. 25, 2011, in River Forest, Ill.

"Dominican is a game that will tell us a lot in terms of where we are regionally. They finished 17-1-4 last season and were fifth in the region," Scire said. "It is an excellent match-up and will tell us a lot about us in terms of how we rank with the top regional teams in the Central. I believe the two teams mirror each other in terms of approach."

Meanwhile, Wednesday's third match of the season against Millikin will provide a chance for the Gorloks to play a team from the ultra-competitive and highly rated College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). Webster holds a 10-2-1 record all-time against Millikin, including picking up a 1-0 win at home on Sept. 23, 2015. 

"Our third match is against Millikin, who is from the CCIW, a conference that is one of the best in the country," the Webster coach added. "Those first three games will be good and tell us a lot about our team."