WEBSTER GROVES – Webster University will begin its 21st season of women's soccer play this weekend with two matches in a span of 48 hours in River Forest, Ill., as the seven-time reigning St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season champion Gorloks face Concordia-Chicago for a 5 p.m. match on Friday, Aug. 30 and then conclude the trip to River Forest with a 12 p.m. match on Sunday, Sept. 2 against Dominican (Ill.) University at 12 p.m.
 
The Gorloks, who were tabbed to win its eighth straight SLIAC regular season title in the league's Preseason Coaches' Poll, return five starters and 16 letter winners from last season's 16-3-1 squad that posted a 9-0-0 mark in the SLIAC.
 
"We're excited about the season getting underway. We have a combination of veterans and incoming recruits that are working hard to achieve the goals we've set for 2019," Webster head coach Luigi Scire said.
 
Scire said his team is in about the same spot as they were heading into the beginning of last season in terms of the amount of returners and newcomers.
 
Among the key returners for Scire's 21st Gorlok team are senior captains, forward Melissa Kasper (Oswego, Ill./Oswego), senior defender Lilly Brauer (Belleville, Ill./Belleville East), senior midfielder Olivia Osterhage (Eureka, Mo./Eureka) and senior forward Savannah Page (Sandy, Utah/Jordan).
 
Kasper, who was named the SLIAC Player of the Year last season, returns for her senior season as one of only four active Division III players with at least 30 career goals and 25 career assists as she scored 17 goals and added a single season school record 19 assists for a total of 53 points in 2018. She finished the 2018 season second in Division III in assists and third in assists per game (0.95) and has scored 34 career goals and recorded 37 career assists, which is fourth on the school's all-time chart. Kasper, who also was named a Second-Team All-Central Region honoree a season ago by the United Soccer Coaches, is just 10 assists shy of SLIAC and Webster Hall of Famer Christy Capkovic's school record 47 assists.
 
Osterhage was a First-Team All-SLIAC selection last season and third nationally in assists, with 17. She added three goals for a total of 23 points.
 
Page was a Third-Team All-SLIAC honoree last season. She finished with 10 goals and added seven assists for a total of 27 points.
 
"Melissa, Olivia and Savannah will set the tone offensively for us this season," Scire said when asked about his offense. "Savannah brings an aggressive, physical style, while Melissa's speed and quickness will make her a dangerous threat in the offensive third of the field. Olivia's playmaking skills and unselfish play in the midfield will be key. They are three very special players."
 
Brauer was named the SLIAC Defensive Player of the Year a season ago after helping anchor a Gorlok defensive unit that allowed just 16 goals in 20 matches. Brauer missed Webster's SLIAC Tournament semifinal match with Greenville after suffering a season ending knee injury.  "She worked extremely hard in the offseason and is better now than ever before", according to Scire.
 
Another key returner this season is Ryleigh Grommet, who was named the SLIAC Newcomer of the Year and received Second-Team All-SLIAC honors. Grommet was the first Gorlok to earn SLIAC Newcomer of the Year honors since Kayla Dye in 2014. This season, Grommet will play in the midfield for the Gorloks.
 
"Ryleigh has done a great job so far this preseason," the Webster coach said. "She is playing a new position and her confidence continues to grow with each practice."
 
In addition to the above mentioned returners, some other key returners this season are senior midfielder Payton Williams (St. Louis, Mo./Fort Zumwalt East), sophomore midfielder Julia Paradise (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway North), sophomore forward Jordan Lande (Sachse, Texas/Sachse), sophomore defender Chloe Dedic (St.Louis/Oakville), sophomore midfielder Hailey Busche (Triad, IL/Triad),sophomore Katilyn Theriot (St. Louis/Liberty) and Cate Ciske(Sun Prairie/Sun Prairie). Junior defender Kaleigh Finney (Concord, Calif./Northgate), juniors Casey Bishop and Lexey Grapentine.
 
While Webster welcomes back 16 returners, the Gorloks have also added 12 newcomers to its roster. The newcomers are sophomore midfielder Jordan Bilyeu (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh), sophomore defender Jenna Stobie (Edwardsvill, IL/Edwardsville), freshman goalie Taryn Banfield (Plano, TX/Plano East), freshman defender Devan Pranchke (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East), freshman defender Reaghan Young (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley), freshman defender Keri Voegtle (Imperial, Mo./Windsor), freshman defender Carlee McCormack (Rolla, Mo./Rolla),freshmen forward Mackenzie O'Neal (Milwaukke, WI/S. Milwaukee), freshmen forward Jewelyn Felix (Riverside, CA/Riverside), freshmen midfielder, Sophie Lambiase (Fair Oaks, TX/Boerne) freshmen defender Suzy Budrovich (St. Louis, MO/Lutheran South)  and freshmen midfielder, Suzan Georges (Chicago, IL/Maine East).
 
"We have a nice mix of newcomers. They've been quick to adapt to the college game.  I really love the way they bring the intensity and energy to each practice."
 
While Webster's offense and defense are poised to once again be strong this season, Scire said that the goalkeeping  will also be in good hands this year.
 
Returner, senior Abbey Mercer (Granite City, Ill./Granite City) saw action in eight matches last season and posted a 2-0-0 record and allowed no goals and recorded seven saves in a little over 402 minutes of action. In her career, Mercer is 8-1-0 and has played in 21 matches and made seven career starts. She has allowed a total of four goals and made 24 saves and has had a hand in 11 shutouts. Her career save percentage of .857 is fourth all-time in program history.
 
In addition to Mercer, freshman Taryn Banfield (Plano, Texas/Plano East) will be there to protect the net. "Our keepers continue to push each other," the Webster coach stressed. "Taryn has been battling a foot injury in the preseason and is starting to get healthy, while Abbey has been solid this preseason."
 
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.

"It's nice to be acknowledged by the other coaches in the league, however, the key is to stay focused, work hard and make it to postseason play," stated Scire,.  He enters the 2019 season ranked 27th among active NCAA women's soccer coaches in all divisions in winning percentage, as he has posted a 307-90-16 record and has a winning percentage of .763.
 
Once again this season, Webster will go out and challenge themselves with a tough non-conference schedule.  The Gorlok's opponents were 29 games over .500 last season and had a .596 winning percentage.
 
On Friday, August 30, the Gorloks will open with an away game at Concordia-Chicago.  Then, on Sunday, Sept. 1 they meet Dominican University in River Forest, Ill.. Webster's home opener is scheduled on Saturday, Sept. 7 against Elmhurst College at 12 p.m.at World Wide Technology Park.
 
Scire stated that Friday's opener with Concordia-Chicago will be an evenly-matched tactical contest. Webster is 4-0 all-time against the Cougars, including a 3-0 win in last season's opener at World Wide Technology Park.