WEBSTER GROVES – WEBSTER GROVES – Webster University will begin its long delayed 22nd season of women's soccer this Wednesday, March 10 as the reigning eight-time St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season champion Gorloks play host to Greenville, who shared the SLIAC regular season title with Webster in 2019, in a 5 p.m. SLIAC match at World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton, Mo.
 
Wednesday's season opener, which is one of nine regular season contests scheduled this season, will mark the latest opener in the program's history as Webster will play its soccer regular season during the spring after having its usual fall season postponed by the league due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
 
"We are excited to finally play soccer and I know our players will be ready to go," Webster head coach Luigi Scire said about Wednesday's season opener.
 
When Webster takes the field against the Panthers to open the 2020-21 season, it would have been a total of 480 days (16-and-half months) since the Webster women's soccer team took the field at Wheaton (Ill.) College in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Division III Tournament. 
 
"Our team has used the uncertainty to our advantage. The added practice times has led to more attention placed on individual drills and team conditioning," Scire said. "We have learned to be flexible through these times."
 
Once again, the Gorloks are the favorites to win its ninth straight SLIAC regular season title in this season's league Preseason Coaches' Poll. In the preseason poll voted on by the league's eight head coaches, the Gorloks earned 45 points and three first place votes. Greenville was right behind the Gorloks in the poll as the Panthers received 43 points and a league high four first place votes.
 
"It's an honor knowing the other coaches around the league respect your program. There will be challenges throughout the season, but this team will be prepared and ready for what lies ahead. They have worked so hard throughout the fall and spring and are done waiting and practicing and just want to play," the Webster coach added. "They are anxiously awaiting Wednesday's home opener."
 
Webster's high preseason expectations come from the fact the since beginning the women's soccer program in 2000, the Gorloks have posted a 322-95-17 overall record and an amazing 184-15-3 record in SLIAC play. In addition, the Gorloks have won a league-best 15 regular season SLIAC titles, a league-best 10 SLIAC Tournament titles and has advanced to the NCAA Tournament 14 times, including three times in the last four seasons.
 
"Expectations are always high. Each season presents us with new challenges and COVID-19 will not only challenge us, but, every team this season.  It's our goal to stay focused and not let it (COVID) beat us," added Scire. "These outstanding young women are focused and determined to have a successful season and their enthusiasm and commitment throughout the fall and early spring has prepared them for the upcoming season."
 
Scire, who is the only coach in the history of Webster's women's soccer program, enters the 2020-21 season sitting eighth among active Division III coaches in winning percentage (.762) and is 20th among active coaches in wins with 322. Additionally, his winning percentage is 16th all-time in Division III history and the 322 wins are 29th all-time in Division III.
 
Webster returns six starters and 15 letterwinners from last season's 15-5-1 squad that posted a 7-1-1 record in the league. Among the key returners for the Gorloks in 2020-21 are junior forward Jordan Lande (Sachse, Texas/Sachse), junior midfielder Jordan Bilyeu (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh), junior defender Ryleigh Grommet (Rolla, Mo./Rolla), sophomore defender Devan Pranchke (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East), sophomore defender Reaghan Young (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) and sophomore goalkeeper Taryn Banfield (Plano, Texas/Plano East).
 
In 2019, Bilyeu, Grommet, Lande and Pranchke all earned All-SLIAC accolades and were named to the 2020-21 SLIAC Preseason Women's Soccer Watch List, while Young is one of the team's captains and a key member of Webster's defense and Banfield earned three SLIAC Defensive Player of the Week honors and was named the SLIAC Tournament MVP.
 
Despite the return of six starters and 15 letterwinners, the Gorloks did lose 44.8 percent of its scoring, 20.7 percent of its assists and 42.5 percent of its shots taken from last season's team that averaged nearly four goals per game and 2.9 assists per game in 2019. Scire must replace three of its top four goal scorers from 2019, along with two-time SLIAC Player of the Year (Melissa Kasper) and two-time SLIAC Defensive Player of the Year (Lilly Brauer). In addition to Kasper and Brauer, the other key seniors that graduated from the 2019 team were Savannah Page and Olivia Osterhage.
 
Kasper, Page and Osterhage combined for 30 goals, 36 assists, 96 points and 210 shots in 2019, while Brauer anchored a Webster defense that allowed a total of just 16 goals, including allowing just one goal in league play and recording a total of 13 shutouts.
 
"Recruitment of quality student-athletes is the key. Each season presents the same problem to solve.  You are going to graduate quality student-athletes and you will need to replace them with quality newcomers. In addition, key returners have been waiting and are in position to step into those key roles and lead the way this year," Scire said.
 
Scire expects Banfield, Grommet, Young, Bilyeu, Jordan Lande and senior midfielder Payton Williams (St. Louis, Mo./Fort Zumwalt East) to be those individuals that are ready to take over leadership roles this season.
 
Since practices for the season began in earnest in mid-February, Scire says his team has been working hard and are anxiously awaiting the start of the season.
 
"We want to compete at a high level, utilize our depth and play a smart and efficient game," the Webster coach said. "The team has done well in preparing themselves and looks forward to the start of the season."
 
Scire expects this year's Gorlok team to be very good defensively, as well as, offensively.
 
"The offense will be a blend of experienced players and new talent and the defense will be led by several key leaders," Scire added. "The defensive unit will be anchored by captains (Ryleigh) Grommet, (Reaghan) Young and (Taryn) Banfield. In the midfield, experience and depth will be key.   Captain Jordan Bilyeu and Payton Williams are expected to set the tone in the middle of the field and help lead the offense, as well as, juniors Hailey Busche and Cate Ciske. (Jordan) Lande is primed and ready to take the lead up top. Mackenzie O'Neal (Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) and Kaitlyn Theriot (Lake St. Louis, Mo./Liberty) are key returners and will be key additions to the offense."
 
As a sophomore in 2019, Lande led the Gorloks and SLIAC in goals with 18.
 
During the offseason, Scire added nine newcomers, including eight freshmen and a junior midfielder Addison Hanusek (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West), who was a two-time All-Region and a two-year team captain at Southwestern Illinois College.
 
"The newcomers are a welcomed addition. Many of them will challenge for starting positions and quality playing time. They have worked hard and blended in nicely with the rest of the team. Each of them brings skills that will enhance our level of play," Scire said. "They will all be an asset to our program this season,"
 
Some of the key newcomers this season along with Hanusek are defender/midfielder Angie Calabrese (San Marcos, Calif./Mission Hills), midfielder Abbey Poe (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway Central), forward Jennifer Munger (Loganville, Ga./Grayson), forward Lauren Colombo (St. Louis, Mo./Oakville), midfielder Tori Dobbins (St. Louis, Mo./Francis Howell Central), midfielder Trinity Nail (Tulsa, Okla./Jenks), defender Kelly Bowen (St. Louis, MO/Parkway West) and goalkeeper Heather Jones (Brandeton, Fla./Florida Collegiate).
 
"Addison (Hanusek) is expected to make an immediate impact in the midfield.  She has started 40 plus games at the college level and will provide additional experience in the midfield. Angie (Calabrese) will move into a new position and provide us a spark as an outside defender and freshmen Abbey Poe brings a high work rate and an excellent understanding of what it takes to be a very good playmaker. Tori Dobbins and Trinity Nail will help solidify the midfield, while Kelly Bowen will be counted on to assist us in the backfield. Jennifer Munger, an All-Region Offensive Player of the Year will help enhance our level of play at the forward position and Lauren Colombo is another Offensive Player of the Year and a First-Team All-Conference player. She scored 18 goals her junior year and will be counted on to add to the offense," commented Scire. "These key newcomers will join an excellent core of returning players this season."
 
One of the hallmarks of Scire's program has been their team's ability to play defense and the Webster coach expects that to remain the same this coming season despite the loss of Brauer, who was the anchor of Webster's defense the past several seasons.
 
"A quality defense will always give you a chance to succeed," the coach added. "Ryleigh (Grommet), Reaghan (Young) and Taryn (Banfield) are expected to lead the way defensively. Ryleigh, the 2018 SLAIC Newcomer of the Year, will anchor the defense, while Reaghan who excelled as a freshman will step in and provide us strength and toughness and Taryn, the 2019 SLIAC Tournament MVP, established herself as the top keeper in the conference. Keri Voegtle made tremendous strides in her freshmen year and I expect her to have a great season. Chloe Dedic is returning from injuries and we look forward to having her back on the defensive line. Senior Lexey Grapentine and junior Jenna Stobie will provide experience and will be a key to how well we defend this season."
 
While Webster's defense is expected to once again be strong this season, Scire expects his team's depth to be a big key to the season.
 
"Quality team depth has always been key to having a successful season and this spring season is no different. Many teams have dealt with interruption through the fall and now in the spring," added Scire. "Teams will still need to deal with the COVID issue, but those with deep rosters will be in better position to deal with the ups and downs of this upcoming season. Flexibility is key to this season."
 
Scire thinks the league this season will be very strong and expects the eight teams that are playing this season to be very competitive. Principia has decided to opt out of playing women's soccer this season due to the lack of numbers due to the coronavirus.
 
"I expect Fontbonne, Greenville, Westminster and Spalding to be very competitive. They are all very disciplined and well coached. Iowa Wesleyan, Blackburn and Eureka have done an excellent job of recruiting this year and will be a challenge to everyone who steps on the field against them."
 
Following Wednesday's season opener with Greenville, the Gorloks will take a week off before traveling to Louisville, Ky., for a 5:30 p.m. ET match against Spalding University.