HOUSTON, Texas – McMurry University women's soccer will open its 2016 season on the road, taking on NAIA foe University of St. Thomas on Friday (7 p.m.).
 
The good news for second-year head coach Megan Schmidt is that she returns eight players – seven of whom were starters in 2015 – to the fold. The bad news is that she still has a youthful roster with no juniors or seniors among the 18 players.
 
In its third year of transition back to NCAA Division III status, McM will now be eligible for the American Southwest Conference regular season championship.  Additionally, War Hawk players can also win weekly and post-season league honors.
 
Sophomore forward Julissa Alvarez shared the team lead in goals scored last year (4), while displaying the best accuracy on the club by putting 12 of 14 shot attempts directly on-goal (80 percent). Midfielders Hannah Way and Cristen Lumbreras each tallied a pair of goals in 2015.
 
Lumbreras, along with sophomore defender Mason Malone, were both recognized on the ASC's pre-season "watch list." 
 
"We have a dedicated group of returners, who trained very hard in the off season, and I am excited to see their hard work translate into success on the field," Schmidt said.  "Although our returners are young, they have already shown great ability and leadership, and I know they will be great example for the 10 talented incoming freshman we will welcome to the team this season."
 
McM will be taking on a UST team which has three exhibition games – and a 1-0 loss to NCAA Division I Texas Southern – already under its belt heading into the bout versus the War Hawks. The Celts were 10-5-1 in 2015. UST has 22 returning letterwinners on its 25-player roster.
 
McM was 2-13-2 last season.