ABILENE – After rolling off an 11-win season last year, McMurry women's soccer looks to keep that momentum moving in the right direction in a new league in 2024.
 
The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference brings a tougher schedule and a narrow path to the postseason with only four teams advancing to the conference tournament in November.
 
"The SCAC is a very elite conference and every opponent is going to be tough," said McMurry head coach Charles Nobles. "When only four of 11 teams gets in the conference tournament, you can look at the history and see all the teams have been in it, you know there is great parity. I'm excited for our chances. We have been in the ASC conference tournament every year since 2018 and I believe if we do the right things we have an excellent shot of making the SCAC tournament."
 
The league's coaches don't disagree. The preseason poll has the War Hawks in fourth place.
 
The 11-5-4 record last season didn't happen by accident. The team brings forward much of the talent and discipline this year.
 
"Last year we were able to score a lot of goals in different ways," Nobles said. "We became a very organized defensive side and developed a leadership group that is leading in outstanding ways as we have many new faces on our team."
 
The obvious headliner on that group of returners is 2023 ASC Offensive Player of the Year Emily Holland. Holland scored a season-leading eight goals. Haylie Blakley also is back after leading the team with seven assists last season. In all, the War Hawks return seven starters. Forwards Holland and Jaelynn Portillo; defenders Grace Singleton, McKenna Standifer, Katie Wilson and Blakley; and midfielder Alexis Lira give McMurry a ton of experience.
 
Also returning are keepers Avery Anders and Lauren Marlow; midfielders Madison Black; Brooklyn Grove and Alexandria Flores; defender Halee Avant; and forward Kaylee Worth.
 
Wayland Baptist transfer Nana Torres and 17 Texas freshmen are infusing into the program, adding promise to the team for 2024 and beyond. The freshman class includes Kaitlyn Gustafson (GK, Celina), Hailey Andrle (F, Midlothian), Hailey Donaldson (M, McKinney), Cienna Rodriguez (M, Crowley), Laila Brown (F, Abilene), Cate Tempelmeyer (F, Rowlett), Shelby Erskine (M, Roanoke), Jenessa Lopez (D, Crowley), Abby Little (M, Arlington), Audrey Pool (M, Lubbock), Ava Ybarra (M, San Angelo), Hailey Graham (F, North Richland Hills), Hayle Heinen (F, Boerne), Natalee Shaw (D, Paradise), Emery Kirby (F, Granbury), Kaylee Racine (D, Corpus Christi) and Lucy Fulton, D, Abilene).
 
"Laila Brown, Hailey Donaldson, Hailey Andrle and Cienna Rodriguez (will be exciting to players), but really, our entire new group is fun to watch," Nobles said.
 
Melding the newcomers with the tested group is part of the three goals Nobles has for the program.
 
"We want to be the closest and most real family we can be," Noble said. "We want to leave a legacy of leaving the jersey better than we found it. And we want to win a ring."
 
The quest has already begun for the first two goals.

The initial home game is Friday, Aug, 30, when Lyon College visits for a 5 p.m. contest at Wilford Moore Stadium.