“The sky is the limit,” said head soccer coach Heather Henson at the team’s annual media day held at the practice field on Wednesday.
This year’s team includes a new assistant coach, Juan Bernedo, who coached the men and women’s soccer teams at Longwood University.
Henson said she was happy with his high energy and the experience that he brings to the team.
Seniors Andrea Brown, midfield, and Heather Sanden, keeper, are returning this season along with sophomore Erin Ashton, midfield, who broke ETSU’s record last year for most goals scored in a season with 12.
Sanden and Brown will head leadership on the team this year with no officially named captains.
Brown is first on the team in shots taken. She played and started in all matches last season.
Sanden was named to the 2002 SoCon All-Conference Second Team and recorded three shutouts last season. “I think you will see even more out of her this year,” Henson said, “She stops a lot too. It should be exciting to watch.”
Henson added, “We are going to see more freshmen, sophomores and juniors step up [this season].”
She was very confident when asked about her upcoming freshmen players, which includes half of the field.
During spring and pre-season, Henson said her freshman have been full of “great surprises.”
“It is going to be hard for me to decide the starting field,” she said.
Henson has been keeping an eye on teams opposing ETSU this season. “Furman is always consistently well. The College of Charleston is one to keep an eye on this year,” she said.
Elon has also added a soccer program to the Southern Conference.
The team will play a scrimmage against VMI today at 5 p.m. at the Civitan Park, Field No. 3.
The team’s normal playing field, Liberty Bell, has been flooded but will be ready by the team’s first home game when the Bucs face Belmont on Sept. 5 at 7 p.m.

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