FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mountie Women's Soccer Opens 2015 Season by Hosting Cal Saturday

MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University women's soccer team will open the 2015 campaign when they host the California Vulcans this Saturday afternoon starting at 1:30 at the Soccer Field on campus.

Fans unable to make the game can follow the action on live stats at GoMounties.com.

Head coach Tim Dempsey enters his 14^th season at the helm of a program he first started in 2002. Dempsey will have a young team this season featuring 11 underclassmen on a roster of 16 available players.

Although young, Dempsey is optimistic that the team has the potential to grow.

"I like this team," said Dempsey. "For the most part were very young, but they listen, get along well together and want to improve."

The inexperienced Mountaineers face a tough slate early in the season taking on California, East Stroudsburg and Indiana in the first three games of the year. All three teams earned PSAC playoff berths last year with East Stroudsburg capturing the regular season title.

According to Dempsey, the key to the season lies in being able to generate offense. Mansfield dropped six one-goal games last season and will need to find consistent goal scorers early.

Sophomore Chelsea Hough returns at forward where she will be paired with freshman Delaney Meadows who scored a school-record 75 goals in high school. Rachel Hohenwarter will serve as backup after returning to the program following a year on the track and field team.

Mansfield should be solid at midfield behind two-year starter Danielle Lentz. The junior has already scored five goals over her first two seasons and will be one of the sparkplugs for the offense. The Mountaineers will gain speed in the midfield in Kelsey Chapman. The senior started her first three seasons at forward where she recorded seven goals and eight assists. Sophomore Brittany Walters appeared in 12 games as a freshman last season including one start. Filling out the midline will be freshman Kersten O'Brien who was a three-year all-star in high school. A pair of freshmen twins from Florida, Katlin Holborn and Nicole Holborn, have shown great promise during preseason a will see plenty of action during the course of the season.

The Mountaineers will revamp last season's tough defense behind starters Karyn Anselmo and Nikki Ortiz. Anselmo has started 41 of 50 games in her career where the strong-foot senior has accounted for six goals and two assists. Ortiz is coming off a strong freshman season that saw her appear in 15 games including seven starts. Redshirt Hannah McEvoy is expected to start on the backline as is freshman Abby Korber. Also look for freshman Katlyn Kelly to see extended playing time.

Junior Sarah Nezelek has seen quality playing time in each of her first two seasons while freshman Rachel Fox has shown strong play through preseason.