JACKSON - The 2024 season for the Belhaven Women's Soccer program is set to begin in just over 24 hours as they host the University of St. Thomas (TX) at the Belhaven Bowl Stadium at 4:00 PM on Friday.

With the start of a new campaign brings about new expectations, and for a Belhaven team that has been in the mix near the top of the Collegiate Conference of the South in recent seasons and picked second in the league's preseason coaches poll, the Blazers are primed to reach new heights in search of the program's first conference championship in two decades.

"We are really excited to kick off the 2024 season and believe we have a very talented team with a lot of depth in key areas", said Head Coach Kimberly Harrell when asked about the new year. "Although we were pleased overall with the progress we made last year as a program, we were disappointed to come up short in the CCS playoff semi-final and are hoping we can raise our level again this Fall."

The 2023 season saw the Blazers finish with a 13-4-2 record across 19 matches and fall just short of a berth to the Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament final. Despite the tough ending, the campaign continued to elevate perception and expectations for the program and their 13 wins on the year marked the most in a single campaign since 2001, a year which saw the Blazers reach the NAIA Quarterfinals.

Belhaven's pursuit of a conference championship also carries more weight with the start of the new season as the CCS enters it's first year with an Automatic Qualifier spot to the NCAA Tournament for the conference champion. The league will be competitive though with defending champions Maryville heavy favorites in the preseason poll with seven first place votes and program's like Piedmont and Covenant expected to be strong challengers for that NCAA berth.

The Blazers will have a strong foundation for the season as the return 26 players from last year's roster and Dr. Kimberly Harrell entering her 7th season at the helm of the program. The group of returners are headlined by leading goalscorer from a season ago, senior Kaci Craft, who led the CCS with 14 goals and earned a First Team All-CCS nod as well as a United Soccer Coaches All-Region Third Team spot.

Along with Craft, three other All-Conference selections from a season ago are set to return for the Blazers. Senior defender Isabela Villagrand was an All-CCS First Team selection a year ago has been a mainstay at the back for the Blazers over the past two seasons and is set to anchor a Belhaven backline that will look to stay strong after conceding just 10 goals all of last year. Alongside Villagrand in defense returns All-CCS Second Team selection Reagan Nichols who is coming off a sophomore campaign that saw her make 18 appearances as a fullback.

Junior forward Emma Antonoplos returns for her third season with Belhaven and is coming off her second straight All-CCS First Team selection. Antonoplos is the leading assist provider among returners from a season ago with five assists to go with six goals. Senior goalkeeper Julianne Wilson is also back for her fourth season in net for the Blazers and is coming off a campaign that saw her allow just nine goals across 16 starts. 

"Our players are very hungry for success and are very focused on giving everything to achieve their goals this season", Harrell continued when asked about the mentality ahead of the season. "We have a large group of Seniors so I don't think the motivation has ever been greater to achieve as much success as possible."

Along with returning faces, the Blazers will look to rely on plenty of newcomers as well this year. Nine new players join the squad this season with four coming to Jackson from Junior College programs while five arrive following their high school careers. The coaching staff has already seen some newcomers integrated into the expected first team and believes they will be key in bolstering the squad for the coming year.

Coach Harrell when asked about the newcomers said, "The new additions we have brought in have already blended well with our returning group and we can't wait to get out on the field and test ourselves together."

The Blazers open up their 2024 regular season slate at home against the University of St. Thomas (TX). Kickoff at The Bowl is set for 4:00 PM and the game will be broadcast on the the Blazers Sports Network.

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