CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's women's soccer program was picked to finish fifth in the Southland Conference a day before the Islanders take on the Tarleton State Texans in their first ever game, being held at the Dr. Jack Dugan Soccer and Track Stadium.
"Fifth is a good spot," said head coach
Craig Shaw. "It's low enough to frustrate and motivate the ladies as well as have us go under the radar of other programs."
The Islanders return several key players, including sophomore
Emma Crump, grad student
Reaghan Lang and junior
Maggie Murray, all of whom were selected to the SLC Preseason All-Conference Second-Team. The trio were All-Conference Second- and Third-Team selections after the 2021 season concluded. thirteen others on the returning roster have some starting experience as well.
Three of four players that kicked off every game last season return, led by junior
Emma Gibbs and sophomores
Reese Cross and
Emma Herrera. Herrerra played a team-high 1,694 minutes last season, taking 11 shots with six of those being shots on goal.
Cross earned herself a position as a first-year captain for the team with her performance and leadership as a sophomore. Joining her as captains will be second-year captain
Molly Arens, a junior, with senior
Emma Gibbs and
Emma Crump, a sophomore. Crump scored a game-winning goal as a freshman against Southeastern while also earning the second-most playing time on the field at 1,605 minutes.
In addition to the returners, A&M-Corpus Christi has six new players coming to the program with four freshman and two transfers. Freshman
Mai-Lisa Atis is joined by
Annabelle Hubbell O'Fallon,
Kelsey Eggleston and
Keira Lofton to make up the newest class on campus. Sophomore
Rachel Loetzer came in from Texas Women's University and junior
Rebekah George joins the program from Oklahoma State.
Shaw continues to have high expectations for the group, saying, "I have a motivated and ambitious group. We want to break records. Best overall wins and best finish are the goals we want."
The matchup starting at 7:00 p.m. will be streamed on ESPN+. All home soccer games for the Islanders will be streamed on ESPN+ in 2022.
2022 Southland Soccer Preseason Poll
| School (First-place votes) |
Total |
| 1. Northwestern State (16) |
128 |
| 2. McNeese (1) |
113 |
| 3. Lamar |
77 |
| 4. UIW (1) |
74 |
| 5. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
72 |
| 6. Southeastern |
70 |
| 7. HBU |
56 |
| 8. Texas A&M-Commerce |
36 |
| 9. Nicholls |
22 |
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