After ending the fall 2012 season with four losses, including an early exit from the RMAC playoffs, the women’s soccer team is looking to fight its way back to the RMAC championship in 2013.

With the fall sports season approaching in August, the Mavs are drawing motivation from October’s playoff loss to Metro State University, which ended the team’s goal of consecutive RMAC Final appearances.

“We had goals of winning the RMAC but those four losses, and the loss to Metro in the playoffs, left us motivated to train that much harder to come back with the intentions of dominating next season,” three-year captain Leilani Wiernicki said.

The team validated its hard work with a 3-0 win over Metro State this spring, but will need to keep working to accomplish the goals set for the fall. The team is set up for one of its most successful seasons, with a strong senior class that has experienced success before.

The team qualified for the NCAA regional tournament in 2011 and is eager for the opportunities this coming fall.

“I’m excited to see how we will perform this year and it’s a bittersweet moment to realize this will be our last year playing with each other,” Wiernicki said.

Despite the team’s experience, there some holes to fill with the departure of seniors Jessica Kent and Kelci Crispe. Kent anchored the midfield and defense and scored key goals for the Mavs, while Crispe consistently whipped balls in to the box to create scoring chances.

Freshman Sara Pope will continue to put the ball in the net, however, and the Mavs could have a historic season.

“Jessica and Kelci will definitely be missed this season but the incoming freshman and returning players will fill in their roles,” Wiernicki said. “Our team has many hungry players who train their butts off and we definitely expect to go out with a bang this year.”

scschroc@mavs.coloradomesa.edu