Women's Soccer 8/31/2018 12:32:00 PM

Stars look to showcase bolstered depth

OCU aims to keep tradition going

The Oklahoma City University women's soccer team looks to continue the program's success.
The Stars turned in their 22nd double-digit win total in 24 years at 10-7-1. The season came to an end as the Stars lost to John Brown (Ark.) 2-0 in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals.
OCU will begin the year 1 p.m. Saturday at Stars Field when the Stars meet Our Lady of the Lake (Texas).
"You always want to be the best we can be and always looking to improve," OCU head coach Brian Harvey said. "With our recruiting we've added quality players to the program, brought more speed to the team. I think the overall team speed has improved. I feel that the people are a year older, more experienced and I think they really have a good knowledge and attitude to get the job done."
The Stars are bringing back a group of seniors that have started a combined 147 games – Brianna Demuth, Sara Ricks and Kirsten Thomas. Demuth, a senior from Jenks, Okla., has started 51 games for the Stars while being named all-SAC as a junior.
Ricks, a senior from Keller, Texas, is a three-time all-conference performer with 45 starts for the Stars. Thomas, a senior from Keller, Texas, she has made the second-team all-SAC and been named SAC defensive player of the week four times while starting 51 games.
OCU took the fourth spot in the SAC coaches preseason poll.
"I think fourth place is a good position for us to be. It gives us some leeway to improve, and it also gives us the safety that we are fourth. We want to be No. 1. We want to be better. When we tell the girls that's where we are, I'm quite sure they will accept the challenge and want to go on and be better and do better," Harvey said.
"We expect that we want to finish very strong at the season progresses. We want to get better and when it comes to the playoffs we want to be not just going into the playoffs, we want to be roaring into the playoffs."
Now a position-by-position look at the Stars:

Forward

The Stars feature a solid group of returners in this year's offensive attack led by Natalie Eley and Natalie Speer. Speer, a senior from Stillwater, Okla., scored two goals with two assists last year while starting 12 games. Eley, a senior from Burton, England, scored seven goals with five assists while starting all 18 games last year.
The Stars have a trio of junior-college transfers that look to pitch in with this year's offense – Rachel Brantley, Rebekah Brantley and Jessica Titsworth. Titsworth scored eight goals in 22 games last year at Rose State (Okla.). Rebekah Brantley scored six goals in 19 games last year at Northern Oklahoma College. Rachel Brantley scored three goals in 18 games last year at Northern Oklahoma College.
Others playing in the middle this season will be seniors Keilah Ayum and Katie Vaugh and sophomore Ashton Denham.

Midfielders

Ricks supplied OCU with 15 goals last season. For a total 29 in her career, including five game winners. She notched two hat tricks last year, one against Houston-Victoria on Sept. 17 and another at Southwestern Christian on Sept. 30. Bailey Webb, scored two goals last year appearing in 16 games. Kalen Castor, scored one goal and appeared in 17 games. Mea Gordon, appeared in seven games last year and Irais Safores, appeared in four games for the Stars last year.
Incoming freshman Madi Caputo from Broken Arrow, Okla. will also be competing for minutes this season.

Defenders

OCU's back line consists of three returners in Demuth, Jeanene Smith and Gabrielle Szukala. This group aided a Stars backline that has allowed just 1.06 goals per match, third best in the SAC. Szukala, started all 18 games last season. Smith, appeared in 14 games scoring two goals.
The Stars welcome a trio of newcomers to contend for a spot in the back field in – Annie Bragg, a freshman from Norman, Okla., Chassiti Oglesby, a freshman from Corpus Christi, Texas, and Lyndsey Speer, a sophomore from Tulsa, Okla., as well as returner Hailey Terrell.

Goalkeepers

The Stars have a trip of options at goalkeeper this season in Thomas, Kristina Patterson and freshman Abigail Banks.
Thomas finished last year with 48 saves, 20 goals allowed and three shutouts. For her career she has 174 saves, a 1.16 goals-against average and 16 shutouts in 51 games. Patterson, a junior from Rockwall, Texas, has produced eight saves allowing two goals in eight appearances. Banks, a freshman from Sand Springs, Okla., comes in off of an all-district senior year and a state semifinalist in club play with the West Side Alliance.

Harvey has produced a 359-118-25 women's college record in 24 years as Oklahoma City coach, while Harvey's combined OCU men's and women's mark stands at 777-315-66 in 32 years.
"When you put on that OCU shirt it's something to be proud of. It's something that you really want to represent the university the best possible manner that we can," Harvey said.

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Players Mentioned

#10 Keilah Ayum: F; 5' 6"; Junior

#9 Kalen Castor: MF; 5' 2"; Junior

#5 Brianna Demuth: D; 5' 4"; Senior

#8 Ashton Denham: F; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#18 Natalie Eley: F; 5' 7"; Senior

#20 Mea Gordon: MF; 5' 0"; Senior

#0 Kristina Patterson: GK; 5' 8"; Junior

#7 Sara Ricks: MF; 5' 5"; Senior

#4 Irais Safores: MF; 5' 2"; Sophomore

#21 Jeanene Smith: D; 5' 6"; Junior

#6 Natalie Speer: F; 5' 5"; Senior

#12 Gabrielle Szukala: D; 5' 2"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#10 Keilah Ayum
: 5' 6"; Junior
: F

#9 Kalen Castor
: 5' 2"; Junior
: MF

#5 Brianna Demuth
: 5' 4"; Senior
: D

#8 Ashton Denham
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: F

#18 Natalie Eley
: 5' 7"; Senior
: F

#20 Mea Gordon
: 5' 0"; Senior
: MF

#0 Kristina Patterson
: 5' 8"; Junior
: GK

#7 Sara Ricks
: 5' 5"; Senior
: MF

#4 Irais Safores
: 5' 2"; Sophomore
: MF

#21 Jeanene Smith
: 5' 6"; Junior
: D

#6 Natalie Speer
: 5' 5"; Senior
: F

#12 Gabrielle Szukala
: 5' 2"; Senior
: D