LINDSBORG, Kan. – Under the direction of second-year head coach Billy Martin, the 2021 Oklahoma City University women's soccer season will kick off on Saturday with a non-conference road contest at Bethany (Kan.).

First kick is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Anderson Stadium in Lindsborg, Kan.  Bethany is picked to finish fourth in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference preseason poll. 
 
OCU holds a 3-0 advantage in the all-time series against the Swedes. The Stars squeaked out a 1-0 win in the last matchup between the two teams on Sept. 17, 2019 at Brian Harvey Field with Jessica Titsworth scoring the winning goal for the home team. 
  
OCU returns 15 letter winners from last year's squad that finished 9-4, 6-3 in the SAC in a delayed spring season. The Stars are picked to finish fourth in the Sooner Athletic Conference preseason poll. 
 
TOP RETURNERS 

• Sofia Carvajal Granados returns for her senior season with the Stars after earning Sooner Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year and second-team all-SAC honors last season. The Colombia native led the team with eight goals, six assists and 22 points in her first season at OCU after transferring from Rose State. 
 
• Senior Madi Caputo earned second-team all-SAC honors in the spring after finishing with four goals, five assists and 13 points. The Broken Arrow High graduate is a three-time all-conference selection and has contributed 21 career goals and 59 career points. 
 
NEW FACES 

• Freshman Isabella White arrives at OCU after helping Bishop Kelley High School win the Class 5A state title last season. She earned honorable-mention all-district honors after contributing five goals and seven assists for the Comets. 
 
• Freshman Sydney Hawkins earned all-district and honorable-mention Oklahoman all-city honors at Carl Albert High School.  
 
MEET THE COACH

• The 2021 season will be Billy Martin's second season as OCU head men's and women's soccer coach and his 20th overall working the soccer sidelines for his alma mater. After wrapping up his playing career for the Chiefs in the early 90s, Martin was an assistant coach for Brian Harvey for 19 seasons. He then left OCU to serve as head coach at Rose State College for six seasons before returning to his alma mater in 2020

• Martin guided Rose State to a 74-35-2 record with four NJCAA Region II regular-season championships and two tournament titles. Martin was Rose State's first coach

• Martin has mentored youth talent on the high school and club soccer levels. Martin has been Bishop McGuinness High School's head coach as well as Oklahoma Football Club and Edmond Soccer Club coach. Martin took Oklahoma Soccer Association coach of the year in 2009 after leading his boys team to the state title

• Martin played an integral part on OCU's first team to reach the national tournament in 1991, picking up six goals, five assists and 17 points from 1989-91. Martin also played professionally
 
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
 
• OCU will play eight home matches at Brian Harvey Field on campus starting with a non-conference contest against York (Neb.) on Thursday, Sept. 2
 
• The Sooner Athletic Conference home opener will be against Mid-American Christian on Tuesday, Sept. 28
 
• Admission prices for home games is $7 for adults (age 13 and up) and $5 for children. OCU students, faculty and staff are admitted free of charge with a valid I.D. 
 
QUOTING COACH MARTIN 
 
Martin took a couple of minutes from his busy schedule to share his thoughts on the upcoming women's soccer season. 
 
Question: Considering the ups and downs over the last 16 months how excited are your teams to get the season started? 
Answer: Very excited, both teams were disappointed in how they ended their season in the playoffs, so they are eager to get back. 
 
Question: What will be the key for the women's team to reach its goals this season? 
Answer: Team chemistry. We lost a lot of experience and leadership, but have a very good freshman class that hopefully will jell quickly. 
 
Question: What aspect of play do you expect to see the most improvement from since last season? 
Answer: Defending as a team. We conceded too many goals to win a championship. We need to take more responsibility on our defending.