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Steve Simoneau

Women's Soccer Athletic Communications

Season Preview: Hatters Face American, UCF on Opening Weekend

For perhaps the first time Stetson women's soccer 25-year history, the Hatters enter a new season with legitimate championship aspirations. That's what returning 19 letter winners will do for program coming off consecutive winning season for the first time ever.
 
The Hatters open the 2017 season, 4 p.m., Friday when they face American at USF in Tampa. The Hatters also pay a visit to long-time rival UCF at 1 p.m., Sunday.
 
But the talk of winning the program's first championship isn't just an idle conversation. The Hatters return several of the ASUN's top players at their respective positions, including record-setting senior forward Sarah Collins and conference preseason Goalkeeper of the Year sophomore Emily Plotz.
 
Head coach Manoj Khettry likes the fact that his team is facing expectations.
 
"It's given them a lot of confidence and belief," Khettry said. "They've all commented that we're further along right now than we were last season. We've been focusing a lot on getting them to understand that if you're going to achieve something meaningful and go where you haven't gone before, you have to be consistent and competitive every day. You have to be humble and you have to show up for every game."
 
The Hatters shouldn't need a lot of motivation, either, after suffering a heart-breaking overtime loss to Lipscomb in the ASUN Tournament semifinals last November. But just in case, Khettry and the Hatters watched the game in its entirety during one of their initial team meetings.
 
"The first thing we did during our goal-setting meeting was to show them video of our semifinal loss to Lipscomb," Khettry said. "It was painful. It hurt. A couple of players cried watching it again. But the good thing about this group is that they have learned how to overcome adversity and win. There have been moments that have given them the confidence to believe in themselves that they can win."
 
Collins, Plotz and sophomore midfielder Lindsey Parent were all named to the ASUN's preseason all-conference squad and that trio, along with a strong back line and a deep midfield, will have a lot to say about Stetson's success this season.
 
Collins is not only the ASUN's leading returning scorer after breaking her own school record by scoring 13 goals as a junior, she is on pace to also break Stetson marks for career goals and total points. Parent earned a spot on the ASUN All-Freshman team a year ago after scoring three goals and seven total points, and Plotz posted a 0.96 goals-against average with five shutouts in 11 starts.
 
Collins will get offensive support from not only Parent, but Khettry expects Adrianna Suarez, Hailey Williams and Riana Metzger to provide help as well. That trio has combined for 18 career goals.
 
The back line of seniors Kendall Harmon and Annette Morton, junior Erin Avers and sophomore Greta Watkins will be asked to replicate their outstanding play from a season ago when the Hatters allowed just nine goals in conference play.
 
Leadership shouldn't be an issue for the Hatters, with 12 juniors and seniors among the returning letter winners. Collins, Harmon, Morton and Suarez are team captains for the season.
 
"The key for us is experience," Khettry said. "Our spring play showed that, when we didn't allow a goal. This group has been together for such a long time. We've had the same core of players working together since January. That extra time together has helped."
 
Khettry and the Hatters hope all of that experience, and a whole bunch of talent, takes Stetson to new heights this season.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.
 
 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Erin Avers

#12 Erin Avers

D
5' 9"
Junior
Sarah Collins

#4 Sarah Collins

F
5' 7"
Senior
hello
Kendall Harmon

#22 Kendall Harmon

D
5' 6"
Senior
Riana Metzger

#24 Riana Metzger

F
5' 3"
Junior
Annette Morton

#18 Annette Morton

D
5' 8"
Senior
Lindsey Parent

#7 Lindsey Parent

MF
5' 4"
Sophomore
Emily Plotz

#20 Emily Plotz

GK
5' 10"
Sophomore
Adrianna Suarez

#17 Adrianna Suarez

MF
5' 8"
Senior
Greta Watkins

#16 Greta Watkins

D
5' 10"
Sophomore
Hailey Williams

#8 Hailey Williams

MF/F
5' 7"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Erin Avers

#12 Erin Avers

5' 9"
Junior
D
Sarah Collins

#4 Sarah Collins

5' 7"
Senior
hello
F
Kendall Harmon

#22 Kendall Harmon

5' 6"
Senior
D
Riana Metzger

#24 Riana Metzger

5' 3"
Junior
F
Annette Morton

#18 Annette Morton

5' 8"
Senior
D
Lindsey Parent

#7 Lindsey Parent

5' 4"
Sophomore
MF
Emily Plotz

#20 Emily Plotz

5' 10"
Sophomore
GK
Adrianna Suarez

#17 Adrianna Suarez

5' 8"
Senior
MF
Greta Watkins

#16 Greta Watkins

5' 10"
Sophomore
D
Hailey Williams

#8 Hailey Williams

5' 7"
Junior
MF/F