Photo by: SMC Athletics / Emily Smith
WSOC | Gaels See Potential Ahead of 2023
8/4/2023 12:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
MORAGA, Calif. – It's been a busy off-season of training and preparation for the Saint Mary's Women's Soccer team, and the new season is just around the corner. Official practices got underway earlier this week, and with exhibition games on the horizon, SMC will look to develop chemistry and get into a groove ahead of the new campaign.
LAST SEASON
The Gaels are coming off a 5-6-7 season in 2022. Ties defined SMC's season in the end, but there were plenty of exciting moments including the program's first ever BYU shutout.
Saint Mary's started last season on the front foot, winning their first two matches against Cal Poly and Santa Barbara. After a few ties, the Gaels rebounded with one of their best matches of the season against UC San Diego, which saw SMC win 4-2 thanks to a Nayeli Diaz hattrick.
Another season highlight came against Pepperdine on senior night, which saw SMC goalkeeper Taylor Poland record eight saves, including an otherworldly penalty save in the 87th minute to hold on to the draw for the Gaels.
NEW FACES
The Gaels are welcoming 14 new players to the squad this season, including 11 freshman and three transfers.
One of the new freshmen joining the Gaels is Jackeline Fuentes. The versatile forward from San Bernadino, California has played numerous positions in attack including striker and winger. Over her high school career, Fuentes played all four years on the varsity squad, and captained the team during her junior and senior seasons. During her senior season she tallied 23 goals and 5 assists and was a captains award winner during her final two seasons.
Another freshman looking to make an impact this season is Emmie Ennis. The Burlingame, California native was a multi-sport athlete in college, playing soccer, basketball, and volleyball. On the field, Ennis primarily plays in the defense as an outside back. Her versatility will be a strong asset for the Gaels and will fit right in with the dependable SMC defense.
BACK FOR MORE
Along with the new additions, the Gaels have a handful of returners that will frequent the SMC starting lineup this upcoming season.
One of last season's standouts was freshman Tessa Salvestrin, a fierce forward for the Saint Mary's who tallied three goals and six assists over the course of the season. Following the conclusion of the season, Salvestrin was named to the WCC All-Conference Second Team and All-Freshman Team.
Another key returner for the Gaels is graduate student Emily Jensen. The midfielder from Utah is coming off her best season at SMC, starting all 18 games for the Gaels and notching five goals and two assists. Jensen was second on the team in goals and second in total points scored as well. Following the season, Jensen was named to the WCC All-Academic First Team as she posted a 3.94 GPA as an Allied Health Science major.
The first official practice of the 2023 took place on Tuesday, and Jensen was excited about the new season and her new teammates, "The new girls have been getting along great! We've done some fun team activities that just bring us all closer. This is a really capable group, and there are so many talented players that want to achieve great things this season."
Senior goalkeeper Taylor Poland is another returner that will look to have another solid season for the Gaels. Poland started all 18 games between the posts last season, recording six shutouts. Her best game of the season last year came against Pepperdine where she recorded eight saves, including the game-saving penalty in the dying minutes. Poland also notched her first ever assist against San Jose State, and was named to the WCC All-Conference Honorable Mentions list following the conclusion of last season.
Saint Mary's are in action next week for their first exhibition game of the season as they'll face off against USF on August 7 at South Lake Tahoe Community College. The Gaels will be back at home next Friday August 11 when they play host to CSU Bakersfield for their final exhibition game before opening the regular season on the road at UC Irvine on August 17.
The full Saint Mary's Women's Soccer schedule can be found HERE, as well as tickets for all home games HERE.
LAST SEASON
The Gaels are coming off a 5-6-7 season in 2022. Ties defined SMC's season in the end, but there were plenty of exciting moments including the program's first ever BYU shutout.
Saint Mary's started last season on the front foot, winning their first two matches against Cal Poly and Santa Barbara. After a few ties, the Gaels rebounded with one of their best matches of the season against UC San Diego, which saw SMC win 4-2 thanks to a Nayeli Diaz hattrick.
Another season highlight came against Pepperdine on senior night, which saw SMC goalkeeper Taylor Poland record eight saves, including an otherworldly penalty save in the 87th minute to hold on to the draw for the Gaels.
NEW FACES
The Gaels are welcoming 14 new players to the squad this season, including 11 freshman and three transfers.
One of the new freshmen joining the Gaels is Jackeline Fuentes. The versatile forward from San Bernadino, California has played numerous positions in attack including striker and winger. Over her high school career, Fuentes played all four years on the varsity squad, and captained the team during her junior and senior seasons. During her senior season she tallied 23 goals and 5 assists and was a captains award winner during her final two seasons.
Another freshman looking to make an impact this season is Emmie Ennis. The Burlingame, California native was a multi-sport athlete in college, playing soccer, basketball, and volleyball. On the field, Ennis primarily plays in the defense as an outside back. Her versatility will be a strong asset for the Gaels and will fit right in with the dependable SMC defense.
BACK FOR MORE
Along with the new additions, the Gaels have a handful of returners that will frequent the SMC starting lineup this upcoming season.
One of last season's standouts was freshman Tessa Salvestrin, a fierce forward for the Saint Mary's who tallied three goals and six assists over the course of the season. Following the conclusion of the season, Salvestrin was named to the WCC All-Conference Second Team and All-Freshman Team.
Another key returner for the Gaels is graduate student Emily Jensen. The midfielder from Utah is coming off her best season at SMC, starting all 18 games for the Gaels and notching five goals and two assists. Jensen was second on the team in goals and second in total points scored as well. Following the season, Jensen was named to the WCC All-Academic First Team as she posted a 3.94 GPA as an Allied Health Science major.
The first official practice of the 2023 took place on Tuesday, and Jensen was excited about the new season and her new teammates, "The new girls have been getting along great! We've done some fun team activities that just bring us all closer. This is a really capable group, and there are so many talented players that want to achieve great things this season."
Senior goalkeeper Taylor Poland is another returner that will look to have another solid season for the Gaels. Poland started all 18 games between the posts last season, recording six shutouts. Her best game of the season last year came against Pepperdine where she recorded eight saves, including the game-saving penalty in the dying minutes. Poland also notched her first ever assist against San Jose State, and was named to the WCC All-Conference Honorable Mentions list following the conclusion of last season.
Saint Mary's are in action next week for their first exhibition game of the season as they'll face off against USF on August 7 at South Lake Tahoe Community College. The Gaels will be back at home next Friday August 11 when they play host to CSU Bakersfield for their final exhibition game before opening the regular season on the road at UC Irvine on August 17.
The full Saint Mary's Women's Soccer schedule can be found HERE, as well as tickets for all home games HERE.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's SoccerGK
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's SoccerWSOC | Game Highlights vs. Oregon State
Friday, November 07
WSOC | Theresa Romagnolo Halftime Interview at MBB vs. St. Thomas
Tuesday, November 04
WSOC | Sydney Middaugh Game-Winning Goal vs. Pacific
Sunday, November 02
WSOC | Emmie Ennnis Game-Winner vs. Pepperdine
Saturday, October 25
