Women's Soccer 8/29/2018 12:58:00 PM Chris Brannick

Central Opens 2018 Season Thursday

OKLAHOMA CITY – The University of Central Oklahoma soccer team is set to open the 2018 season Thursday with a non-conference matchup against Oklahoma Christian at 5 p.m.

The Bronchos are led into the 21st season by 21st-year head soccer coach Mike Cook, who has a 287-112-30 record at Central (with 375 career wins).

"We're ready to get started," Cook said. "We've had a good fall camp and preseason with some good scrimmages. We're eager to get on the field and see what we can do now that it counts."

UCO is aiming for a bounce-back season. The Bronchos went 7-10-2 last season, just the second sub-500 season in school history. But Central brings back 20 letter-winners from a year ago and 11 players with starting experience. That starts with a veteran senior group that has seen enough highs and lows to handle the tough trenches of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

Senior forward Katie Killion heads up the bunch. She's scored 23 goals in 54 games and is a three-time All-MIAA player. Fellow seniors Camrie Hurst and Morgan Cherry have both played in 62 games, more than any other Broncho. Cherry has 10 career goals at forward and Hurst has 50 career starts, most on the team.

The Bronchos also have several high-quality players that aren't seniors. Junior defender Kelsey Gordon earned All-MIAA honors as a freshman and is looking to regain that position this season. Junior forward Asha Haile has scored six and nine goals respectively in her first two seasons. She's also an All-MIAA type player.

And sophomore Kelsie Eason earned All-MIAA honors a year ago after landing second on the team in both goals scored and assists in her first season at Central.

Cook has options at goalkeeper. Senior veteran Ally Salls has 124 career saves and has earned 20 wins in goal over the past three seasons. Sophomore Kaitlyn Asher earned some valuable experience as a true freshman last season and is looking to continue an upward trend in year two. And new to the Broncho keeper group is Kelsi Gibson, who could see some early minutes and have an opportunity to showcase her skills.

Oklahoma Christian went 2-16 last season. The Bronchos beat the Eagles 5-1 in September in Edmond. OC is full of returners this season and is eager to bounce back after its eighth consecutive losing season a year ago. The Eagles are also deeper in their roster after playing only one goalkeeper all of last season.

The Bronchos will make their home debut on Sunday, Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. at Tom Thompson Field. The Bronchos host Southwestern Oklahoma State then. UCO will also be home on Wednesday, Sept. 5 against Midwestern State. That game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and will be the first night game ever played at Tom Thompson Field.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#0 Kaitlyn Asher: GK; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#21 Morgan Cherry: F; 5' 9"; Senior

#24 Kelsie Eason: MF; 5' 6"; Sophomore

#5 Kelsey Gordon: D; 6' 0"; Junior

#19 Asha Haile: F; 5' 4"; Junior

#2 Camrie Hurst: MF; 5' 5"; Senior

#9 Katie Killion: F; 5' 2"; Senior

#1 Ally Salls: GK; 5' 6"; Senior

#00 Kelsi Gibson: GK; 5' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#0 Kaitlyn Asher
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: GK

#21 Morgan Cherry
: 5' 9"; Senior
: F

#24 Kelsie Eason
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: MF

#5 Kelsey Gordon
: 6' 0"; Junior
: D

#19 Asha Haile
: 5' 4"; Junior
: F

#2 Camrie Hurst
: 5' 5"; Senior
: MF

#9 Katie Killion
: 5' 2"; Senior
: F

#1 Ally Salls
: 5' 6"; Senior
: GK

#00 Kelsi Gibson
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: GK