Women's Soccer 9/4/2019 10:35:00 AM Chris Brannick

Top 25 Showdown Opens Soccer Season

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma soccer team opens the 2019 season Thursday at 1 p.m., with the ninth-ranked Bronchos hosting 17th-ranked Dallas Baptist at Tom Thompson Field.

Central Oklahoma enters the new season as the defending champions of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association after a 22-2 campaign a year ago. Dallas Baptist, which moved to the Lone Star Conference from the Heartland Conference this summer, went 13-5-5 in 2018.

"Dallas Baptist is a good, quality opponent and we are going to have to show up ready to play and give a great effort for 90 minutes," UCO head soccer coach Mike Cook said. "We've had a good preseason and some of our newcomers worked really hard. I think we have a good mix of returners with a lot of talent and experience to go with that. I'm excited to get started and see where we are at."

Central returns 16 letter winners from last year's squad, including a pair of All-Americans in Kelsey Gordon and Kelsie Eason. Central also returns seven All-Region honorees.

Gordon, who is a two-time All-Region winner and a returning All-American center back, has been a mainstay on the back line for three seasons for the Bronchos and is crucial to the defensive success for Central. She was a key reason for UCO posting 14 shutouts last season and allowing a measly 0.58 goals per game. Gordon was also named MIAA Defensive Player of the Year.

Eason has earned All-MIAA honors as both a forward and a midfielder. The junior from Bartlesville, Okla. has 14 career goals and 16 career assists in her first two seasons.

UCO also returns goalkeeper Kelsi Gibson, who earned MIAA Goalkeeper of the Year honors last season. Gibson had 11 shutouts and a 0.53 goals allowed average. She made 54 saves in her 18 appearances as a true freshman in 2018.

UCO has a long history of high-octane offense and that trend should continue in 2019. Asha Haile is also returning for her senior season and has 33 career goals entering the year. She scored 18 last season on her way to All-MIAA and All-Region accolades.

And there is plenty more. Central will roll out talent throughout the match Thursday, keeping the pressure on DBU all afternoon.

For Dallas Baptist, midfielders Abigail Olmos (junior) and Maggie Scales (senior) both return after earning All-Region honors last season.

Central Oklahoma plays its first four contests, and nine of the first 10, at home. The Bronchos will take on next Southern Nazarene Monday, Sept. 9.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#10 Kelsie Eason: MF; 5' 6"; Junior

#0 Kelsi Gibson: GK; 5' 7"; Sophomore

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

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

Players Mentioned

#10 Kelsie Eason
: 5' 6"; Junior
: MF

#0 Kelsi Gibson
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: GK

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

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