If you ask anyone on the roster, the Madison College women's soccer team fully expects the 2019 season to be one filled with accomplishment. That same group will also tell you it's going to take a lot of hard work to get to there.

The WolfPack will find out where they stand right out of the gates when they open the upcoming season this Sunday, August 25 with a road trip to play Anoka-Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. Unranked Madison College will square off with the NJCAA Division III Preseason #10-ranked Golden Rams in a potential NJCAA District D Championship preview.

It will mark the first competition for the 'Pack since the 2018 season ended with a setback in the Region IV Championship. The loss followed a second straight North Central Community College Conference (N4C) title.

To help set the tone for Madison College will be a group of nine returning players that are led by three sophomore fresh off of debut season that garnered them postseason honors. Midfielder Jenna Kohrt was a first team recipient in both the N4C and Region IV, while forward/midfielder Mary Raemisch and goalkeeper Kelly Kubicek each received a first team and a second team accolade. Raemisch is the top returning goal scorer with eight successful kicks and six assists a year ago. Kohrt had one of each, while Kubicek played every minute in goal and posted a program-record eight shutouts and a 0.77 goals against average. Also back are winger Kaitlin Satern, midfielders Breanna Griffin and Lillian Glackin, and defenders Emily Messer, Kaitlyn Clapper, and Anna Cappaert, who returns for a third season with the WolfPack after missing last fall with a season-ending injury. 

"With this group of veteran returners we are looking to carry over our success from 2018 into the fall," declares fourth-year head coach Matt Schwartz. "I'm excited to see our second years build on their experience and take on the challenge that will most certainly come our way this season. We have great talent, but the lessons learned from 2018 will be a huge factor in our growth and development as we approach the playoffs."

To complete the rest of the 2019 roster, Schwartz has added a incoming class of eight that he hopes will complete the returners and fill holes left by the graduation of program record-breakers like NJCAA All-American Peyton Trapino and all-time scoring leader Britt Schumann. Expected to make early contributions are forward Lydia Webster, winger Haylee Miles, midfielder Emma Strieker, and defenders Jenna Kirschbaum and Mackenzie Bielicki.

"I have been looking forward to getting this class in all summer and working with them," boasts Schwartz. "I love the level of talent they possess. We have a great group of defenders and midfielders coming in that will absolutely be looking to make an immediate impact on the field this fall."

"We have added more speed and brought in some strong defenders to help shore up our back line, but we have a lot of work to do with our speed of play. It's no where close to where it needs to be."

Aside from the challenging opener, this year's WolfPack will also be tested when they open the N4C slate and the home portion of their schedule against Joliet Junior College at Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Pitch-East on Saturday, August 31. The Wolves are a perennial power and defeated the 'Pack in last year's Region IV title game. Madison College will play six of their first ten games of the 2019 schedule on the home pitch, before finishing the season with three consecutive road trips ahead of the regular season finale and Sophomore Day celebration on Saturday, October 12 against rival Rock Valley College.

"2019 should be a strong year for women's soccer. Hard work and attention to detail is the focus, according to coach Schwartz. This year is about production on the field. Those are the players that will find themselves on the field in the big games."

Once again in 2019, every home WolfPack match will be broadcast live on MadisonCollege.tv, with select road games to be featured, as well.

Follow WolfPack women's soccer: Facebook | Twitter