CLEVELAND, Miss.- The Delta State University women's soccer team is scheduled to being its 2019 campaign on Friday, Sept. 7 when it plays host to Missouri S&T at University Field. The contest is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES: This will be the first time that the Lady Statesmen and the Miners of Missouri S&T will be on the field.
 
SEASON OPENERS: The Lady Statesmen are 6-9 all time in season openers.
 
INSIDE THE OPPONENTS: Last season, Missouri S&T went 4-11-1 and were picked to finish 14^thout of 16 teams this season in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Head Coach Joe McCauley is in his tenth season as head coach.
 
2018: AT A GLANCE: In 2018, the Delta State University Lady Statesmen Soccer team established a new school record for Gulf South Conference wins in a season with five. The Lady Statesmen were picked to finish ninth in the Gulf South Conference. This is the highest the Lady Statesmen have been picked in the GSC preseason poll since they were chosen eighth in 2012.
 
RETURNERS: The Lady Statesmen return 19 players that saw playing time last season. DSU was lead last year by junior Diana Okechukwu who scored six goals on 25 shots last season. Season Erin Longsden returns for her final campaign. She finished last season with five goals and two assists. Anoucke Baas, a three year starter, returns for her senior season as well. She contributed four goals and four assists last year. She also scored the game winner against UAH. In goal, sophomore Amanda Hilliard is coming off a great freshman season. She played in 14 matches with 12 starts. She finished the season with a 6-4-1 record with four shutouts, 71 saves and a 1.61 goals against average ... Earned GSC Freshman of the Week honors after making 13 combined saves at Florida Tech and Florida Southern.
 
NEWCOMERS: Hannah James, an incoming freshman, joins DSU from Grantham, England having previously played from Derby County and was named to the all Newcomers GSC team. Abbie Richeson joins DSU from Division 1 squad Louisiana Tech. Also joining the team bringing junior college experience are Alexis Hobbs from Laramie County CC and Jennifer Lopez from Cerritos College.