CLEVELAND, Miss.- The Delta State University women's soccer team is gearing up for the program's 21st season and second for Head Coach Chloe Kane.

After finishing 5-5-6 overall, including a 4-3-5 mark in Gulf South Conference play, last season, Coach Kane is enthusiastic and expecting great things from her squad this season. "We're hopeful for the season. We have a good roster with lots of talent that will hopefully allow us to go further than last year and finish high within conference and advance within the tournament."  

As a team the Lady Statesmen scored 15 goals, while recording 199 shots with 86 shots-on-goal. The goalkeepers contributed 63 saves and 4 shutouts.  

DSU returns 16 players from last season, led by senior defender Ava Webster from Chesterfield, England, who recorded four goals, two game-winning, last season.  

Other key returners include senior midfielder Chloe Colquhoun and junior forward Kennedi Turner.  

Colquhoun, from Glasgow, Scotland, scored two goals, including one game winner against West Alabama. After a solid sophomore campaign, Turner looks to have another solid year for the Lady Statesmen. The forward from Olive Branch recorded four shots, one on-goal, while scoring a goal against Trevecca Nazarene. 

The Lady Statesmen will depend on newcomers and transfers after losing several key contributors to graduation, including forwards Chloe Jackson and Jae'lasha Julien, who played their entire careers at Delta State, and goalkeepers Bailey Daugherty and Olivia Griffin.   

The regular season kicks off on Friday, Sept. 5 with a match against Eckerd College at Delta Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. 

For the full schedule, please visit gostatesmen.com.