The College of Wooster women's soccer team has all the pieces for another successful run in 2022.
The team collected double digits wins in each of the last three seasons. They went 10-8-2 last year, narrowly missing out on a third consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championships.
They, like other teams, had to take a full year off due to COVID-19. That brought with it a lot of unknowns heading into 2021.
Two-thirds of the team makeup were first-years and sophomores, which meant all were essentially new to head coach Geordie Brown and his staff.
"There were so many new pieces a year ago with taking a year off that we ended up trying some things that didn't work," Brown said. "Hopefully, we know a little more about our personnel and have a little bit more of a plan in terms of how we approach things."
After a 5-5 start in the month of September, and going 0-1-1 in their first two conference games, Wooster closed the regular season with a 5-1 run in North Coast Athletic Conference play.
They advanced to the NCAC Tournament Championship after coming out on top of a thrilling 10-9 penalty kick shootout against Kenyon College. However, they could not quite finish the job, concluding the year with a 3-2 loss to Wittenberg University.
Teddi Farson, Hallie Krzys and Naomi Mann are three returners who earned All-NCAC honors.
Now the Scots are looking for some normalcy as they enter 2022 and with that a better beginning to the year.
"It's a new start in a way," Brown said. "We're trying to build on the good things from last year and be a better unit moving forward.
"We have 10 first-years coming in, but 20 returners. We've seen them in competition and have a greater sense in what they can do, and I think there are a lot more questions that are answered coming in than there were a year ago."
Miura Wiley was a great asset for the Scots last year, leading the team's offense (29 points on 12 goals and five assists) and being named NCAC Offensive Player of the Year. However, Wooster may already have the pieces to fill that void, returning four of their top five offensive producers.
That list includes two of this year's three seniors in Farson and Katie Schumacher.
The Newcomer of the Year Farson scored 11 goals last year, one shy of the team lead behind Wiley. Krzys was third from the top with eight goals, and Schumacher came next with six.
"Teddi, Katie and Hallie had great offensive output last season, so we definitely feel that they're ready to take the lead in our attack," Brown said.
Wooster's other senior, Helena Janczak, will lead the defense. All three seniors are this year's team captains.
"I think having a senior captain down the middle in Helena will be important for leadership but also having other returners who play in the back for us will be key to having a much more stable unit," Brown said.
In goal, Amanda Flory returns after a first-year campaign where she saw most of the time in net. She finished with a 6-4-1 record with 61 saves, three shutouts and a .803 save percentage. Her competition will be first-year Kameryn Nelson as the two make up the full goalkeeper unit on this year's squad.
Nelson is one of the 10 newcomers on the team.
"We're excited about them," Brown said. "We've had them come from eight different states. They're good club players who will add to both depth and the quality, and many will be pushing for playing time and significant roles on the field.
Wooster will open the season Sept. 1 at Marietta College. Three days later (Sept. 4) they host Allegheny College in their home opener. Then turning the page to October, they host Oberlin College on the first in its NCAC opener.