HONOLULU – The Chaminade University women's soccer team will make the official start to their season on Thursday when they host Texas Women's University at Saint Louis Field with a noon kickoff.
The Silverswords, picked to finish eighth in the Pacific West Conference Preseason Coaches Poll released Friday, return 13 members from last season team as they look to replace a slew of experienced seniors who took with them a bulk of the team's scoring.
Kenna Kiefer (Vail, Ariz./Cienega) enters her final season as the most experienced 'Sword with 39 starts in her 44 career games. Four other Silverswords who made at least six starts a year ago include Mariana Carpenter (Castle Rock, Colo./University of North Dakota/Castle View HS),
Sofia Desirello (Menifee, Calif./University of North Dakota/Paloma HS),
Courtney Hames (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and
Kierra Reid (St. George, Utah/Dixie).
There are also nine other returnees, four who saw action in at least 10 games.
To fill in the gaps,
Michelle Richardson, entering her 14th year as head coach, brought in six collegiate transfers and five freshmen.
With both of last year's goalkeepers gone, the 'Swords have North Dakota transfer
Sydney Bakritzes (Edina, Minn./University of North Dakota/Edina HS) and freshman
Emily Takamine (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Moanalua) battling out for the starting spot.
The Silverswords got a chance to see what they have on the pitch with a pair of scrimmages this past week as tune ups before Thursday's season opener.
Following the opener against Texas Women's, CUH will have their second meeting in as many games against a member from the Lone Star Conference in the University of Texas at Dallas.
From there, the 'Swords will play nine of their next 10 away from Saint Louis Field. Two are neutral site games while the remaining are on the road with the only home game a non-conference tilt against perennial PacWest power University of Hawai'i Hilo on Sunday, Sept. 20. The stretch is also a road-heavy start with five games to open the conference slate.
In return, the team will have their final four games at home ending with traditional in-city rival Hawai'i Pacific University on Saturday, Oct. 31.
