Last year’s solid showing has given way to a lot of promise heading into the 2017 women’s soccer season for the Simon Fraser University Clan.
The squad, which finished fourth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in 2016, was selected to place fourth again in the preseason soccer coach polls, released last week.
On the strength of 10 returnees and a strong recruiting class, opposition coaches believe SFU will once again be in the mix and build upon a 7-5-0 conference record. Their season finished in a 3-0 loss to eventual national champion Western Washington in the GNAC semifinal.
Of this year’s returnees are the 2016 GNAC Freshman of the Year and first team all-star Emma Pringle, who scored nine goals in 17 starts, goalkeeper Priya Sandhu and defender Carli Grosso.
Burnaby sisters Allyson and Christina Dickson bring two years of university- level experience on the strengths of 2016 All-GNAC honours.
Joining the squad are freshmen Claire Bareilles, Colby Knibbes, Hollis Roeske, and University of Calgary transfer Kaely Biring.
SFU launches its non-conference schedule Sept. 2 in California. They return home to host California State-Los Angeles on Sept. 4.
