Spring Hill College head coach Christian DeVries and his Badger squad head into the 2014 season with a team that has been five years in the making. "This is the team we started building five years ago when I first arrived here at SHC," he says. "We had 16 players on the roster when I got here and now we have 36. We have a core of seniors who have now grown up in this system and we have grown in size and stature. It's an exciting time for us."

DeVries also has something with this Badger line up that he has never had in his previous four years at SHC – experience and depth. He has a roster nicely balanced with veteran upperclassmen as well as talented young underclassmen. "We are returning 10 starters and it's really 11 if you count the fact that our goalkeepers split time," DeVries said. "And that experience is paying off. They know our system and our routines, so the speed of our practices has been much more realistic to what we'll face in games."

The Badgers will enter a new world this year as the school has shifted from the NAIA into NCAA Division II and also accepted an invitation into the Gulf South Conference (GSC). "We're moving from possibly the toughest conference in the NAIA to a conference that features some of the best programs in NCAA Division II," said DeVries. "The difference will be that the balance of talented teams on our schedule will be set at a higher bar. There won't be anyone we can take lightly in the GSC."

The Badgers will look to a veteran defense in 2014 anchored in goal by two experienced goalkeepers in senior Abby Massengale of New Orleans, La., and junior Maggie Dalessio of St. Petersburg, Fla. "We have a great situation with our keepers," says DeVries. "Massengale and Dalessio are both very good, but they bring a different set of skills and specialties. That gives us the ability to pick which one best suits us each day based on the offense we'll face, the surface we're playing on, or other factors." Whoever is minding the goal, they will direct a defense that includes returning starters senior Tatiana Gonzalez of Ocean Springs, Miss., and sophomore Kait Eichorst of Cave Creek, Ariz. Junior Sidi Genus of Great Bay, Jamaica, moves from offense to defense this season following a preseason injury to senior Haley Funderburg of Pell City, Ala. "The injury to Haley was a tough blow to our defense," said Devries.  "But it also led to us discovering that Sidi has great speed, strength and tenacity which are exactly the abilities we need on defense." Junior Kaitlyn Blais of Lynn Haven, Fla., has two-years of experience in the Badger system and DeVries likes the way she plays the defensive midfield and with her attacking style could see time as an outside back.  Spring Hill will experiment with freshmen Caroline Holmes of Wheaton, Ill., Aiesha Ledda of Memphis, Tenn., and sophomore Lauren Clement from Scottsdale, Ariz., in its defensive front. DeVries also sees senior midfielder Erin Claxton of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, spending more time on defense.

Experience and youth highlight the Badger midfield as well. Junior Courtney Harlan of Mobile, Ala., comes into the year in the best shape of her three-year career and according to DeVries her leadership is shining through. Senior Erin Brennan of St. Louis, Mo., has been a steady presence throughout her career coming off the bench for the Badgers and DeVries says he likes the calmness that she instills to the game when he puts her on the pitch. "She is collected on the ball and I know she can gather us together and slow the game down when we need her steadiness," he says.  Junior Aedan Stranahan is also a key part of the Badger midfield. "Aedan knows how to make adjustments," says DeVries. "She plays physical and she can take long shots when we need them." Two freshmen in Madison Camet of Kenner, La., and Caroline Torrens of Pace, Fla., will make an impact in their first seasons on the Hill. DeVries likes Camet's size and ability to win headers along with her movement side-to-side. He sees Torrens being a small but quick player who brings technical ability to middle of the field.  Junior Hannah Michael from New Orleans has been a three-year constant for the Badgers and DeVries is impressed with her tireless work effort while playing multiple positions as both a starter and off the bench. "Hannah is a player every team needs," he says. "She brings energy, enthusiasm and ability to the table. She doesn't mind playing physically and does whatever we ask her to do." Sophomore Jessica Keelen of Metairie, La., grew up a lot during the spring according to DeVries and continues to grow in her maturity and confidence. Senior Hayley Vierling of Gulfport, Miss., also provides depth after winning a walk-on spot as a junior. "Our depth at midfield will be crucial in the GSC," DeVries says. "We now have the ability to change our look and that's an important weapon to have."

Up top on the offensive side, DeVries uses one word to describe his team. "Speed," he says. Sophomore Darby Rasch of Madison, Ala., returns after a solid freshman season. "Darby learned a lot last year and had a good spring," DeVries says. "She can play either on the outside or in the center this year." Two local Mobile products in transfer sophomore Maha Maarouf from the University of South Alabama and Baker High School will join freshman Francesca Talotta from Faith Academy at the forward positions. "Maha has one thing on her mind once she gets to the final third and that's scoring," says DeVries. "Talotta, on the other hand, is a sneaky player. She doesn't appear dynamic or too fast, but she gets the job done. She still needs to transition to the college game, but that will come with experience."  Sophomore Darian Price from Carencro, La., returns to the active roster after suffering an ACL injury in 2013 and DeVries says he welcomes back her left side presence.  Sophomore La'shelle Lett of Pensacola, Fla., is returning and will see time up top or as an outside midfield depending in the system being played that day.

DeVries is quick to point out that his reserve squad this year is deeper and more talented than ever before. "Our reserves are going to get an experience this year that we've never been able to provide in the past when they get to play games against junior colleges in Mississippi and Florida," he says. "It's an important step for the program that the younger players get playing time in true games." Sophomore Lillian DeSousa returns to the game after sitting out her freshman season at South Alabama and DeVries sees her being a multi-weapon player once she regains her footing. "DeSousa will be anything from a reserve keeper to an outside forward for us, so she's going to be a nice addition."  DeSousa will join freshmen Shannon Gleespen of Hendersonville, Tenn., Julia Fox of New Orleans, Jasmine Ader from Mundelein, Ill., Aubrey Stewart of Murphy High School, Becca Roth of O'Fallon, Mo., Kaelin Dull of Plano, Texas, Kaitlyn Healy of Baker High School, and Hannah Houseknecht of W.P. Davidson High School in playing several reserve squad games this fall.

Assistant coach Melissa Drish joins the Badger staff this year after a successful four-year goalkeeping career at South Alabama. "The addition of Drish and the return of [assistant coach] Kevin DeLange is important for our team," says DeVries. "Kevin and I have a good chemistry and Melissa has brought in new insights. It's intangibles like those that make a difference in a good staff."

The Badgers open the 2014 season at Saint Leo University in St. Leo, Fla., on Thursday at 6 p.m.