MOBILE, Ala. – Spring Hill College (SHC) women's soccer head coach Allison Whitworth begins her second season at the helm of the Badgers by welcoming 18 new faces to the roster, so she has spent much of the preseason on team-building. "We've done a lot of work to build familiarity among the players and spent a great deal of time getting in sync," she says. "One of the biggest questions we face this year is can we play as a team?" One of Whitworth's themes for this year is "One Step at a Time" because she believes that how fast her team can come together as a unit will be a major determinate of how this year plays out.

Central to the success of any soccer team is the defense anchored around the goalkeeper. To address this issue Whitworth has brought in a sophomore transfer in HP Fluharty of Jacksonville, Fla. "HP has the edge right now in preseason," Whitworth says. "There's going to be lots of responsibility on her as a young player this year, so we have to get her into a rhythm with the team as quickly as possible." Red shirt sophomore Hannah Shankman of Alachua, Fla., who appeared in seven matches with six starts in 2016, is ready to step in if needed. Junior Melissa Schwartz of New Hyde Park, N.Y., and sophomore Sydney DeJohn of Hoover, Ala., also have the skills to protect the net if necessary.

While Whitworth admits she will have a young back line on defense, she feels confident in senior defender Aiesha Ledda of Memphis, Tenn., who moves to the center back position this year. "That move allows some of our younger players to move up into the attack much quicker. We want to increase the attack from our flanks and we will have three freshmen stepping into those roles in Hannah Fogt from Sidney, Ohio, Abby Lollar of Rossville, Tenn., and Kylee Harrell from Odenville, Ala."

Other defenders shoring up the Badger wall this year will include seniors Becca Roth of O'Fallon, Mo., and Shannon Gleespen of Hendersonville, Tenn., along with Sabrina Cruz of Miami, Fla., Kiersten Turpeau from New Iberia, La., and Lauren Parnell out of Mary G. Montgomery High School in Mobile.

On offense, Whitworth wants to take more shots this season. "We weren't prolific shooters and we simply didn't hit the frame enough last year," she says. "But this year we have two top scorers returning in DeJohn and junior Gabrielle Burmaster of Harvey, La. We also add freshmen Lilli Hanks of Tallahassee, Fla., and Sidney Spivey from Edgewood, Ky., to that mix to create a dangerous combination with a lot more movement. It will be difficult for defenses to keep up with them. DeJohn has really stepped up for us as a leader and that's important on any team." Also contributing to the Badger attack this year will be senior Madison Camet of Kenner, La., juniors Schwartz and Hannah Houseknecht from W.P. Davidson High School in Mobile as well as freshmen Caroline Lewis of Parker, Colo., Olivia Hall of Memphis, and Audrey Butler of Tavernier, Fla.

Whitworth sees her attacking midfield as her squad's biggest threat to opponents in 2017. "Freshmen Devin Fry of Johnson City, Tenn., and Jenna Pecot from Madisonville, La., are really understanding our goals," she says. "Devin loves to distribute the ball while Jenna can play many positions and roles for our team." Despite the youth of Fry and Pecot, Whitworth still points to her midfield as the most experienced portion of her line-up. "Seniors Kaelin Dull of Plano, Texas, and Francesca Talotta from Faith Academy in Mobile, along with junior SarahBeth Hyde of Hattiesburg, Miss., have been through the battles before and bring all that experience with them and that's hard to beat. They can help mold our freshmen in Regan Gaudreault of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., Julia Hayes of Brentwood, Tenn., and Mackenzie Howell of Fairhope, Ala." Sophomore Johanna Meister from Germany is recovering from an injury obtained at the end of last season, but looks to return for a solid second campaign.

"With this new attack, we expect to score a lot more goals this year," says Whitworth. "But there are no days off on our schedule. That will be the hard part for the youngsters and they will have to step up immediately and make the adjustments. Talent-wise, we can compete immediately, but we have to see how we will handle the bumps and bruise along with the ups and downs of a season.

 "We have to stick to our One Step at a Time philosophy," she says. "If we stick to that then a lot of good things will happen. It's a brand new group and everyone has enthusiasm for what SHC and can do over the next four years and beginning NCAA Division II play. If we weather the storms as players and coaches then it will be exciting to watch these great ladies put their best foot forward out there."

The Badgers will open the 2017 season versus the Embry-Riddle University (Fla.) Eagles at the Flagler College Invitational in St. Augustine, Fla., at Saints Field on Friday at 5 p.m. (EST)