The College of Wooster women's soccer team is a veteran-filled group seemingly with a chip on its shoulder after the way last season played out.
 
The team put together an impressive overall record of 11-3-3, marking the third consecutive year the team secured 11 wins. Yet, for the second time in that span they were denied a trip to the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament after a 3-2-2 run in conference play.
 
The Scots needed a win in its season finale to make the postseason tournament but a 1-1 tie versus Ohio Wesleyan University placed them not only in a tie for fourth but on the wrong end of the tiebreaker to end their season prematurely.
 
While John Carroll University eventually took the conference title in its first season in the NCAC, every game for Wooster was a battle. Each win had a goal differential of two scores, and each conference loss was determined by just one goal.
 
"There are fine margins in our sport - in our conference - and we need to work through the challenges and find ways to create more chances," said head coach Geordie Brown.
"With a large returning class, we hope to see that game management and maturity come through with on the field leadership and positive decision-making."
 
The Scots lost seven to graduation but return a healthy number of individuals who have played valuable minutes.
 
Offensively, all but one of Wooster's 29 goals are accounted for on this year's team. The top four leading scorers return, who include junior Josie Bencic (17 points, 7g, 3a), junior Annie Henegar (12 points, 5g, 2a), senior Julia Struck (10 points, 4g, 2a) and senior Bella Crompton (9 points, 4g, 1a).
 
The team's 29 goals was third best in the NCAC.
 
"We hope to have a core that is ready to compete from game one and hope that can translate into positive results," Brown said. "Goal-scoring is never easy, but we have players who have been successful in front of the goal which should bring self-belief and the desire to take on that responsibility."
 
Struck and Crompton headline a five-player senior class along with Lucy Carlin, Abby Henegar and Mia Stoller. The team welcomes 11 first-years.
 
Carlin started in goal for 11 of the team's 17 games, splitting time with the now graduated Kameryn Nelson. Carlin had a 6-2-3 record and five goals against for a .912 save percentage.
 
First-year Ashleigh Walburn rounds out the goalkeeping core.
 
"Lucy has grown each year with the program and comes back as an outstanding athlete, who works extremely hard and has high standards for herself," Brown said. "We expect her to instill confidence in the defensive unit through her positioning, communication and handling. 
 
"She brings a fearlessness to the position that will serve her and the team very well."
 
Defensively, familiar names include Mia Stoller, Logan Burke, Celia Hitchcock, Madeline Hansen and Reagan Fischer. The defense and goalkeeping unit allowed just 10 goals last year for second-best marks in the conference.
 
Wooster starts the year with three straight home games. The Scots have found plenty of success at home in recent years including an unbeaten mark of 7-0-2 last year.
 
In fact, Wooster's last defeat at home came on Oct. 16, 2024. Afterwards, they embarked on a program-best eight consecutive home victories ranging from Oct. 22, 2024 to Sept. 27, 2025.
 
The Scots also look to replicate last year's five-game winning streak to open the season, starting when they welcome Chatham University on Sept. 2 for its home opener. They open NCAC play with a trip to Ohio Wesleyan on Oct. 3.