The Colby women's soccer team has no seniors on this year's roster and lost the program's all-time leading scorer to graduation last year. Expectations, though, are still high with a talented first-year class for head coach Jennifer Holsten.

The Mules will have 10 first-year players on their 21-woman roster.

"Ten first-year players is a record number for us," Holsten said. "We're going to be a more athletic team and have more team speed."

Christine O'Donnell graduated as the all-time women's soccer scoring leader with 43 goals and nine assists for 95 points. Offense will have to come this year from sophomore Kristin Schmidt (Littleton, Mass.), junior Christina Andaya (Old Bridge, N.J.), and first-year player Laura Williamson (Manchester, Conn.).

Sophomore Kaitlin Herlihy (Simsbury, Conn.) will play center midfield after a promising first season. Junior tri-captain Amanda Walsh (Salem, Mass.) and junior Scarlett Slenker (Great Falls, Va.) bring experience to the midfield. Libba Cox (Guilford, Conn.), a first-year player and a former club team teammate of Herlihy, and first-year players Liz Morbeck (Seattle, Wash.) and Tammy Lewin (Chappaqua, N.Y.) should make an impact in their first seasons.

Sophomore Kara McCabe (Watertown, Conn.) and first-year Meg Cordner (Katonah, N.Y.) could play on defense or in the midfield.

McCabe, junior Cara Pollard (Bucksport, Maine), and junior tri-captain Katie Austgen (Carmel, Ind.) all return in back and will see time at stopper or sweeper. Cordner, sophomore Meridith Blascovich (Santa Barbara, Calif.), and first-year Meg Davis (Hopkinton, Mass.) are looking for starting time at marking backs.

Holsten will have depth in the goalie position this year with junior tri-captain Elizabeth Riley (Saco, Maine) and promising first-year keeper Liza Benson (Orchid, Fla.).

» About the Soccer Fields