OKLAHOMA CITY (Aug. 31, 2016) – After nearly hitting rock bottom two years ago, Oklahoma Christian took a large step forward in 2015, improving its on-the-field record by four wins and pushing the Heartland Conference's best women's soccer team into overtime along the way.

That 1-0 loss to Dallas Baptist (Texas) – an eventual NCAA Division II Elite Eight team – showed the Lady Eagles just how close they are to a breakthrough in the Heartland, and coach Randall Robison says his players are eager to make another jump, this time into the four-team field for the conference tournament.

OC – coming off a 5-9-2 campaign in which it went 2-5-1 in Heartland play – hasn't made a league tournament since 2008, but Robison said that's the next logical goal for the Lady Eagles, who will open their season on Thursday at East Central. OC's home opener will be two days later, against Northeastern State.

"I was happy with the step we took last year, but I was far from satisfied," Robison said. "It is far from where this program should be. From that, we do have to take a big step this year. I think we're in a better position to take a bigger step this year than what we did last year, but it comes down to execution."

Robison said he and the coaching staff sat down with the players during the offseason and reviewed every aspect of the program, looking to find what works and dismiss what doesn't. He said each of his players has bought into the system and understand they aren't defined by past struggles, but by what they do on the field every day, whether it be in practice or in a game.

"I thought last year's team was better than what we did with our record, but your record is your performance and your performance is your record," he said. "The days of saying, 'We're a better team than our record' are done. You either do it or you don't. We've approached this year saying, 'It's time that we start doing things and quit talking about doing things.' The girls have embraced that."

A big reason for Robison's optimism is the Lady Eagles' situation in goal. OC returns one of the Heartland Conference's best goalkeepers in sophomore Carina Schanz, who posted four shutouts last season and gave up one goal or fewer in 11 games, helping give her team a fighting chance. Robison said Schanz is "ready to prove she's an even better goalkeeper this year."

The Lady Eagles also have an outstanding freshman in Addison Milner of Corinth, Texas, who goalkeeper coach Chelsie Flagg calls one of the most technically sound players at the position she's ever seen. Robison said Milner definitely will see time in goal this season, even as she adjusts to the speed of the college game.

Senior captain Amanda Cooper will anchor the Lady Eagles' defensive back line, along with a pair of international newcomers, Michell Fuentes (Mexico) and Ida Nielsen (Denmark), both of whom bring strength and experience along with an exceptional knowledge of the game. Robison sees Cooper and Fuentes manning the center-back positions, with Nielsen playing wide, where OC hopes to take advantage of her strong offensive capabilities when necessary.

Junior Chelsea Key and sophomore Olivia Edwards, both experienced veterans, also will see considerable playing time on the back line, and newcomers including freshmen Katelyn Eggleston, Taylor Emerine and Courtney Hernandez also give Robison solid options. Should she return from injury, senior Courtney Nixon also would play a major role, Robison said.

The OC midfield always has been somewhat like an amoeba, with players moving forward and back all the time. But to start the season, the defensive portion of the midfield will be led by junior Carley Cooley and newcomers Lauren Parker and Oby Okeke.

Parker excelled in an offensive role at USAO as a freshman in 2014 (three goals, six assists) before taking time away from the game last year, while Okeke enjoyed much success at the prep level. Freshman Kylee Ingalls also has enjoyed preseason success in a defensive midfield position, Robison said.

The unquestioned leader of the offensive half of the midfield is Rubi Villegas Aguilar. The sophomore dynamo earned Heartland freshman-of-the-year honors and was an All-South Central Region first-team pick in2015. Despite facing numerous double-, triple- and sometimes even quadruple-team defenses, she ranked among the conference's leaders with seven goals and was a constant threat, no matter where on the field she played.

Another international player, Jen Atherton of Bristol, England, will join Villegas Aguilar in playing an attacking midfield role. Atherton was a consistent scorer for her club team in her native country.

There's plenty of talent elsewhere in the midfield, took. Sophomore Darrian Palacios and juniors Sydni Wiles and Madeline Roseke each started multiple games for OC last season and have been offensive contributors.

Juniors Madison Brinkman and Monique Raygoza are familiar with the OC system , while freshmen Morgan Boling, Dani Maniguet and Grace Simpson (the daughter of a former college player) each bring intriguing skill sets to the program and should push the more experienced players.

Up front, senior Sophia Brazil – looking to finish her career on a strong note – and highly touted freshman Dakota Milner (Addison Milner's twin sister) should join with Atherton and Villegas Aguilar to provide the Lady Eagles with multiple scoring options. 

Most importantly, Robison said, the Lady Eagles should have a depth – and strong intra-squad competition – they've not often enjoyed and that ought to pay dividends in the long run.

"This group is talented and fearless," Robison said. "I don't think they're scared by anyone on our schedule. With our attitude, we shouldn't be. That's not a guarantee of any result, but that is a guarantee that we will go compete with anyone that we step on the field with."