OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 31, 2021) – Adapting to the change in routine has been a necessity for most collegiate athletic teams during the 2020-21 academic year and Oklahoma Christian's women's soccer program is no exception.

With the delay of the soccer season – moved from the fall semester (its usual spot on the calendar) to the spring semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic – OC coach Meagan Anderson has tried to focus on the positives of the situation instead of dwelling on the negatives. The biggest advantage of the delay for the Eagles has been a few more months to figure out how to incorporate what she hopes will be a difference-making group of newcomers into the squad.

How that will look will be determined starting on Tuesday, when the Eagles visit local rival Oklahoma Baptist in OC's season opener.

"Considering the fall, I really feel like we're in a good spot," Anderson said. "We have a lot of new pieces that are giving us depth everywhere on the field. Having the fall to be able to be able to work through some of those kinks, maybe it benefitted us. Of course, we are itching to play and compete. That's probably what we're most looking forward to, is being able to see what product we can put on the field."

Anderson and her assistant coach, Lindsay Riggs, have brought in newcomers all over the field, hoping to bolster the intrasquad competition that so often helps push teams to continual improvement. In the goal, on the back line, in the midfield and up front, the Eagles' depth most certainly should be a strength.

"We have new faces pretty much at every position, players that are going to come in and give us some pretty good depth at those positions," Anderson said. "That's going to be good."

In the goal, OC returns sophomore Gabby Goddard, who started all 18 games last season, averaging 6.9 saves per game (tops in the Lone Star Conference) while posting a 2.81 goals-against average. She will be pushed by freshman Ashlee Jackson, a star on Mustang teams that made consecutive trips to the Class 6A title game. Anderson said the goalkeeper position will be competitive for the first time during her tenure.

"Gabby will be the frontrunner in goal," Anderson said. "But we're really excited about Ashlee and the competitiveness she's bringing to the position. We're able to train our keepers in a way that makes them better and puts them in better positions to help us win games. They will split a lot of time and we'll give them both opportunities … and see what happens."

OC's defensive back line received a major boost in confidence at the end of last season as its play allowed the Eagles to beat Texas A&M-Commerce – a team bound for the Lone Star Conference tournament – 1-0 in the finale. Leading the way that day were sophomore Jordan Freidenbloom and junior Naomi Reagan, who both should be leaders on this season's unit on the inside and outside, respectively.

A pair of freshmen, Reagan Keiser (in the middle) and Ryan Ackerman (on the left side), also should see big minutes. On the outside, returnees Thalia Delgado and Caprice King also should play major roles, and another returnee, Sarah Albert, should see time in the middle. Morgan Berres and Maria Chilito give the Eagles other experienced options, primarily on the outside.

A big goal of the defensive unit this season is to limit the number of shots by OC's opponents, so that the Eagles' goalkeepers don't face a constant barrage.

"It's the deepest we've been on the back line in some time," Anderson said. "I don't know if we've ever been this deep on the back line. We're more organized and athletic and confident on the defensive side of the ball. … We are in a position now that we can defend a little higher (on the field), so we can put (opponents) outside of that natural shooting position."

The midfield also should be a good mix of returning players and newcomers. One of the Eagles' top new players is sophomore Ellise Foreman, a transfer from NCAA Division I Oral Roberts who figures to immediately improve the defensive midfield along with her former Mustang High School teammate, freshman Gracie Cornelius. Returnees Cameryn Covington and Chanie Scrivner also are strong defensive-minded players who should have key roles.

In the attacking end of the midfield, Carson Hazel should be a key figure, coming off a season in which she had two goals and two assists. Junior-college transfer Savanna Suttles, energetic freshman Jenna White and senior Marcela Dantas also should provide some offensive punch, as might Covington and Cornelius when they push forward.

"We really have a new look," Anderson said. "The good thing about the group is that they all work very well together."

Finishing goals has been a bugaboo for the Eagles in recent seasons, but Anderson believes that from a large group of forwards, there will be goal-scorers who will step up.

Junior Natalie Thomas (three goals, one assist) was OC's top scorer in 2019 and she and speedy senior Brianna Concienne are known quantities on the wings, as is senior Corina Marin in the middle. Juco transfer Ana Carolina Ferreira will also see time at the top of the OC attack. Returnees Emily Brackett, Ariya Regnier and Catharina Ribeiro provide Anderson even more options.

Freshman McKenna Dunlap should play a key role with her abilities to set pieces such as free kicks and corner kicks.

"Offensively, we're better off this year, just based on the offensive presence we could have in the midfield," Anderson said. "Being able to keep our forwards higher allows a little more space for the midfielders and we can coordinate better with the forwards."

The Eagles have 12 games scheduled this semester, six against Lone Star foes and six against nonconference opponents. All 13 LSC teams will advance to the conference tournament at season's end.

"We've got the people in the places that we need," Anderson said. "Now we need to absorb the opportunity and just continue to play with confidence that what we're doing has us headed in the right direction."