WKU opens 2014/15 calender with soccer vs. Lipscomb

Well folks, here we are. We’ve waited hot, long and painful days, nights and weekends, but we are here. The official start to the 2014-2015 athletic calender for WKU begins TONIGHT! as the defending Sun Belt regular season champions kick off their first season in Conference USA on the road against Lipscomb, an opponent WKU beat last year by a 2-1 final.

For the Lady Toppers, it’ll be a year of growing and maturing, as head coach Jason Niedell will field the youngest club in the soccer program’s history, with only one senior – Allie Auscherman – and 18 of the 22 total players are underclassmen. The first test of the year, the Lady Bison, are coming off a 6-8-5 year, where they finished sixth in the eight team Atlantic Sun.

Lipscomb, like the Tops, went undefeated in their preseason schedule, defeating Southeast Missouri 1-0 and Belmont 2-0. Last year’s leader in goals (14) and points (31) has returned for LU, Ellen Lundy, who set those team high marks as a freshman. The Bison also have youth in goal, as starting goalie Anna Buhigas is returning for only her second year. All 11 starters are returning from last years’ club from Lipscomb.

If you’ll recall, the Lady Toppers absolutely steam rolled Murray State on Sunday, and the bright spots of the preseason have been Bria Mosely, who is setting herself up to be an assist machine, Allison Leone, who allowed just one goal in 180 minutes of preseason soccer and the Lady Tops’ offense as a whole, posting eight goals in the two games.

The thing to look for here in the opening games for the Lady Tops’ will be fast starts – 2013 saw a lot of close games, and a lot of game winning goals be scored in the 80th minute and beyond – but the preseason games saw that trend be a thing of the past, and hopefully it’ll stay there.

If you’re wanting to keep up with the Lady Tops/Lady Bison, you can do so via Statbroadcast.com here.

How do you think the ladies will begin the year? Let us know below or on twitter.