Soccer preseason camp gets underway

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The 2012 edition of the Middle Tennessee soccer program opened preseason practice Wednesday morning in preparation for the upcoming season.

“We’re excited about starting practice and getting back on the field,” head coach Aston Rhoden said. “We have a solid nucleus returning; however, we also have a lot of newcomers who will be getting their first looks at collegiate soccer.”

Six seniors will guide this year’s Blue Raider squad, including Charity Blair, Jessica Gilchrist, Paige Goeglein, Whitney Jorgenson, Allison Stallard and Regina Thomas. Four members of the group (Goeglein, Jorgenson, Stallard, Thomas) have earned All-Sun Belt honors in their careers, providing solid experience on all parts of the field.

With no juniors, the sophomore trio of Kelsey Branstetter, Emily Hartshorn and Kelsie Roberts will provide Rhoden with the only remaining experience of the returners. Two players, Katinka Stenberg and Paige Terlizzi, redshirted a year ago and will be looking for their first collegiate action this fall.

"We’re excited about starting practice and getting back on the field."

Over one-half of the team’s roster, 13 players, will be newcomers. Four of the 13 are international players, who played at high levels in their respective countries, while the others also completed solid prep and club careers prior to arriving in Murfreesboro.

Rhoden, entering his 11th season as Middle Tennessee’s head coach, is joined on the sidelines by second-year assistant coach Allison Whitworth and first-year assistant coach Chris Cahill.

The Blue Raiders are gearing up for the exhibition opener, August 10 at 7 p.m., at home against Mercer. The regular season begins on the road, August 17, at Jacksonville State in Jacksonville, Ala., before returning to Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium for four-straight home matches.

Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter @MTAthletics for continued updates.