The Bluffton University women's soccer team is excited for the start of season two under Head Coach Kevin Gregory. With a year of recruiting under his belt, the Beavers have bolstered their lineup with 13 incoming freshmen who will join 16 returners.

Leading scorer Skylar Liming, who delivered with six goals and five assists, is gone after twice earning All-Heartland Conference honors, but 2018 freshmen Julia Gibson (New Carlisle/Tecumseh) and Madison Baker (Greenville) bring back five goals and three assists for the Beavers. Junior Taylor Steinke (Findlay) also cashed in with two scores for Bluffton last season and she followed that up by starting in right field for the softball team in the spring.

An experienced core in the backfield will be counted on for their leadership with seniors Lauryn Foster-Wheeler (Sidney) and Aubrey Bartel (Newton, KS), juniors Hannah Wagner (Cincinnati/Mother of Mercy) and Maddie Huffman (Maineville/Little Miami) and sophomore Bailee Kingsley (Austintown Fitch) all back for the 2019 campaign.

Abigail Newkirk (New Vienna/Fairfield) and Tajah Upshaw (Lima/Senior) have seen significant minutes during their first two years at Bluffton while fellow juniors Sienna Sullivan (Columbus/Hilliard-Davidson) and Jules Frazier (Nova/Mapleton) are both experienced keepers returning for the Beavers.

Bluffton opens with St. Mary's at home on Friday, Aug. 30, before a trip to Oberlin two days later. The Beavers welcome Rose-Hulman for the Heartland Conference lidlifter on Saturday, Oct. 5. A rivalry match at Defiance College is slated for Wednesday, Oct. 9. Home matchups with Manchester on Wednesday, Oct. 30, and Anderson on Saturday, Nov. 2, cap off the season as the Beavers are at the Sears Complex for five of their nine HCAC matches.

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