Women's soccer team ready to open season Friday

The Eastern Florida State College women's soccer team have been anxiously awaiting Friday's season opener at Titan Soccer Complex on the Melbourne campus.

The No. 5 Titans will open at 3:45 p.m. against Southwestern Illinois, who are meeting for the third straight season with the Titans coming away with wins in the first two meetings.

"We are really excited about our schedule, we have a very tough schedule and it begins with the opening weekend," Eastern Florida State College women's soccer coach Jeff Carr said during the team's Media Day. "Half of our roster is new, but we have a lot of talent and the most depth we have ever had. We are really excited about the potential of this team."

Sophomore Nathali Da Silva was the Region 8 Freshman of the Year last season after scoring 13 goals and assisted on 10 others and is excited about starting the new season.

"We have been watching everyone else play and just can't wait for us to get started," Da Silva said. "We have been working hard and pushing each other both on and off the field. I think everyone is just excited for Friday and we are ready."

The Titans will host six women's soccer games this weekend beginning at 1:30 p.m. with conference foe and No. 11 Daytona State College facing No. 12 Johnson County Community College. Then after the Titans game with Southwestern Illinois, Broward College will play St. Louis Community College at 6 p.m.

"We get to see the likes of Daytona who will be strong again this year and Broward, it will be interesting to see how they do against these teams as well," sophomore Katie Lockwood said. "It is exciting, we have waited the longest and we are all excited to show what we can do."

On Sunday, St. Louis Community College will play Polk State at 10 a.m. and then Daytona State will play Southwestern Illinois at noon. The Titans will play Johnson County Community College at 6 p.m.'

"We have a lot of good players, some speed moving forward and we look really strong in the back. I think we had a good preseason, had some good results," Lockwood said. "I think we just have to play simple futbol, keep the ball and make sure the ball does the work. I think we will score and are a possession-based team so if we do what the coach requires, I think we will be alright."