CHICAGO – Last season's appearance in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference quarterfinals was a step in the right direction for Roosevelt women's soccer.
The fact the Lakers held the conference champions and No. 6 team in the country scoreless for more than 70 minutes was a lifeline that Roosevelt can compete in the GLIAC. Now the bar has been raised as the Lakers enter their third year in the league, their first as full members of NCAA Division II.
Roosevelt was picked ninth in the GLIAC by the league's coaches, a byproduct of some lingering questions surrounding the Lakers. They will need to replace their four-year starter at goalie as well as their leading scorer, but the good news is plenty of reinforcements have arrived through the transfer portal and old-fashioned recruiting.
Playmaker Daisy Garcia is back for the Lakers after scoring five goals and assisting on four others a year ago. She's joined in the midfield by junior Bella Perry, a key link between the backline and attack, as well as some new faces who are expected to make immediate impacts. Transfer Ellie Bielenda arrives back in Chicagoland after two years at Tusculum and Roosevelt also added German freshman Celine Blömer to the roster.
Up top, the Lakers have a plethora of experienced options, notably senior Kyra Cruickshank and junior Aaliyah Xiomara Leaños. Cruickshank has played 44 games thus far for the Lakers and has the speed to be a danger to opposing defenses. Leaños is coming off a strong summer for the Chicago Kics WPSL Division II team, and has the strength to hold onto the ball.
Roosevelt has its most experience on defense where Mackenzie Alvarez will anchor a backline that could feature as many as three seniors. Alvarez was a two-time all-conference player at the NAIA level and could be joined on defense by seniors Peyton Connelly and Alex Creel, both of whom have played at least 40 games for the Lakers. Olivia Lange also returns after a stellar freshman campaign, adding some speed and attacking prowess at wing back.
The Lakers do need to decide on a starting goalie, but they have an experienced option in sophomore Angelina Vazquez. She will be tested though by a pair of freshmen newcomers – Evelyn Flores and Kaylee Sarnicola – both of whom have made their case for playing time with strong scrimmage and practice appearances.
Roosevelt's depth will be on display for the first time Thursday when it heads to Upper Iowa to open the season at 2:30 p.m. The Lakers then return home on Sunday for Senior Day against Jamestown with kickoff scheduled for noon and the pregame festivities starting around 11:40 a.m.
