Blackburn Women’s Soccer is set to start their season on Wednesday, March 18 as they travel to Eureka college to take on the Red Devils for the season opener. The season will consist of eight conference games and then the SLIAC tournament. Due to the shortened season, every team is participating in the tournament. 

Coach Sohaila Akhavein enters her third season with a young group of women, with only one senior and three juniors. The 18 other players on the roster are either freshmen or sophomores. The Beavers are coming off the season where they finished eighth in the conference, finishing 4-12 overall and 2-7 in conference play. Blackburn is bringing back sophomore forward Lexi Lusk. Lusk led the beavers with five goals and was third on the team with 26 shots. Goalie Morgan Zobrist is back for her junior season, and she was second in conference with 155 saves and fourth in conference with .767 save percentage on the season. The Beavers will look for senior Aliese Greenwood to lead the way this season with Lusk and Zobrist. 

Key Returners: 

Aliese Greenwood (Senior)

Greenwood has played in a total of 44 games and has started in 41 games over her career. She looks to be a leader to this young group on the field with her previous experience. She was one of the three captains last season and is captain again this year. 

Lexi Lusk (sophomore)

Lusk enters her sophomore season after an impressive freshman campaign. Lusk played in 14 games last season and led the Beavers with five goals. She will be considered a veteran on this team with her experience from last season even though she is only a sophomore. She will look to continue her impressive college career and lead the Beavers offense this year.

Tess Saathoff (sophomore)

Saathoff is another sophomore that has a lot of experience, as she played in 16 games last year and started in 15 of them. She scored three goals which was second-best on the team. Saathoff will be another young leader on this team with her experience from last season and helping to lead the offense with Lusk.

Key Additions:

Blackburn is bringing in ten freshmen this season, which is the biggest class coach Akhavein has brought in. Some freshman to make an immediate impact this season:

Sophia King

Emma Voumard 

Samantha Shimchick

Key losses:

Morgan Adams

Throughout the 3 years she played in her college career, Adams played in 48 games, starting in 47 of them. She had a total of four goals, 82 shots, assist throughout her career. Adams was awarded Defensive Second Team All-Conference her freshman year and led the team as a captain both her Junior and Senior seasons. 

Erica Bechtold

Bechtold played in 50 games and started in 49 throughout her time in a Beavers uniform. She scored two goals and had one assist. During her career she was awarded Academic All-Conference and All-sportsmanship Team. 

Blackburn will be coached by Sohaila Akhavein, Alexis Richie, and student assistant Tess Saathoff.