PREVIEW: Depth and talent to push Tigers in 2018 campaign

The Dakota Wesleyan University women's soccer team and fifth-year head coach Clay Glasgow will rely on playing experience as they open up the 2018 campaign looking to build from last season.

 "The great thing about so many upperclassman returning is you can never replace experience on and off the field," Glasgow said. "Keeping everybody healthy will be key, we have a couple of girls banged up, and we are hoping to get them back on the playing field soon".

 Last year, the Tigers finished the season 6-11 overall and 1-9 in an always competitive Great Plains Athletic Conference. DWU will have 13 returners while adding six freshman and transfers to the 2018 roster.

 The Tigers will look to junior Alyssa Weidler for continued offensive production. In her sophomore year, Weidler tallied eight goals in 17 games, had 52 shots and 24 shots on goal. The Tiger defense returns two solid defenders in Brooke Forsman, and Kaylynn Anziano, who were both named to the All-Conference Honorable Mention Team. Gemini Wesley is also coming back after a great 2017 season. She scored four goals on 27 shots and 13 shots on goal.

 DWU also returns depth at the goalie position. Hannah Bowes and Cristal Villalvazo both played significant minutes for the Tigers last season. Bowes recorded 100 saves in 2017 while Villalvazo allowed only eight goals in seven games.

 The season kicked off Saturday Aug. 18 at the Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex taking on NCAA Division II opponent Southwest Minnesota State University. DWU was on the short end of the game losing 3-1, but Glasgow saw some positives to take away from the game.

 "Overall it was a good game for us," Glasgow commented. "The long term goal is to be prepared for the conference tournament. That is why we play these games versus Division II schools, they help us with preparation, match fitness, and team chemistry."

 DWU will open up GPAC play on Sept. 19 at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa. The GPAC home slate will start on Sept. 22 when the Tigers welcome Midland University to Mitchell for a 4:00 p.m. game. DWU will host its annual Cancer Awareness Night on Oct. 17 against Northwestern, while Senior Day will take place on Oct. 27 when DWU hosts Morningside College. The Tigers will only have eight home games this year, compared to 13 home games last season. Glasgow knows how good the GPAC is going to be this year and how important home games will be.

 "It's always huge to do well at home," Glasgow stated. "The GPAC is pretty tough again this year, but I feel confident with our experience. I think we will surprise a lot of teams this year with this group. In the past we have always played well on the road, so home or away, we will be ready."

 Glasgow also talked about goals this year and how this preseason has been the best preseason he has had since he began at Dakota Wesleyan.

 "This year we went a different way about it," Glasgow said of setting the goals for the season. "I let the girls sit down and write out the goals for this season. In everything we do, we want to finish it. Being resilient, and not giving up, we are trying to be mindful of what we can control."

 DWU will be on the road for their first road game of the season taking on Waldorf University at 3 p.m. on Saturday in Forest City, Iowa.