Despite losing seven seniors from last year’s team, the Whitman women’s soccer team believes they can improve on last year’s record and continue their climb up the Northwest Conference. Even though the team will be going through somewhat of a transition, third-year coach Heather Cato stressed that the team’s goal has not changed.

“Our expectations are always to win the Northwest Conference. We’ve decided as a team that we’re going to try to do the little things perfect, which will hopefully result in realizing our ultimate goal,” said Cato.

The Missionaries will be led by senior co-captains 2011 NWC Second-Team All-Conference selections defender Erin Flannery and midfielder Jaclyn Rudd. In addition to Rudd and Flannery, the Missionaries also return All-Conference honorable mention selections in junior midfielders Hallie Swan and MacKenzie Hughes.

Cato believes that in order to be successful this year, the Missionaries will have to count on contributions from every player on the roster.

“We talk a lot about how it takes 23 players to win games. That means the people on the bench have roles. You never know when your number is going to get called,” said Cato.

Look for the Missionaries to get the conference season rolling when they square off against Willamette University on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 12 p.m. and then against Lewis and Clark College on Sunday, Sept. 16 also at 12 p.m.