After having its 2020 regular season canceled due to COVID-19, the Penn State Altoona women's soccer team is eager to return to full action on the pitch this fall.

The Lions were building momentum in the 2019 season, when the team posted a 5-4-1 record within the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference for the program's first winning conference record since 2011. Despite last season being erased due to COVID, expectations are still high for Penn State Altoona heading into this year, as the Lions were picked fourth in the AMCC's preseason coaches' poll.

"I am very excited to have a season this fall," said Penn State Altoona women's soccer head coach Pam Snyder Etters, who is entering her 11th season at the helm of the program. "There was a lot of excitement around my incoming class last fall, which led to a significant level of disappointment when the season was canceled. We are all so happy to be back on the field doing the sport that we love."

While Etters was unable to officially debut her freshman class last year, the team did get a sneak preview of what those young players were able to offer, as the Lions competed in a seven-date exhibition schedule during the spring semester. In those contests, her first-year players were able to get their feet wet alongside the team's returners in collegiate competition, and Etters believes that experience will pay off this fall when the games count.

"The experience they gained last spring was very valuable. With a very young team consisting of only five seniors and juniors, the games this year's sophomores played in last spring have already proven to be very important in the preseason," Etters explained. "Aside from the on-field benefits, this team has bonded off the field, as well. They are a very close-knit group and have been able to now quickly bring the first-year student-athletes straight into the fold."

From last year's freshman class, the Lions bring back 10 players who are entering their second seasons with the team: goalkeeper Jadyn Michael (Berwick, PA/Berwick), Audrianna Barnes (Bedford, PA/Chestnut Ridge), Lexie Jobrey (Exton, PA/Downingtown East), and Anaya Phillips (Middle Island, NY/Longwood), forward/midfielders Mallorie Smith (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte) and Sydni Warman (Dover, DE/Dover), midfielder Kayla Grove (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown East), and defenders Haley Chambers (Athens, PA/Athens), Ainsley Griffin (Stafford, VA/Mountain View), and Katelyn Russell (Pittsburgh, PA/Penn Hills).

Penn State Altoona's returning upperclassmen will be counted on for leadership and performance on the field, as the team's three seniors and two juniors will be relied upon to contribute in a variety of ways to set the standard for a young roster. Those upperclassmen consist of senior forward/midfielder Sadie McConnell (New Enterprise, PA/Northern Bedford), senior defender/forward Cierra Rhodes (Altoona, PA/Altoona), senior defender/midfielder Kilee Snyder (Fishertown, PA/Chestnut Ridge), junior midfielder/forward/defender Sarah Huston (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville), and junior defender/midfielder KK Wolfe (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville).

Highlighting that group are McConnell and Wolfe, who were each named as "Players to Watch" in the 2021 AMCC preseason poll. McConnell is a two-time second team All-AMCC pick who is coming off of a 2019 campaign in which she finished fourth in the conference in points (23) and game-winning goals (3), fifth in goals (9), eighth in shots attempted (49), and ninth in assists (5) and shots on goal (29). Wolfe played in all 18 games as a freshman in 2019, ranking third on her team in shots attempts (26) and shots on goal (12), tying for third in goals (4), and finishing fourth in points (10).

Huston is also coming off of a very successful freshman season in 2019, which saw her tie for second on the team in assists (5) and tie for third on the squad in goals (4) and points (13) while playing in all 18 games. Rhodes and Snyder have combined to appear in 36 career games and will add depth and experience at several positions for the Lions this fall.

Penn State Altoona also welcomes eight first-year players to the fold: sophomore forward and transfer player Maddie DeForrest (Huntingdon, PA/Huntingdon), freshman goalkeeper/midfielder Adeline Baustert (Apollo, PA/Apollo-Ridge), freshman forward/midfielders Taylor Fleming (Jersey Shore, PA/Jersey Shore) and Sarah Schulz (Harrisburg, PA/Susquehanna Township), freshman midfielders Haylee Beamer (Johnstown, PA/Central Cambria) and Saige Greenland (Towanda, PA/Towanda), freshman defender/midfielder Amanda Hazel (Clearfield, PA/Clearfield), and freshman defender Hannah Brubaker (San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch).

Of Penn State Altoona's position units, Etters believes that her forwards and defense should be the foundations of the team this season.

"We have a strong group of attackers, and each one presents a very different style on the field. They are all skilled and intelligent players that will bring diversity into our attack," she said. "Our defense may be our strongest line on the field. We have a rotation of six to seven players who will see significant time in our back four, and each of them are very hardworking, determined athletes."

With an influx of new players at midfield and goalkeeper, Etters knows that things are currently a work in progress, but she thinks that those positions will solidify as the season progresses.

"The midfield is beginning to click. After the loss of such a key player and leader in Kierra Irwin, this may take a little time, but they are already clicking and showing promise," said Etters. "Our goalkeepers are both expected to see time early in the season. As we get closer to conference play, the staff will be forced to make some tough decisions, but I expect they will both continue to have opportunities, as their strengths will help us match up well against any opponent."

Etters thinks that her largely young roster will jell throughout the course of this fall to build off of the success that the 2019 edition of the Lions found.

"I have a lot of faith in this group. I am confident they will always put their best on the field and will continue to work hard and grow together throughout the season," she said. "We feel our season progression is very conducive to success in the conference, and we expect to be in the playoff picture again this season."

Penn State Altoona women's soccer opens its 2021 season at home on Wednesday, September 1 at 6:00 p.m. against non-conference opponent Lycoming College.