As the glow of the World Cup slowly fades, the Loyola women’s soccer team prepares for a new season.

With nine new pair of legs on the squad, the youth of the players will be an obstacle for the team.

Head coach Emmy Therrell said she is excited about the fresh faces.

“It is a talented group of players who are enthusiastic and willing to practice hard,” she said. “It has been a good off-season except for a few injures.”

Along with the freshmen, the team is experiencing another change. The ‘Pack has a new field to call home.

Six of the seven scheduled home games this season will kick off at the ‘Fly behind Audubon Zoo. According to Lisa Lester, communications senior and co-captain, the new location should bring more fans to the games.

“I am really looking forward to playing at the Fly,” Lester said. “It will give people the opportunity to come out and see us play.”

The team is looking to improve on its 3-13 record from the 2001 season.

This year’s captains for the ‘Pack are Lester, midfielder Anna Weldon, education senior, and forward Clare Springer, biology junior. Along with the captains, Loyola returns six other upperclassmen.

Communications sophomores Josie Porter, Megan Galizia and Gigi Alford return with experience from last season and a focus on defense. According to Porter, this year’s team could be very exciting to watch.

“I feel like this team has more potential,” she said. “I see more dedication and hard work in practice.”

Rounding out the returning faces are biology juniors Lisa Handschumacher and Lissa Lyncker along with sociology junior Leila Manouchehri. Handschumacher and Lyncker will bring experience to the midfield while Manouchehri brings experience in goal.

According to Galizia, there is good mixture of experience and youth.

“The freshmen are talented and our schedule is very challenging,” she said. “We are going to have a lot of good games.”

On the freshmen side of the ball, new faces abound in all areas of the field.

Visual arts freshman Claire Martin and political science freshman Marina Meza will provide defensive support in the midfield.

International business freshman Adrianne Golia, communications freshman Bliar Youmans and Amanda Scully, music education freshman, all bring a youthful defender presence to the back line.

On the offensive side of the ball, Amelia Neuberger, criminal justice freshman, and Micheala Bono, general studies freshman, will split time at both defender and forward.

According to Meza, the transition to college has been both fun and difficult.

“The upperclassmen have been great,” she said. “It has been a lot of fun so far.”

The ‘Pack is scheduled to open the season against Freed-Hardeman today at 7:00 p.m. in Jackson, Miss.