MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Montevallo women's soccer team will look to build of last season in the first year under Head Coach Jake Wyman.

Wyman, a three-year assistant coach with the Montevallo Women's Soccer program, was named head coach in January, after former Head Coach Robert Lane was named an Assistant Coach with the University of Georgia Women's Soccer team.

With 17 returners back, including 11 who started at least 10 matches a year ago, the Falcons are hoping to end the season with a spot in the Gulf South Conference Tournament for the second consecutive season.

While moving from an assistant coaching role to a head coaching role can present challenges, Wyman believes having a core group with experience is important.
"The group that we have coming back makes it easy," said Wyman. "They have a great team bond and are very welcoming to the new players."

Included in the group returning to the pitch this season for the purple and gold are all 13 point scorers from a year ago. Wyman believes this will translate in to confidence as the season progresses. 

Last season the Falcons reached post season play as the number seven overall seed. A pair of wins over Mississippi College and Lee University saw the Falcons advance to the Gulf South Conference Championship for the first time since 2009.

Wyman is excited to take the experience from last year's conference run into the new season.

"It definitely gave us confidence. I think what we will take from it is the experience. You can't replicate that experience unless you go through it," said Wyman. "I think the conference championship run is great for our program."

Montevallo returns a veteran group of five seniors to lead the team this season.

This year's senior group arrived in 2016, the same year that Wyman joined the Falcons program as an Assistant Coach.

 "This group has been the catalyst for changing the program around," said Wyman. "They've changed the culture of the program and we wouldn't be here today without those five girls."
The class, which includes Vic Whitehouse, Madison Madewell, Tylor Ring, Judith-Perez Bayon, and Michaila Franklin, has been a part of 25 wins over the past three years for the program, but Wyman wants more for the veteran group this season.

"I'd like to see them out on a higher note than last year, but obviously it is going to take a lot of work," Wyman added.

Wyman is excited for the seniors this season because of what they mean to the team in terms of leadership and how the game is played.

"Their leadership is invaluable to us. They lead the way when it comes to the way we play and the intensity in training," said Wyman. "I'm excited for the senior group and their final season."
Juniors Hannah Waki and Christiane Malone return as the most experienced Falcons defensively. The duo played in all 20 games last season, each starting 19. Sophomore Melanie Stevens, who played 20 games last season, will join Waki and Malone on the back line. Waki was named a USCA NCAA D II All-South Region Third Team selection in 2018.
Montevallo returns several players with experience in the midfield. Senior Victoria Whitehouse, who scored two goals and registered one assist a year ago, returns to a veteran group which includes senior Madison Madewell, junior  Samara Lino and sophomores Medhali Hernandez and Espy Sanchez. Hernandez totaled 14 points, including six goals and two assists last season.

Lino, a junior who scored three goals last season, says the team chemistry amongst the returns and newcomers is really exciting.
"We are expecting a lot from this season," said Lino. "Our team chemistry is really good right now and I can't wait to start playing games again and see how good our team is going to become."

Lino returns as one of the leaders in the midfield for Wyman's side. The Rio de Janeiro, Brazil native has seen action in 35 games throughout her career, including 21 starts.
"We improved throughout preseason and I think we will continue to improve throughout the season," said Lino. "It was good to see how well our team can play together with the returners and freshman and we are excited to play together during the season."

In addition, senior Tylor Ring and junior Kira Bochard have played in the midfield and up front for the Falcons during their careers. Ring scored two goals and assisted on one other last season, while Bochard contributed two goals and two assists.

The Falcons also return a talented group up front which includes sophomore Romee Contreas, a USCA NCAA D II All-South Region Third Team selection and two time Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Week selection last season, sophomore Allye Darnell, senior Michaila Franklin, and junior Kristen Chance. The group of forwards combined for 17 goals and 11 assists last season. Contreas led Montevallo in points as a freshman in 2018, scoring a team high 10 goals and compiling four assists, for 24 total points.
Espy Sanchez, part of a group of five sophomores who saw extensive playing time as a freshman a year ago, expects the Falcons to be much improved this season.
"I feel like this season, there is no way for us to not get better," said Sanchez. "There is so much family on our team and I am excited to go for as long as we can and as hard as we can."

As a freshman in 2018, Sanchez started 10 games and played in 19, contributing two goals.

The Falcons return sophomore Annie Mason in goal. Mason is joined by senior Judith Perez-Bayon and freshman Brynne Qualley.

Mason played in 15 games last season, including 13 starts. The Lakewood, California native was huge for the Falcons in the postseason last year making 21 saves and only allowing one goal in three matches.

Montevallo brings in nine newcomers to join the 17 returners this season. Sanchez believes this group brings a different type of competitiveness to the team, which is exciting.
"They all have heart and are here to fight and compete," said Sanchez. "That is what we need in order to make it to where we did last season."

Wyman is looking forward to the improvements the newcomers will bring to the team across the board.

"With this new group, every unit on our team will have improved, from our backs to our forwards, to our keepers to our midfielders," said Wyman. "I'm excited for the new additions."

The 2019 class adds four forwards, two midfielders, two defenders, and one goalkeeper.

"Every year the freshman we bring in seem to have a different type of energy and that carries us," added Wyman. "It's been a nice addition to the team."

The Falcons will play a challenging schedule in the Gulf South Conference which features three teams ranked inside the top 13 nationally in the preseason United Soccer Coaches Association NCAA Division II national poll.

Lee University was ranked sixth, followed by the University of West Florida ranked eighth, and Mississippi College ranked 13th.

West Florida was picked as the preseason favorite by the GSC Preseason Coaches Poll, garnering 168 total points and 12 first place votes.

The Falcons will face off with the Argonauts once this season, on the road in Pensacola, Alabama on Oct. 4th. West Florida topped Montevallo 1-0 in the GSC Conference Championship last season.

While the conference schedule is tough, Wyman says the non-conference schedule is tough as well, but by design.

"We've scheduled some tough non-conference games this season because we want to play in big games and I want my team to get used to playing in big games," said Wyman. "I want that experience to translate in to confidence and hopefully that confidence will carry the team in games that are really tight and in games that maybe mean a little bit more than others."

Montevallo will host Trevecca Nazarene to begin the season on Thursday, September 5^th, a team which won 13 games in 2018.

Montevallo's schedule continues to strengthen as season progresses. The Falcons will play host to NCAA Division I institution, Louisiana Tech University on Sunday, September 8^th.
As the season approaches, Wyman is looking for the team to continually improve.

"We have to take small steps. The season goes by quick but we've got to progressively get better and I think that is my expectation for the team," said Wyman. "We want to continue to improve on a daily basis, weekly basis, and a game by game basis, and if we can do that then we will see progress."