ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Concordia-St. Paul soccer team kicks off the 2015 season this weekend as they play host to a pair of region opponents in Central Oklahoma and Southwesten Oklahoma State. The Golden Bears host UCO on Friday night at 7 p.m. and SWOSU on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
 
With the Golden Bears set to play their first six games of the year on their home turf, they will look to get off to a fast start and build momentum heading into the conference season. "We're not playing any easy games, but it's always nice to be at home and not have to travel and be able to sleep in your own bed so it makes things simpler for us. We are excited to open things up right here at home," head coach Steve Bellis said of the early season slate.
 
Concordia-St. Paul will face some tough challenges right off the bat as they host a pair of strong in-region foes in UCO and SWOSU before taking on #6 Minnesota State, a solid D-III team in Viterbo as well as fellow NSIC opponents Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls before hitting the road for the first time of the year.
 
This weekend's meetings with Central Oklahoma and Southwestern Oklahoma State marks the first meeting with either school as the Golden Bears look to see where they are at heading into league play.
 
"These two non-conference games will be really good for us to figure out where we're at heading into conference play," said Bellis of the opening pair of games. "Central Oklahoma is a fast and physical team that is similar to Minot State in their style of play while Southwest Oklahoma State is a team that has had success in their league and will also be comparable to the top teams in our league which is what we want to see."
 
Following the pair of non-conference tests, the Golden Bears will hit the ground running in NSIC play as they host the reigning conference champion Mavericks of Minnesota State. The team is looking forward to kicking off league play with one of the top teams in the country and a school that is just an hour and half south of the Twin Cities.
 
"We are super excited for the game against Minnesota State. It's the one close opponent we want to match up with this year. It's called a Derby game in the UK and being able to play our local rivals so early is awesome for us," said Bellis of the matchup with the Mavericks.
 
Overall, the early returns from practice have been very positive as the team looks primed to improve on last season.
 
When speaking about where his team is at leading up to the season, Bellis said, "The standard of play is higher than it ever has been before because of the depth at every position which allows us to have good, strong 11v11 play in training, and our team chemistry has been as good as it ever has been before and we really look forward to the season as a team."
 
Concordia has had the opportunity to get a little glimpse of where things are at following three scrimmages which have given the coaching staff an opportunity to see some different things from the team going into the year.
 
Bellis said, "In the scrimmages we tried a few different systems and had a few different players playing in different positions and it wasn't long before the coaching staff figured out this is how we're going to play this year."
 
One thing that has allowed the Golden Bears to try some new things this fall is depth. CSP lost just three seniors and brought in ten freshmen to the mix which has given the team several solid options at each position.
 
"As we get into the season, playing two games in a weekend, our depth will allow us to compete not only in the first game but in the second game as well," Coach Bellis pointed out about his team's depth. "They will all contribute in some way which is a really good thing for us."
 
Perhaps the biggest area of strength for Concordia-St. Paul comes at the back line. With several experienced returners paired with some new faces, the defense will be relied on to be a foundation for the team. "Defensively, we're extremely solid and experienced which should help open things up on the offensive end," said Bellis.
 
The strength of the defense starts in net with senior keeper Emma Gartner. Gartner has been a mainstay in the lineup since her freshman year, collecting a total of 35 starts and amassing a goals against average of 1.66. While Gartner will once again be counted on to anchor the Golden Bears in net, CSP will also have the solid duo of sophomore Kate Mallory and freshman Emily Nelson ready to go when called upon.
 
When speaking of Gartner, Bellis said, "Emma has good hands and good distribution along with being a great athlete. She also provides strong leadership and consistently works hard for us."
 
Concordia's back line will feature a pair of All-NSIC performers in Rachel Gratz and Taryn MacMillan at the center back position along with four players in Jade Weller, Anna Augustine, Tori Lust and Kaitlyn Halvorson who will earn playing time as outside backs. Sam Fredrickson, Shannon Wynne and Kelli Heytens will also be in competition for time in the back row.
 
Gratz, a senior, was named All-NSIC Third Team last year after earning honorable mention honors as a sophomore. She has been a rock on the defensive end for the past three years as she has played in 4,450 minutes over 51 games while collecting three assists.
 
"Gratz is a really strong kid who is excellent with 1v1 tackles and brings a lot of experience to the defense," Bellis said of the senior defender.
 
After thriving as a midfielder in her first two years on campus, MacMillan has been tasked with partnering with Gratz at the center back position. She led the team with four goals last year to earn All-NSIC Third Team honors but shined as a smart, two-way player, opening up the door for a move to the back line.
 
"She reads the game well and is tremendous with both her tackles and headers. She will be a tremendous addition to our back line and will help further solidify the defense," Bellis said of MacMillan.
 
The combination of Weller, Augustine, Lust and Halvorson gives the Golden Bears a diverse group of outside backs that give the Golden Bears different options based on matchups.
 
In the midfield, Jessica Bianchi, Erica Landry, Shannon Wynne and Jordan Rowan-Stafford give the Golden Bears some weapons on both ends of the field.
 
Bianchi has shown some major flashes of skill on the offensive end for the Golden Bears as she has bagged five goals and eight assists in 51 career games.
 
Bellis stated about Bianchi, "She has come in this year in really good shape and seems determined to have a big year. Her set pieces are good and we hope to get some goals from her."
 
Landry enters her third season in navy and gold after a pair of successful campaigns as she picked up a goal and an assist last year and three goals in her first year.
 
"Erica is a good battler that wins 50/50 balls, passes the ball well and can get forward to score a few goals for us," said Bellis.
 
Wynne is coming off a strong freshman season in which she played in every game, starting 14, as she fired 19 shots while also chipping in on the defensive side of the field.
 
Bellis said, "Wynne has proven to be a really good soccer player who is quite a smart player that knows the game really well."
 
Rowan-Stafford joins the Golden Bears after a productive high school career at Tartan High School and will be in the mix for playing time for CSP from the start of the year.
 
"She is a young player really good with both feet and will do well when she gets her shot," Bellis said of the freshman midfielder.
 
The group of Mary Kaiser, Katri Gifford and McKenzie Buck are expected to battle for starting roles at the outside mid position while Colette Piche will also fight for playing time in that role.
 
"Mary and Katri are two freshmen with pace and, along with Buck and Piche, they should give us some good options on the outside," Bellis said of the group.
 
As an attacking mid, senior Alahna Anderson will once again be looked upon to provide some offense for the Golden Bears after chipping in 11 goals and four assists over her last two seasons.
 
"She is a veteran player who knows how to put the ball in the net and should be a good player for us this year," Bellis said of Anderson.
 
The forward combination of freshman Brooke Salo and junior Chelsie Lindsay should see most of the time up front for Concordia-St. Paul as both players will look to jumpstart the offense this season.
 
When speaking of the pair, Bellis said, "Brooke is a freshman who will be terrific and should contribute some goals to our offense, and Chelsie showed up this fall in really good shape and has an eye for the goal and can hit the ball really well."
 
Follow along this weekend as live stats and live video will be available for both matches if you are unable to make it out to Sea Foam Stadium. Check back to cugoldenbears.com/soccer for all soccer updates this season.