HAYWARD, Calif. — The Pioneer women's soccer team will open the 2013 season on the road on Thursday evening. Cal State East Bay will kickoff the season against Fresno Pacific, with the match scheduled for 7 p.m. The Pioneers will then travel travel to Belmont on Sunday, Sept. 8 for a 2:30 p.m. showdown with Notre Dame de Namur.

The Pioneers, picked to finish fifth in the North Division for the upcoming 2013 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) women's soccer season, return 12 players from last year's squad. This includes five returning starters in senior midfielders Shannon Fontes and Katie Brawley, junior midfielder Ariana Gordon, and junior defenders Sara Yamasaki and Rachel Sloss.

East Bay has two skilled upperclassmen competing for time in goal in senior Donna Williams and junior Briana Scholtens. The team will also expect to get contributions from returning players like junior forward Alyssa Rodriguez, sophomore midfielders Danielle Cummings, Joanna Giron, and Sara Silva, and sophomore defender Kelley Brown.

Head coach Amy Gerace has also brought in a strong 2013 recruiting class. This year's team features 15 new players, including 11 freshmen. The Pioneers expect to lean heavily on their first-year players, and fans can expect contributions from forwards Megan Ravenscroft, Corryn Barney, Rachel Robbert, Bekah Anderson, and Andrea Hernandez, as well as midfielder Sialei Manuleleau and defenders Jessica Loya, Suzanne Bateson, Alexis Perez, and Baylee Starkey.