HAYWARD, Calif. – Cal State East Bay women's soccer will make its 2014 season debut on Thursday, Sept. 4, against Fresno Pacific inside Pioneer Stadium. Head Coach Amy Gerace enters her 14th season at the helm of the Pioneer program, and 22 of 31 players on the opening day roster were members of the 2013 squad.

Roster: 2014 Women's Soccer
Schedule: 2014 Women's Soccer

Last season Cal State East Bay doubled its league win total (4) from a season ago and finished only seven points out of a top half finish in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings. A similar progression this season would give Gerace her 100th career victory and put the Pioneers in contention for a spot in the postseason league tournament.

"This year is about this team…and the vision of this team. I'm more excited for this team than the milestone," said Gerace, a 1998 graduate of then Cal State Hayward. "This season they have higher expectations of themselves…If we can achieve those goals we will surpass that 100 mark."

Cal State East Bay returns all of its scoring from a season ago led by sophomore Megan Ravenscroft (Fremont, CA/Washington HS) and her three goals. The Pioneers scored all 12 of their goals in CCAA play and tied for the eighth best scoring attack in conference play among the 12-team field.

"We should be more technically and tactically sound with our current and new players. Our attacking players have done a lot of work in the offseason and prepared themselves well," stated Gerace. "Ariana Gordon (Brentwood, CA/Heritage HS) has been on her game non-stop since the end of last season. As a senior, she has high expectations of herself," said Gerace. "Megan (Ravenscroft) and Rachel Robbert came in as freshmen last season and have shown a lot of growth in the offseason."

Despite returning nearly three-quarters of last year's squad, only four players on this year's club started more than 12 games last season. The top two point scorers in Ravenscroft and Gordon, along with sophomore Andrea Hernandez (Reno, NV/Bishop Manogue HS) and senior Sara Yamasaki (Hollister, CA/San Benito HS) make up the list.

The Pioneers have several options to replace 2013 starting goalkeeper and graduated senior Donna Williams. Last season Williams posted CCAA top-5 marks of 82 saves and a .812 save percentage in 14 league starts.

Cal State East Bay heads into 2014 boasting five goalkeepers. The returning group includes part-time 2013 starter Briana Scholtens (Fairfield, CA/Solano College), along with redshirts Lia Unterholzner (Manteca, CA/Biola Univ.) and Jasmine Corbett (Riverside, CA/Jurupa Valley HS). New faces joining this year's cast of netminders are junior Selena Braun (Morgan Hill, CA/Evergreen Valley College) and freshman Tasa Leoso (Mililani, HI/Mililani HS).

"Selena (Braun) has experience at the 2-year level and the ability to make an impact right away. She is very similar to Briana (Scholtens) in her characteristics in they are both great organizers and play without fear," praised Gerace. "Lia (Unterholzner) has shown a lot of improvement."

This year's schedule alterations result in facing each of the 11 other league teams in a single match during the regular season. The Pioneers will have time to fine tune their offense prior to the CCAA season courtesy of seven non-conference games as opposed to just two contests in 2013.

"It's extremely beneficial to play more games before heading into the CCAA schedule. It's very difficult to make up games (in the league standings) if you lose early on," commented Gerace. "This format allows us to work out some kinks. Last season once we simplified our tactics we saw some different results."

Cal State East Bay has a front-loaded home schedule this season, but ends with five of the team's final seven games on the road. Key dates include Thursday's season home opener (Sept. 4), a 2-game road trip to the state of Idaho (Sept. 11-13), the CCAA opener hosting Humboldt State (Sept. 26), and "Senior Day" against Cal State L.A. (Oct. 26).

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