Photo courtesy of SMSU Athletic Communications The 2018 SMSU soccer team includes front row (L to R): Melissa Hawkland, Cassidy Erickson, Abbey Hoisington, Katelyn Toner, Jessica Craigmile, Jenna Meyer, Alli Miskowiec, Erin Fisher, Maria Duncan and Katie East. Middle row (L to R): Assistant coach Cameron Sauro, Katie Oatman, Olivia Harriger, Emily Hofmann, Macy Violett, Alyssa Cerullo, Allie Cook, Sarah Spears, coach Erin Kasmarik-Mallett. Back row (L to R): Sofie Immens, Kortney Genske, Kaylee Burkett-Behun, Morgan Darner, Kelli Wentz, Lexi Smith and Alex Harmdierks.

MARSHALL – The 2018 SMSU women’s soccer team is set to begin their NSIC conference schedule today when they go on the road to take on Sioux Falls, followed their home-opener against Northern State on the 16th. Through two non-conference matchups, the young Mustang squad has a current record of 0-2, but pulled out an early exhibition-match win over Dakota Wesleyan 3-1 to start the season.

With only four seniors on roster in 2018, including – Katelyn Toner, Emily Hofmann, Morgan Darner and Macy Violett – the Mustangs will have some bumps in the road that coach Erin Kasmarik-Mallett hopes can be utilized as a learning tool to make them stronger in the end.

“Because we do play some young players and things like that that, those players are bound to make mistakes which we’re okay with and those are opportunities for us to learn and grow,” said Kasmarik-Mallett. “But we’re really in it for the journey – for the long haul, and (we have to) live with the process.

Some of the newcomers who are expected to step in and see time on the field are Kaylee Burkett-Behun, Lexi Smith, Abbey Hoisington, Katie Oatman and Alex Harmdierks. In the short time that they’ve been with the team, the younger players have begun developing bonds with some of the veteran players to create a great team-chemistry. Kasmarik-Mallett believes that having a tight-knit group like the one that’s being built and the belief in one another that comes along with it is a major strength heading into conference play.

“I think our strength is definitely our chemistry and our togetherness from that standpoint,” said Kasmarik-Mallett. “I think also our strength is our belief in the fact that if we play soccer the right way and we play with the right type of mentality, and we control the things that we can control, we’re going to be successful.”