Women's Soccer | 8/23/2022 12:00:00 PM

MIAMI SHORES, Fla.--Head coach Tafadswa Ziyenge is ready to sail into the 2022 season at the helm of the Buccaneer women's soccer program.

After a 7-6-3 season in 2021, the Bucs' skipper returns 14 players, including five starters, but brings in the first full class of his tenure in The Shores, with 14 newcomers joining the team.

Bella Fitzhenry and Emma Lillbäck are both two-year starters in the defensive third, while Angelina Sieloff, Drew Demspey and Maddie Willenborg return as sophomore starters.

Dempsey is the top returning offensive threat after scoring four goals with two assists last year. Ellen Cederin added two goals and two assists, while Lillbäck chipped in three assists.

While nine of the newcomers are freshmen, the Bucs have five transfers with plenty of experience, including keeper Emily Parrott, striker McKenna Delong, forwards Natalia Lima and Madison Paster and midfielder Linea Jørgensen.

Ziyenge's Bucs have 16 games this fall, including home contests with Flagler, Albany State and Florida National, in addition to the always-tough Sunshine State Conference slate, which includes Florida Tech, Palm Beach Atlantic, Saint Leo, Nova Southeastern and Eckerd. The Buc face off with Florida Memorial on the road for the first time in the series, while visiting Embry-Riddle, Lynn, Rollins, Tampa and Florida Southern in conference. The season kicks off with two games in Columbus, Ga., taking on West Florida and Christian Brothers from the Gulf South Conference.

The Bucs were tabbed tied for seventh in the SSC Preseason Poll, along with Lynn. They finished seventh last season.

The Bucs kick off the season at the CSU Collegiate Invitational in Columbus, Ga., facing the West Florida Argonauts and the Christian Brothers Buccaneers. Tickets for the games are only available through the Home Town ticketing system. No cash sales will be allowed at the gate.