After a first NCAA Tournament berth in school history, the MSU women's soccer team has its sights set on a Big Ten Championship.
Junior midfielder Ashley Lawson said losing just two starters to graduation leaves her team with an advantage for the upcoming year.
"Obviously the seniors will be missed," she said. "Our team was so competitive last year I don't think it's going to hinder our team too much though."
Early last season with a 12-7-2 record, MSU pulled off upsets against then-No. 19 Kentucky and then-No. 20 Purdue, while playing to a draw with then-No. 21 Michigan.
The Spartans were bumped from the tourney in the first round by way of a 2-1 heartbreaker to Miami (Ohio), leaving MSU with a sour taste it's eager to wash away with a more successful year.
"It was kind of a bad experience because we came out flat," Lawson said.
"It could have been better because we didn't play our best but I felt like we really deserved to be there."
If last season is any indication, MSU will get a chance to prove itself once again. Goalkeeper Stacy Heller, forward Tiffany Laskowski and midfielders Trisha Kenny, Andrea Sied and Michelle Perun anchor a senior group that has had four years to gel. Laskowski, Perun and Harris combined for 20 of the squad's 38 goals in 2002, and Laskowski, Sied, Heller and junior midfield Abby Shepherd earned spots on the 2002 All-Big Ten teams.
"Our star senior class is the core of our team," junior midfielder Adrienne Treado said. "And now that they're seniors we should be really good and be a top Big Ten contender."
Five freshmen are expected to make a big impact as well, Treado said. Forwards Jenee Witherspoon and Heather Riley, goalie Nicole Galas and midfielder Callie McCarthy make up the class of 2007.
"We have another goalie coming in so she should be able to compete for starting time," she said.
"And another forward who could get some time up top and to score some goals. There aren't many coming in, but the ones that do will make a big impact."
MSU kicks off its season at 1 p.m. Friday at Old College Field against Virginia.
