Alamosa, Colo. — The Adams State men's and women's soccer teams open their 2024 seasons on the road this weekend, traveling to Eastern New Mexico on Thursday and Lubbock Christian on Saturday.
Adams State women's soccer finished the 2023 season with a 3-9-5 overall record and a 2-7-3 RMAC record, ranking 10th in the RMAC. The Grizzlies took 103 shots and scored 12 goals. In the 2024 RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll, Adams State was picked to finish ninth.
The Lady Grizzlies will return top goal scorers Colette Tena, who had 3 goals and 1 assist, and Karlee Caballero, who had 3 goals. Athena Huggins, the 2023 points leader with 2 goals and 3 assists, will also return.
"I am so excited for this season! We have put in the work on and off the field and I truly believe we will do great things this season within the conference. The coaches and the team are all on the same page right now so I am very happy, and just can't wait for the season to start," said Sophomore Midfielder Annabell Haugen.
Starting all but one game last season, RMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention goalkeeper Ashlyn Bartley will return to build on her performance.
The Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds will feature a different look this season, with a roster of 24 newcomers. While they are returning minutes leader Sarah Tate, they are only bringing back one goalkeeper from last season. The Greyhounds were picked to finish 13th in the Lone Star Conference.
Lubbock Christian, led by first-year head coach Alistair Caldwell, is guided by Lexi De La Cruz, who tallied 9 goals and 6 assists on her way to being named to the All-LSC Second Team in 2023. With 11 new players, Lubbock Christian was picked to finish eighth in the Lone Star Conference.
Adams State men's soccer finished the 2023 season with a 0-16 overall record and a 0-10 RMAC record. In the RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll, the Grizzlies were picked to finish 11th. They took 86 shots and scored 7 goals, with Ranulfo Lopez returning as the offensive leader, having scored 3 goals and providing 1 assist.
A new goalkeeper will feature between the posts this year, as all three keepers on the roster are new to the team this season.
The Greyhounds, picked to finish eighth in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll, will return top goal scorers Nick Huenig, who had 5 goals and 1 assist, and Giani Mascarel, who had 4 goals. They are returning only one goalkeeper from last season.
Lubbock Christian, coming off a 6-4-7 season, was picked to finish sixth in the 2024 Lone Star Conference Coaches Poll. The Chaps' 2024 roster will feature 17 new players but will return LSC players to watch Nako Amare, who scored 2 goals and added 3 assists last season.
"I am very excited to get the regular season started. After a strong preseason, I fully believe that we have the players and system to have a strong regular season ahead. Starting off with two very tough teams will be a big test but a test we expect to get results from," said Head Coach Justin Gilfert.
The Grizzlies will play at 5 and 7 p.m. in Portales, N.M., on Thursday, Sept. 5. On Saturday, Sept. 7, Adams State will play at 3 and 5 p.m. in Lubbock, Texas The men will play first both days. All games this weekend will be available to stream on FloSports. A monthly membership to the LSCN costs $14.99 and provides access to Lone Star Conference games for the entire month.
