AUSTIN, Texas – The Concordia Texas women's soccer team will bring a mix of experienced playmakers and promising young talent into their season opener on Friday, facing off against LeTourneau in Longview, Texas.
 
The Tornados will return to the pitch for their first match in over a year, their season having been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They will open with a road matchup against the YellowJackets at 3 p.m.
 
Concordia Texas is coming off their tenth straight ASC Tournament appearance in 2019 and is looking to reach the postseason once again under second-year head coach Andy Tunnicliffe.
 
The Tornados were picked to finish fourth in the ASC West in the league's preseason poll, which was voted on by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors.
 
The Tornados will feature plenty of new faces this year, but returners Elisa Leboeuf and Cayla Gonzalez will look to step up as the club's leaders.
 
Leboeuf, the sophomore midfielder out of Plano, Texas, made 15 starts in a promising freshman campaign. She notched a goal and an assist on the season, recording a .571 on-goal shooting percentage.
 
Gonzalez is entering her senior year, bringing three years and 48 games of experience to the squad. The Austin, Texas native is a two-time All-ASC selection and has recorded 16 goals and seven assists over the course of her lucrative career as a Tornado.
 
Along with Leboeuf, a duo of freshmen in Kallie Krenz and Patricia Heckendorn represented CTX on the ASC Players to Watch list.
 
Krenz is coming out of Lockhart, Texas, where she lettered in multiple sports at Lockhart high school. She earned several All-District honors during her career as a Lady Lion, and was named the 2020 LHS Soccer Offensive Player of the Year.
 
Heckendorn is a forward out of Brazoswood high school in Lake Jackson, Texas, where she put together a decorated career as a three-year letterman. She earned First Team All-District and First Team All-Brazoria County honors, and finished top-10 in goals and assists in the county.
 
Concordia Texas will play a shortened schedule consisting of conference games only, opening with two games on the road before they face off against Howard Payne in their home opener on Feb. 19. The Tornados will end the regular season with their fifth game on the road, matching up once again with Howard Payne in Brownwood, Texas on Mar. 27.

The postseason ASC Tournament will begin on April 1. The quarterfinals will be hosted by the higher seeds followed by the semifinals and championship game being held by the top seed in the ASC East.