AUSTIN, Texas – The Concordia Texas women's soccer team returns a talented core of second-year players, now with a season of experience under their belt, and prepare to hit the pitch to kick off their 2021 campaign at home against Houston-Victoria on Wednesday.
 
The Tornados enter the season with a youthful roster highlighted by a sophomore class that received four All-ASC honors, ready to lead the club after gaining valuable experience in the previous season.
 
Head Coach Andy Tunnicliffe, entering his third year at the helm, expects to see some growth from his squad this season.
 
"I expect us to compete and raise our performance levels on the field from our previous two seasons," Tunnicliffe said. "I believe we have a roster with some depth that will allow individuals to show their qualities at the right time in matches."
 
The Tornados played to a 1-6-1, 1-6-0 ASC record in a 2020-21 season shortened by COVID, but ended the season on a high note by splitting a home-and-home with HPU in the final two games of the year.
 
The ASC preseason poll saw CTX picked to finish ninth, receiving 71 total points. Hardin-Simmons, the defending ASC champion, sits atop the poll with 238 total points and 19 first-place votes, followed by UT Dallas with 213 points and three first-place votes. Mary Hardin-Baylor rounds out the top three with 195 points.
 
A pair of sophomore standouts, Patricia Heckendorn and Emily Mowrer, represented the Tornados on the ASC Players to Watch List.
 
Heckendorn will look to be a scoring threat on the outside for CTX, having knocked in a game-winner in the team's lone win last season. The All-ASC honoree fired a team-high 16 shots, seven of them on-goal, and stood out as an offensive weapon in her debut year.
 
Mowrer, another All-ASC selection, was a midfield presence for the Tornados, contributing offensively with 13 shots and shooting on-goal at a .615 clip. The Cibolo, Texas native performed on both sides of the field, aiding in two CTX shutouts.
Kallie Krenz and Elizabeth Jones received All-ASC honors alongside Heckendorn and Mowrer, the four sophomores heading the Tornados' talented second-year class.
 
Krenz ran alongside Heckendorn on the CTX front line, adding another element to the Tornados' offensive attack. As a freshman, the forward totaled eight shots and notched the second goal in a 2-0 victory over Howard Payne.
 
Jones, the Dripping Springs High School product, played 470 minutes in the goal and recorded 15 saves on the year. The keeper was dominant for CTX in two shutouts, and she will look to safeguard the net again this season.
 
While the Tornados will feature a young roster, Coach Tunnicliffe believes his squad is primed for a successful year.
 
"We are delighted with our roster at this stage of our team development," Tunnicliffe said. "We are primarily freshmen and sophomores, having gained valuable experience. Our underclassmen have already proven that they are ready to play and compete, so it is an exciting time for everyone in the program."
 
The Tornados will open the season at home on Wednesday, squaring off with NAIA opponent Houston-Victoria at Round Rock Multipurpose Center in Round Rock, Texas.
 
Following their season opener, CTX will hit the road for a seven-game stretch, including their first two conference matches at LeTourneau on Sept. 23 and East Texas Baptist on Sept. 25.
 
Next, Concordia Texas will face off with a top ASC foe in UT Dallas on Sept. 30, their first conference match at home.
 
At the tail end of the season, the Tornados will play a four-match home stand, including a faceoff with ASC favorite Hardin-Simmons on Oct. 21, and close out the regular season on the road on Oct. 29 with a match against Mary Hardin-Baylor.
 
Concordia Texas will look towards the postseason, as the ASC Tournament will begin with quarterfinal matches on Nov. 2.
 
The Tornados are bringing a young and exciting squad into the season, and will begin their 2021 campaign on Wednesday with a 2 pm matchup against Houston-Victoria at Round Rock Multipurpose Center in Round Rock, Texas.