BEREA, OHIO -- With 12 letter winners and eight starters returning from last year's squad, the 2011-12 edition of the Baldwin-Wallace College women's soccer team will look to challenge for the Ohio Athletic Conference title.

"I expect big things from this team this year," said 10^th-year Head Coach Reid Ayers, the second winningest women's soccer coach in school history with 80 victories. "Anything less than a deep run in the OAC Tournament would be a disappointment."

A year ago, Ayers' women produced a 7-10-4 overall and 2-4-3 OAC mark to advance to the OAC Tournament as the number six seed. This was the third time in the past four seasons that the women's soccer team has advanced to postseason play.  This year, Ayers feels his team is even better.

Leading this year's defense is sophomore All-OAC player Elizabeth Helser (Fort Wayne, Ind./ Canterbury), senior All-OAC player Lindsey Cooper (Westerville/ New Albany) and junior two-year starter Margo Laseak (Mentor). Although being primarily a defender, Cooper recorded time at the midfield position where she recorded four goals and a team-leading five assists. She was named last season's Most Valuable Player at the end of the season.  Helser and Laseak each played in all 21 matches last season and helped B-W to record three shutouts.

In the midfield, Ayers returns three student-athletes with starting experience in junior Lindsey Mikula (Rocky River), sophomore Rachel Gokey (Seville/Cloverleaf) and sophomore Kayla Losco (Aliquippa, Pa./ Hopewell). Mikula scored four goals and had three game-winners. Gokey finished with two goals and three assists and shared last year's Rookie of the Year award with Helser. Losco tallied one score a year ago.

On offense, Ayers has to replace three of his top eight scorers from last season. His top two returnees are sophomore forward Heather Keller (Parma), last season's Offensive Player of the Year,  and junior forwardBriggitte Petrash (Parma/ Normandy). Keller tied for the team lead in scoring with 16 points on seven goals and two assists, including a game-winner. She also was second on the team with 41 shots taken, including 19 on-goal. Petrash scored two goals and recorded an assist for five points.

"In the field, we return a fair number of student-athletes at forward, midfield and on defense,"said Ayers. "It is a talented group that gained valuable experience last season.  How they play together as a group this year is key.  The talent is there. The chemistry is the key."

Another big key for Ayers during preseason camp is finding a goalkeeper.  A year ago, B-W had three different players start a match. The top returner is sophomore Tina Mathur (Mason). She started in seven matches and recorded a 2-5 record with 33 saves.  Ayers said it would be an "open competition" for the staring job.

The Yellow Jackets open the season on September 3 with a road contest against Penn State-Behrend, in Erie, Pennsylvania. The Yellow Jackets first home game is September 13 versus Hiram College on Tressel Field at The George Finnie Stadium in Berea at 7:00 p.m. B-W begins OAC play with an match at Capital University at 4:00 p.m. 

FOR MORE B-W Sports Information, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email at jefmille@bw.edu Fans can access the latest B-W athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter athttp://twitter.com/bwathletics.