By: Ryan Henry
KENNESAW, Ga. – The day is finally here! The Kennesaw State soccer team opens up the 2025 season at Coastal Carolina on Thursday before staying in South Carolina to face The Citadel on Sunday.
Thursday, August 14
7 p.m. – Kennesaw State (0-0-0, 0-0-0 CUSA) vs. Coastal Carolina (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Sun Belt)
Location: Coastal Carolina Soccer Stadium | Conway, S.C.
Sunday, August 17
2 p.m. – Kennesaw State (0-0-0, 0-0-0 CUSA) vs. The Citadel (0-0-0, 0-0-0 SoCon)
Location: Washington Light Infantry Field | Charleston, S.C.
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2024 Year in Review
The Owls concluded their first season in Conference USA with a 3-10-4 record, finishing seventh in the conference. The season was highlighted by their 3-0 thumping of eventual CUSA champions FIU. For their efforts, forward
Tianna Rivera and goalkeeper
Charlee Bernal became the program's first CUSA Player and Goalkeeper of the Week. At the year's conclusion, Rivera received all-conference second-team honors.
Mark Your Calendars
Coach
Chris Cahill packed the schedule in his second season at KSU. The Owls will face three teams that made the 2024 NCAA tournament (Auburn, FIU and Missouri State). After traveling to South Carolina for the first two matches, KSU will host American foe Memphis on Aug. 21 for their home opener. CUSA play begins on Sept. 21 at Western Kentucky.
Key Returners
Six starters from last year's squad (Bernal,
Aly Bryan,
Naomi Moleka,
Alana Nesbit,
Anabel Orozco and
Delaney Edwards) return for the 2025 season. Bernal made history last season as she became the program's first CUSA Goalkeeper of the Week after her 3-0 shutout against the conference champions FIU on Oct. 20. Senior
Mai Jensen also returns, having started in all seven matches she played in before going down with an injury.
Fresh Faces
Eight new players (two transfers and six freshmen) will be added to the fold this season. Georgia transfer
Rebecca Womer brings two years of SEC experience, having played with current KSU assistant coach
Daniella Murguia.
Sydni Whitehead (Bellarmine) received ASUN All-Freshman team honors in 2023 and will face her former squad on Sept. 14.
Courtney Allen,
Julia Balchen,
Aubrey Diskin,
Anna Economopoulos,
Sara Hill and
Caroline Shaw hope to make an impact at The Nest from day one.
CUSA Preseason Poll
Kennesaw State was picked to finish eighth in the Conference USA coaches' preseason poll, tallying 47 total points. The Black and Gold finished seventh in their inaugural CUSA season with a conference record of 2-4-3. The conference expanded to 12 teams following the additions of Missouri State and Delaware, who were predicting to finish third and seventh respectively. Liberty tops the poll with 119 points and nine first-place votes.
Scouting the Chanticleers
Coastal enters the 2025 season coming of an 8-7-6 campaign (3-3-4 Sun Belt) and a semifinal appearance in the Sun Belt Tournament. The Chants return their top goal scorer from last season, Eleanor Ashton, who finished the year with eight and was one of five players in the NCAA to score in five consecutive matches.
CCU was picked to finished fifth in the Sun Belt Coaches' Preseason Poll with defender Eefie Botjer being named to the conference's preseason team.
Scouting the Bulldogs
The Citadel finished 2024 at 4-11-3 (0-8-1 SoCon). Sophomore Charlotte Seay will look to build upon her SoCon All-Freshmen Team selection, where she started 17 matches on the backline. Ariana Paz leads all returners with 12 points, doing so in just seven matches last season. The Bulldogs were picked ninth in the preseason poll.
