The EC Women's soccer team jumps right into the 2010 season with four matches versus some of the top teams in the NAIA ranks.  Three of the first four opponents are receiving votes in the NAIA national poll and the fourth opponent is a defending conference champion.

This past weekend the Lions traveled to Union College in Barborsville, KY for games versus the University of the Cumberlands and the host Union College.  Friday saw the Lions post a very impressive 0-0 tie against the University of the Cumberlands (TN) in a game neither team could find the decisive breakthrough.  Freshman goalkeeper Cyara Castillo (Springboro, OH) came up huge in the nets providing 7 saves as well as adding a crunching smother on a 1v1 breakaway opportunity for Cumberlands.  Dali Sterling (Evans, GA) led all the Lions in shots with five and just narrowly missed providing the game winner on two separate occasions forcing Cumberland goalkeeper saves.  A solid performance by the back crew of Becki Moore (Morehead City, NC), Lindsay Taylor (Morehead City, NC), and Lindsey Freese (North Forsyth, GA) held the opponents in check the entire 90 minutes.  In all, there were five freshmen make their debut for the Lions in the game.

Saturday saw the Lions run out of gas in the second half as the host Union College Bulldogs posted a 4-0 win.  The game played in 90-degree heat in the middle-of-the day on field turf drained the Lions and provided too steep a hill to climb on the afternoon.  Despite the final score there were several attacking moments for the Lions that show the good things coming for the EC attack this year.

"With so many new faces and new roles for the team, this weekend served us well in working out all little things in our formation and tactics," said Coach Forrest Wimberly.  "Our performance Friday was excellent and we were a little unlucky in the match on Saturday, but our team never stopped playing in either match and kept attacking the entire 90 minutes.  Some definite leaders emerged on the field this weekend and we'll look to lean on them and continue to build the identity of this team in training this week."

The women's team will travel to Union University in Jackson, TN this weekend to play both Union and the University of Arts and Science of Oklahoma in another early-season weekend Classic.