ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop women's soccer team gets its 2019 campaign going Sunday afternoon against the Davidson Wildcats at 1 p.m. at Eagle Field.

The Eagles will sport a veteran lineup when they hit the field Sunday with all 11 projected starters being returners from last season.  Winthrop returns 22 players from last season with a senior class of eight players.

Winthrop returns nearly 90 percent of its scoring from last year.  Senior Allie Thomas led the Eagles last year with six goals and she will be joined up top by fellow senior Natalie Royaards whose speed will create problems for opposing defenses.  Adding to the attack from the midfield will be senior Gabi Hull who scored three goals last year.

The midfield for the Eagles will most likely see the most fluidity.  Megan Loveland and Katie Colwick both featured prominently in the midfield for the Eagles last year as Colwick finished the season with three goals.  Gianna Giroux returns to the Eagle lineup this year after missing last season due to injury and could provide a spark. 

Newcomer, sophomore Alexandra Perez, who played with the Eagles in the spring, is expected to make an impact either as a starter or reserve.  The freshman class for the Eagles is comprised of mostly midfielders with Bailey Fudala and Samantha Yorke being able to add depth.

The back line for the Eagles will be anchored by senior Dylan Patterson.  Junior Morrison Trnavsky will be limited early in the season as she returns from injury.  Junior Kendall Claxton stepped into a defensive role last year after Trnavsky's injury and will start in the back four. 

Senior Keeley Leising will see a large amount of time in the back to start the season but is a dual threat with her scoring abilities.  Leising scored three goals and recorded three assists last year.  Also expected to start in the back is Greta Conboy.  Newcomer Janae Massey, a Clover High School product, will add depth in the defense.

In goal, Winthrop returns three of the four goals from last year's roster but they have very few minutes of game time between them.  Junior Ashlynn Harris will be Winthrop's starter but saw action in only two games as a sophomore.  Harris played in nine games, making eight starts as a freshman.  Junior Cammie Kaminski and sophomore Amanda Esposito will back up Harris but neither have recorded any time in a NCAA contest.

After Sunday's opener, the Eagles will remain at home to host the Wofford Terriers on Aug. 31 before hitting the road for their next two contests.

New for the 2019 season at Eagle Field, all Winthrop soccer matches will be free admission.