After improving to an 11-win season last year, the Coastal Carolina women’s soccer program has made its mark in the Big South conference as a top contender for the 2015 season.

Coastal looks to do so as the season gets underway this weekend with a pair of games on the road. It starts off with a matchup at Wofford Friday at 7 p.m., and then to Charlotte, N.C., for their second match of the weekend Sunday at 2 p.m. against Charlotte.

Led by the Chants four seniors Camille Christie, Darbie Kelley, Miki Antzoulatos and Mikayla Williams, Coastal was picked third in the Big South’s preseason poll. A total of 17 Chanticleers are back from last year, including all-conference honorees Amber Adams, Sam Patterson, and Daniella Famili.

However, once again the upperclassmen will be joined by a large group of newcomers, featuring 12 freshmen. In all, a total of 18 players are in the first or second year with the program, as is new assistant coach/goalkeeper coach Lucas Zicher.

Senior Mikayla Williams, along with juniors Amber Adams and Melanie Flatter are back to anchor a defense that has set school records for most shutouts (11) and fewest goals allowed (15) and should be strong again. Behind the back line, junior Becca Austin will tend the goal for the Chanticleers along with incoming freshman Morgan Divine and Sabrina Painter.

Offensively, the Chants’ return junior Ellie Taylor and sophomore Daniella Famili. Taylor had the game winning goal in overtime against Charlotte which appear on ESPN’s top ten plays of the week and dished out two assists, while Famili tallied three goals and two assists. They are joined by three others who found the net at least once last season.

The Chanticleers will be tested by a challenging nonconference schedule, including in-state rival University of South Carolina along with NC State.