Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's soccer team begins its 10th season this weekend with the "UNK Fall Classic."

The Lopers will face the Newman Jets, an MIAA member starting next season, on Friday at 2:30 p.m. and then square off against the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears Sunday at 11 a.m. Check the soccer schedule page for other kick times and media links; note video only will be available for Sunday's games.

Second-year head coach Chloe Roberts has the majority of her 2017 roster back led by All-MIAA selections Kelsie Ienn (Papillion-LaVista), Kaitlyn Pawloski (Hastings H.S.), Tori Weber (Lincoln Southeast) and Molly Willis (Kearney H.S.).

A 19-person roster features nine seniors, making this the most veteran team in UNK's short history. The newcomers are redshirt freshman Kassidy Kirsch (Rapid City, SD) and true freshman Bridget Barker (Ballwin, Mo.) and Kylee Moore (Omaha Burke). Kirsch joined the program last semester and thus went through spring ball.

UNK has a quick turnaround as it ventures to Montana for the annual "Rimrock Classic" next weekend.

 
Newman U. Jets (Wichita, Kan.)
Conference: HC (Heartland Conf.)

2017 Record: 11-6-2 (8-4-2 HC)

Returning Leaders: #6 Colleen Howland (5-4, Sr., MF, 37 shots, 26 points on eight goals and 10 assists), #20 Grace Linton (5-6, Sr., F, 30 shots, 17 points on eight goals and one assist), #1 Ashley Sweetnam (5-6, Sr., GK, 1.30 GAA, 58 saves, played all 1,733 minutes)
 
Concordia U. St. Paul Golden Bears (St. Paul, Minn.)
Conference: NSIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conf.)

2017 Record: 10-8-1 (8-6-1 NSIC)

Returning Leaders: #20 Jordan Rowan-Stafford (5-2, Sr., MF/F, 52 shots, 16 points on five goals and six assists), #23 Jade Weller (5-7, Sr., D, 39 shots, 10 points on four goals and two assists), #0 Emily Neilson (Jr., 5-4, GK, 1.24 GAA, 29 saves, 1,013 minutes)
 
Western State Colorado U. Mountaineers (Gunnison, Colo.)
Conference: RMAC (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conf.)

2017 Record: 5-10-2 (4-7-1 RMAC)

Returning Leaders: #8 Ingrid Alvarez (5-2, Sr., MF, 20 shots, 10 points on two goals and three assists), #20 Annie Grillo (5-5, Jr., MF/F, 10 shots, four points on two goals), #0 Emilie Eckhart (5-11, Jr., GK, 1.51 GAA, 51 saves, 655 minutes)