AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The Ave Maria University women's soccer team opens the 2017 season on Monday afternoon, welcoming the Conquistadors of Florida National University to AMU Soccer Field. The Gyrenes return eight players from last year's team, who won five games total and three in The Sun Conference en route to an appearance in The Sun Conference Tournament.

Taking over the reigns of the AMU women's soccer program is Ave Maria alum Tyler Rosser. Rosser played soccer at Ave during his tenure as a student, as has also served as the head coach of the men's program. He comes to Ave Maria from Montgomery (AL) Catholic Preparatory School, where he took the girls soccer team to a 14-win season and a trip to the state playoffs.

Ave's eight returning players accounted for over 60 percent of the goal-scoring last season, led by leading scorer Alexia Mazzoccone. Mazzoccone scored four goals in 2016, and enters the season fourth in AMU history in goals scored with 13, six away from the school record. 

Fellow senior Laura Mastandrea also comes in to the season among the top ten scorers in school history. The Palmetto Ridge product logged more minutes than any other Gyrene last season, and was one of seven players to see time in every game, a list that also includes returning senior Rebekah Sperry and lone junior returner Bernadette Hartney. Gianna Vega, who was one of three Gyrenes to log both an assist and a goal in 2016, rounds out the senior class.

Sophomore Meghan Precord posted five points last year with two goals and an assist, and is part of a group of three returning sophomores that also includes Clare Jordan and Bailey Vandegrift.

Joining these returners are a group of talented newcomers who hail from across the country. In total, there are 13 new players on the AMU roster, including 11 freshmen. The eleven freshman come from five states (Florida, Alabama, Missouri, Michigan, and Ohio). 

The schedule for the Gyrenes features eight home games, led off by Monday's tilt with Florida National. The home slate features three home dates (including an exhibition) in the month of August, one in September, and four in October, capped off by Senior Day festivities with SCAD-Savannah in town on October 21.

Under Coach Rosser, the Gyrenes are searching for a second consecutive trip to The Sun Conference Tournament, a distinction that comes to the top seven teams in TSC play, which begins September 20 against defending champion Keiser.