KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Stability is the key for the Oregon Tech women's soccer team, as for the first time since 2021, the team will have the same leader for back-to-back years. Starting his second season as head coach, Tom Moore brought in a large recruiting class to build off a successful 2023 season where the Lady Owls finished 7-5-4, qualifying for the postseason for the seventh-straight year.
 
"We needed to rebalance the class sizes and we've been able to achieve that, while bringing in more firepower on the attack, more quality midfield players, some very gritty defensive additions, along with a steady keeper," said Moore. "We believe each of these student-athletes can have a great career at OIT as we continue to go after high achieving students who love the game of soccer.
 
Last season, the Owls were stout defensively, allowing just 15 goals in 16 matches – including seven shutout decisions. Tech must replace just one defender from the 2023 club, as all-conference center back, Karly White, has graduated. White was a 4-year starter, playing in 69 career games, scoring two goals and adding an assist.
 
Four starters return from the back line, senior All-CCC pick Carly Moss, fellow senior Kara Morris, along with sophomores Kaylie Hashizaki and Chloe Cook. Moss has been a mainstay in the lineup during her three seasons at Tech, starting 44 career matches from her center back spot. Morris has started 50 career games, spending a portion of last season as a holding-mid, but will see time as a center back. Cook will potentially slide into a center back position after playing on the outside for most of 2023 – starting every game as a true freshman. Hashizaki returns to patrol the outside back slot, having played a full 90 minutes 10 times as a freshman.
 
Moore will have a luxury with a deep pool of players battling for a starting spot. A pair of freshmen – Jaylee Curran and Kathleen Wyborny – will be joined by transfers Emma Glazebrook and Solei Elletson, along with redshirt freshman Danielle Query-Hagedorn, to complete the defensive unit.
 
Curran won the Oahu Interscholastic Association title as a senior at Campbell High in Hawaii; Glazebrook started 27 matches over the last two seasons at Walla Walla CC; with Wyborny earning All-Pacific Conference honors at Forest Grove High. The trio will bolster the outside back group.
 
Elletson and Query-Hagedorn will provide depth at center back – Elletson, a 2-time All-NWAC selection from North Idaho College, with Query-Hagedorn, originally from Maryknoll High in Hawaii, coming off a redshirt year.
 
"Having strong senior leadership from Carly and Kara is key," Moore said. "Kaylie and Chloe played key minutes for us last season and I expect our newcomers to play integral pieces in our success this fall."
 
The Lady Owls return 2-year starting keeper Sydni Nakamura, providing key experience in a critical spot. The fifth-year senior played all 1370 minutes in 2023, recording a 0.99 goals against average and a .797 save percentage – posting six shutouts.
 
Returner Aeryn Elder and freshman Paige Everson will serve as the back-ups – Elder, a senior who played the 2021 and 2022 seasons at Blue Mountain CC, with Everson, the sister of OIT basketball/track athlete Lily Everson, an All-State pick at Valley Catholic High, while also playing for the PDX United club team.
 
"We look solid between the posts as Sydni provides the experience of playing two seasons through the rigors of the Cascade Conference," Moore said. "Aeryn has been solid throughout preseason and Paige is showing a lot of promise right out of the gate."
 
The Lady Owls will open the year with friendlies against Clark CC and Cal Poly Humboldt, prepping for the season opener on Aug. 24 at George Fox.