KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The 2024 women's soccer season saw Oregon Tech surprise everyone but themselves. Picked seventh in the preseason poll, the Lady Owls finished second in the Cascade Conference standings, reaching the league tournament finals, while securing their fourth trip in program history to the NAIA Championships.
 
A year later, Tech will not sneak up on any side – finding themselves ranked second in the CCC preseason poll – despite losing seven starters to graduation.
 
However, to head coach Tom Moore, it was the foundation the 2024 seniors set that will propel the club into the new year.
 
"The difference now is that we have a target on our back. We are a team that will need to get to the level we need to be at and invite that. It is a testament to the girls that came before us. We have some standards and expectations that we have to meet and I know the team is excited for that."
 
Gone is CCC Defensive Player of the Year, Carly Moss, CCC Goalkeeper of the Year, Sydni Nakamura, along with top scorers Kiana Jacobson, Brianna Lewis and Kayla Ness – who combined for 19 goals and 13 assists.
 
The current club knows it wasn't easy for the 2024 squad to win 15 matches.
 
"Our seniors set the standard last year," Moore said. "As much as I don't bring it up, the players bring it up, as they know the standard and know what it takes to be at that level – to battle and compete for 90 minutes."
 
Without Nakamura, a 3-year starter who posted 11 shutouts a season ago, Tech will turn to a new netminder. Transfers Emma Beavin and Elle Hillar look to have the early edge – Beavin, a sophomore from Lower Columbia CC, with Hillar starting for two seasons at Delta CC in California.
 
They'll be joined by two returners - redshirt freshman Paige Everson and fifth-year senior, Aeryn Elder.
 
The back line will look different as well – with sophomore Jaylee Curran the lone starter returning. Curran had a banner year, starting 20 matches, posting a pair of goals and adding two assists. Senior Emma Glazebrook and junior Kaylie Hashizaki were part-time starters and will have an expanded role this season.
 
Columbia Basin transfers Olivia Mendoza and Shelby Geiger, along with Ariela Sanchez-Hermosillo from Pima CC, will each make an immediate impact, as all three players earned all-conference honors in 2024. True freshman Alejandra Salcedo, from Selah High in Washington, will battle for minutes.

"I really like our goalkeeper situation, they are in a good starting point," Moore said. "Our back line, they are all very good players, we just have to get some consistency there. It's the fun part about training, each day is going to be different and day in and day out and they will be tested. Jaylee played a lot of minutes for us as a freshman and Emma is a senior who has three years of collegiate experience and will take on a bigger role. Our two CBC transfers come from a program that didn't allow many goals last season and look for them to continue that trend this year."
 
The Owls will turn to returning starters in senior Solei Elletson and junior Chloe Cook in the defensive midfield. Elletson had two goals last season, while Cook – a 2-year starter, had three assists.
 
In the middle of the pitch, the duo of Raeah Raymondo and Miranda Valle are coming off quality 2024 seasons. Raymondo, a sophomore, had four goals and assisted on two others, while Valle has played in 48 career matches – including 28 starts.
 
On the outside, the Owls are excited for senior Sydney Soskis – coming off an outstanding spring with the OIT track team. The speedster had four assists in 2024 and will be key in the attack.
 
Three returners will be joined by three freshmen – all looking to crack the lineup. Both Kathleen Wyborny and Layne Lively redshirted last season, with Emily Johnson in her third season in the program. Naaliyah Robinson from Seattle, Claire Cowan from Utah and Crescent Valley product Maegan Cooper each had impressive high school resumes.
 
"We have a large number of players and a large amount of talent in the midfield – it's going to be a difficult situation, but a good problem to have," Moore said. "I tell them, you give your best effort on the field and allow us to make that decision."
 
The biggest change for Tech will be up top and trying to replace three All-CCC performers – but the cupboard is not bare.
 
Sophomore Caitlyn Price scored four goals in 2024, with senior Kaelin Ness having played in 37 career matches. Junior Makahl Chambers has provided depth in a reserve role the past two seasons, while junior Ryane Mattox is coming off a redshirt year after earning All-Region honors at Blue Mountain CC.
 
Joining them are four freshman and two transfers – all expected to potentially make an impact. Brynne Cope and Beta Valentine come from Washington – Cope, one of the fastest players on the squad, while Valentine scored over 100 goals in her prep career. Kaia Fetch and Amyrah Hill each earned All-State honors in Oregon – Fetch at Yamhill-Carlton High and Hill at The Dalles High. Juniors Kenna Berry and Hannah Robbins provide experience – Berry from Walla Walla CC and Robbins from Centralia CC.
 
"You look at the roster and we lost our three top goal scorers and the conference assists leader – they are big shoes to fill," Moore said. "We did a good job in the recruiting process to identify the right players and I believe they will be able to perform rather quickly – helping us score goals."
 
Tech will play four of their first six matches at home – with the non-conference slate featuring a date at nationally-ranked Embry-Riddle, along with a home match-up with a Top-25 Hope International side. The Owls will play 7-of-12 league matches on the road – facing the remaining five teams in the Top-6 of the preseason poll (College of Idaho, Eastern Oregon, Carroll, Southern Oregon, Rocky Mountain) away from Klamath Falls.
 
Moore and his team are up to the challenge.
 
"I don't like to take stuff back, as obviously, we played really well last year – but we want to be in a position where we are playing in a game that matters in the end. The standards are high, we have set a lot of high expectations – and that's the great part. Our returning core is excited about getting back to that spot and have shown the new kids what it will take to play at that level."