SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos women's soccer team is coming off its third straight season of 10 wins or more. It is fresh off its fourth appearance in the NAIA National Championships over the past five seasons. Six Cougars were named All-A.I.I. in 2012, and the team won the NSCAA Team Academic Award for the first time in program history.

However, there remains room to grow.

Heading into his eighth season at the helm of the program he started back in 2006, head coach Ron Pulvers has his team's goals set higher for the 2013 campaign.

"Ultimately, we want to be consistent year after year. We've been good and nationally recognized, but we've got to elevate ourselves and take it to the next level," said Pulvers. "To beat teams day-in and day-out, win conference year-in and year-out, and perform at the highest national level – that's where we want to be."

The 2013 Cougar squad has a decisively different look to it than the team that graced the pitch a year ago. We'll take a look at the different components that make up this year's team to give a FIRST LOOK at the CSUSM women's soccer team.

Who's Back?
20 returning letterwinners, in addition to four redshirts, comprise two-thirds of the 2013 Cougar squad. Captains Nicole Luna, Kaleigh Dodson, and Dani Porter have been tasked with leading the bunch and instilling the blue-collar brand of soccer CSUSM is striving for.

Luna, a junior defender, started 18 of 19 games a year ago and led a CSUSM backline that yielded just 16 goals. Luna and fellow everyday starter Monica Aguilera will anchor the defense, along with camp standouts, Brianne Searl and Amy Alber. Searl and Alber, who also appear in the Cougar midfield, combined for three goals in 2012 and provide an attacking dimension down the flanks.

Behind the backline, there's a competition brewing between junior goalkeeper Kimi Mendenhall and 2012 fall starter Amanda Sears. Sears posted a 0.87 GAA during her freshman season, but a strong spring has propelled Mendenhall into the mix. Erica Dory, a freshman, is also making saves in training and has thrown her name into the hat.

Dodson, an All-A.I.I. First Team selection and the 2012 CSUSM assists leader (5), will head a midfield with a considerably young feel. Sophomores Paulina Good, Sarah Campbell, Alexa Watkins and Natalie Lara are competing for spots in the middle of the pitch, along with junior Courtney Kay and seniors Kaylea Bradley and Amanda Anderson.

Lara and Good will provide the most experience besides Dodson in the midfield, as the two combined for 18 starts during their freshman seasons. Good looked solid for the Cougars' first nine games of the 2012 season before an injury cut her year short.

Porter and Jacqueline Lara will be relied upon heavily to replace the goal-scoring prowess of 2012 leaders Shelby Bush and Sarah Hopper. Porter finished one goal behind Bush and Hopper with four goals, while Jacqueline Lara finished with a goal and an assist in 15 appearances as a substitute.

"Jacqueline has been outstanding in training camp. Hopefully, we can translate some of those goals on the training ground into match goals," said Pulvers.

A notable return to the Cougar front line will be Kelly Skvarna, who missed all of 2012 with a leg injury. Skvarna, now a redshirt senior, scored four goals in 2011. Amy Young and Heather Flores will also compete for time. Flores appeared in all 19 games as a reserve last season.

New Kids on the Block
12 new players will don the blue and white for CSUSM this season, many of whom coach Pulvers believes will provide an immediate impact.

"We've got a lot of really good newcomers I'm excited about. They will push the returners and end up playing a big role for us this year," said Pulvers.

Leading the group is Teylor Hawkins, a freshman out of Chaparral High School in Winchester, Calif. Although still working on her fitness, Pulvers expects her to be a handful for opponents to deal with.

Pulvers has also been impressed with UC Riverside transfer Ashley Graves' breakaway speed, in addition to the contributions put forth by Brie Jones, Serena Lapham and Mireya (Yeya) Millan.

Coach's Quote
"Our returners will model the soccer we want to play, a blue-collar brand of soccer. When you look at the best teams in college soccer, there is not a lot stylistically about how they play. The teams at the highest level have a psychological and physical edge. That is what we are trying to cultivate. Our goal is winning the A.I.I. and getting past the [NAIA] first round. We've been close a few times, but I think this is a year when we can get past the first round and get to the single-site national championship tournament."