Alva Review-Courier -

OKLAHOMA CITY (Aug. 29, 2017) – The preseason for Oklahoma Christian women's soccer has been a learning process, for both the players and their new coach, Meagan Anderson.

Anderson, a former player and assistant coach for OC, returned to the program in May after former coach Randall Robison resigned, ending a nine-season run at the helm. Robison and his staff recruited all but two current players on the roster, which meant that there wasn't much time for Anderson to familiarize herself with the players, and vice versa.

The adjustment process, Anderson said, will continue for the length of the season, which will begin Thursday when the Lady Eagles host East Central at 6 p.m. While it's impossible at this point to say how successful her team will be, Anderson said the players all have approached a potentially difficult situation with positive attitudes.

"It's a different kind of overwhelming," Anderson said. "It's just a lot of excitement going into the unknown of players, the unknown of competition. … I think the girls have responded very maturely to how we want to move forward and the progress we want to see through this year. How we proceed through the year doesn't need to be based on wins and losses. For us to be successful this year, it isn't always going to happen on the scoreboard. A lot of times, we'll be the only ones to notice it."

Anderson said a primary focus of the season for OC will be improving on controlling what the Lady Eagles can control – such as daily effort, improving technique (especially defensively) and sticking to the game plan.

All that said, Anderson certainly expects the Lady Eagles to be competitive, even though the Heartland Conference preseason poll had OC listed next-to-last among the eight teams.

"We have tried to be very positive and optimistic and look at the little things in which we've succeeded, not the big picture," she said. "That's for me to worry about. We have to win the games we are supposed to win, and we have to compete in the games that we're neck-and-neck with (the opponent).

"Do we want to be the physical, athletic teams that (Heartland powers) St. Edward's and Dallas Baptist are? Of course. That's something that we can always progress toward … but right now, we need to worry about how we, as a program and a team, can do things for us."

OC will begin the season with just one goalkeeper on the roster, although sophomore Addison Milner showed considerable promise in limited action last season behind the now-departed standout, Carina Schanz. Milner has been praised for her technical skills, and Anderson said Milner is working on becoming a more vocal leader on the field.

The defensive back line in front of Milner will mostly be young, but OC will have steady senior Chelsea Key manning her spot at right back for a fourth straight campaign, providing valuable wisdom and experience. Opposite Key will be speedy freshman Lexi Lane, with sophomores Ida Nielsen and Oby Okeke and freshman Myah Buhler rotating in the center back positions. Both Nielsen and Okeke bring starting experience from last season.

A handful of other defenders – Courtney Hernandez, Grace Simpson, Dani Mainguet and Bailey Burton – will each have roles to play on occasion as Anderson looks for the Lady Eagles to develop depth in that key area on the field.

In the defensive midfield, veterans Darrian Palacios, Lauren Parker and Carley Cooley will carry much of the load in the holding positions, while senior Courtney Nixon – back after missing the 2016 season due to injury – and freshman Chanie Scrivner will be key wing players. Sophomore Morgan Boling and freshman Jenny Soto also could figure into the rotation at times.

The attacking midfield could be the Eagles' deepest group, even with the departure of two-time All-Heartland pick Rubi Villegas Aguilar, who transferred to NCAA Division I Lamar. Sophomore Dakota Milner was a third-team All-Heartland Conference pick last season, and sophomore Kylee Ingalls and senior Madeline Roseke each has shown the capability to score goals.

When healthy, junior-college transfer Melisa Lopez also should figure into the mix, while seniors Madison Brinkman and Monique Raygoza bring veteran savvy and freshman Julia Moore played for Anderson at Edmond North High School.

There also are plenty of options at forward. Dakota Milner and Scrivner will play up front a lot, and Anderson raved about freshman Brianna Concienne's speed, strength and creativity during the preseason. Freshman Corina Marin and Raygoza could see some action at forward.

Essentially, the Lady Eagles will use a 4-3-3 alignment, but Anderson said it might not look that way to the trained eye.

"We'll play the forwards withdrawn – they'll be more like wingers," she said. "I'm trying to find something that fits with the girls and what they're comfortable with and what they can succeed with."