PENSACOLA, Fla. --- The University of West Florida women's soccer team is back in action for the 2024 season. They kick off their weekend season opener on the road at Mankato, Minn. The Argos will open the season with first-time opponents, Southwest Minnesota State and Minnesota State. They will take on SMSU Friday, Sept. 6 at 1:00 p.m. CT and conclude the weekend with a matchup over MSU Sunday, Sept. 8 at 2:00 p.m. CT. All games will be played at The Pitch.
 
Preseason GSC
West Florida was named the favorite in the 2024 Gulf South Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Poll and had five names on the preseason All-GSC team.
 
The poll and preseason team were determined by the league's head coaches, who were unable to vote for their own team or student-athletes.
 
The Argonauts topped the preseason predictions for the first time since 2019, after collecting 143 total points and 11-of-12 possible first-place votes. West Florida heads into this season as defending GSC regular season champions.
 
The Argos had a conference-best five selections, headlined by Mya Swinton who was last season's GSC Player of the Year. Joining Swinton on the Preseason All-GSC Team was Kendall Blackmon, Emma Beltz, Isabela Labovic, Ahnalie Layman and Maciah Lipsey.
 
A Look into Last Year
The Argos concluded last season with a 15-3-1 record. They punched a ticket into the NCAA Championships to gain their 18^th tournament appearance.
 
UWF return nine starters including four D2 CCA South Region honorees.
 
Lipsey returns to the net for her third season. In the 2023 season, the goalkeeper allowed a conference-low, 10 goals and finished with a top-20 best goals against average in Division 2 (0.57). Additionally, the graduate student earned a top-10 program single-season-high of nine shutouts.
 
The striking duo will appear for their senior year. Swinton and Beltz scored a combined 17 goals to lead the team last season.
 
Defender Ahnalie Layman looks to take the pitch for her final season. Layman led the Argonauts in minutes played (1689) and assists (8) last season.
 
About Southwest Minnesota State
The Mustangs concluded the 2023 season with a 6-10-1 record. The team scored 15 goals throughout last season. Haley Mason and Selena Prolic led with three goals apiece. The upperclassman return for another season with the Mustangs.
 
Junior Brook Wetterstorm led the team with nine points on two goals and a team-high, five assists.
 
Emily Maciel tallied a team-high 1,506 minutes played in 16 starts as a defender. Maciel returns to lead the back line her senior year.
 
About Minnesota State
With the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, the Mavericks finished as the 2-seed with an 11-4-3 record.
 
The team's returning leading scorer, Avery Korsching, gathered 14 points off six goals and two assists last season.
 
Defender Courtney Kovacs looks to lead the back line for the Mavericks. Kovacs tallied 1,656 minutes last season – third most minutes played.