Soccer | 8/25/2022 10:58:00 AM

DENTON, Texas (August 25, 2022) – Today marks the beginning of the 2022 Texas Woman's University soccer season. For two seniors, today embodies the first step in their final ride as collegiate soccer players.

The 2022 season begins on the road for TWU in Golden, Colorado, as the Pioneers face South Central Regional foe Colorado School of Mines August 25 at 8 p.m. (CST).

Fifth-year senior Keely Chapman made the decision to utilize her Covid year and return for one final season with the Pioneers.

"I decided to come back because I was really excited for the group of girls we had coming in," Chapman said. "I wanted to also continue to improve the bonds I made with the big incoming class we had last year, so playing with them one last year sounded exciting."

While senior Morgan Sherman transferred to TWU last year, she said this season embodies a lot of reflection, as she closes the chapter on playing college soccer.

"It's kind of sad because you're almost done with everything," Sherman said. "Ending the soccer journey can be really sad at times because it's something that has been a part of my life for such a long period of time."

With tonight marking the beginning of the final journey for Chapman and Sherman, both of them reflected on the goals they have for themselves and for the team.

Chapman said the team goal remains the same: win a ring.

"I want to help push the team to our ultimate goals," Chapman said. "While the team goal is to win a ring, to achieve that we have to continue to stick to our small goals, such as get better and improve every game."

As the team's starting goalkeeper, Sherman said she holds herself to a high standard in the net.

"I would love to have a shutout season," Sherman said. "I do not want to let goals in. I know it may be inevitable for them to go in, but that is my top-tier goal. Of course, I would also love to help the team win a ring."

The Pioneers kick off their season on the road, before returning home on Sept. 1 to face Oklahoma Baptist in a nonconference match. After two more nonconference matches, TWU will travel to Oklahoma Christian on Sept. 14 at 4:30 p.m. to open Lone Star Conference play.

Last year, the Pioneers finished fourth in the conference, losing in the conference tournament to Angelo State.

Although the LSC is a talent-filled conference and the Pioneers have a young team, Chapman and Sherman said they believe the Pioneers have what it takes to contend for a top spot.

"I feel like we have such good game tactics this year," Sherman said. "I think that the formation we will be playing will set us apart. If we can consistently keep our speed of play up and crack down on this formation. I think we will be unstoppable."

On-the-field play is important but begins with trust built in practice, according to Chapman.

"I would say that we are a very family-based team," Chapman said. "We feel like we can get farther as a team if we are very close-knit and really trust each other. I think that set us apart, because we focus on that, so when we step on the field, we trust each other to do whatever job needs to get done."

As Chapman and Sherman prepare to step on the field tonight to begin their last season at TWU, they each reflected on the growth they made and the advice they would give their freshman selves, if they could go back.

"I would tell her not to get too caught up in everything because it goes by so fast," Chapman said.

Sherman said she has contemplated this question a lot as she has reflected on her total collegiate career.

"I would tell her to not worry about little things and to live in the present moment," Sherman said. "I would tell her to be more present to where I am at and in the moment because it goes by in the blink of an eye."

You can watch the Pioneers debut tonight at 8 p.m. (CST) against the Colorado School of Mines here. You can also follow along via live stats here.