ARDEN HILLS, Minn. -  The Bethel University women's soccer team is entering a new era in 2012 as Head Coach Amanda Maxwell enters her first season at the helm as the first full-time women's soccer coach at Bethel. Coach Maxwell and the Royals will be expecting to build on a solid 2011 campaign that saw the Royals finish with a 9-7-2 record. The Royals seven losses in 2011 were by a combined total of eight goals, which leaves them optimistic they can make a big improvement in 2012.

“We want to improve on last year where they were very competitive,” Maxwell said. “We want to be able to turn all those one goal losses around and I think we have the leadership to do that.”

The Royals return a solid group of four senior leaders in Kelsey Flaherty (Shoreview, Minn.), Anne Fazio (Holland, Mich.), Lydia Bergeson (Mauston, Wis.), and Kelsey Holmberg (Cambridge, Minn.). Flaherty was named to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) All-Conference team and was also named to the second team All-North Region team by the National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) after scoring five goals and adding two assists in 2011.  Fazio recorded 12 points on the year with four goals and four assists.

“Our seniors are really good players and leaders,” Maxwell commented. “They are hardworking and motivated and that goes all the way through all of our classes, all the way down to the freshman. They will all be able to help push and motivate each other even when things are down, and that will help us get to the next level.”

Bethel will travel to Mount Vernon, Iowa to open their season against Cornell College on Friday, August 31. The first MIAC match will take place September 11 against Augsburg College at the Ona Orth Athletic Complex on the Bethel University campus. 

“The MIAC is such a good conference and very competitive,” Maxwell said. “Our non-conference schedule is also very tough. Every game this year will be a battle and we will have to work hard and give it our all. I am excited to get going.”