FOREST, Va. – With a new coach at the helm, a new looking roster on the pitch, and a new vibe surrounding the team, the Guilford College women's soccer team ushers in a new era and were selected eighth in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll heading into the 2025 season, as announced by the conference offices on Thursday.

"This preseason has been highly exciting with the team, and you can really feel that something special is happening here," Women's Soccer Head Coach, Dakota Rock '15 said. "While we lost key players from the 2024 season, we are not looking at this as a rebuild, but rather a reload. This roster held loads of returning talent from top to bottom, so now it is a new chance for everybody to make a name for themselves and show what they can do with an elevated role. The team has shown tremendous focus and cohesion, and our new players have integrated seamlessly, bringing fresh energy and quality to the team. Our experienced upperclassmen are ready to lead the way into this new look of Guilford Women's Soccer, with key freshmen ready to make an impact! The commitment from everyone has been outstanding, and we are ready to finally get the season underway and continue building on the foundation that was set in this program."

The 2025 iteration of the Quakers will look vastly different than their 2024 squad as they saw a great deal of roster turnover due to graduations and transfers. Those that remain, however, will look to continue raising the bar with the new opportunities a coaching change present. Defensively, GC is good hands with their lone retained All-ODAC selection from the program-record four last season, with Kylee Berry (Kernersville, N.C.) setting the tone as a foundational piece to much of what they do on both sides of the ball while fellow returning starter Kylie Muse (Browns Summit, N.C.) is also a true difference-maker on the backend. Meanwhile, Grace Overton (Apex, N.C.) is a calm and collected influence who never seems anxious or rushed leading to high decision-making skills as a more defensive-minded midfielder. That trio, as well as the other ten field players, will be leaned upon heavily due to the team's inexperience in the box. Losing all three goalkeepers from 2024, Guilford will start a freshman in net all fall as Lorela Lis (Bradenton, Fla.) and Madison Motto (Waxhaw, N.C.) battle for the starting role in camp.

Without the return of their top-three scorers from last year, Guilford retains plenty of firepower. Ashlyn Miller (Charlotte, N.C.) is the top source of points among those who are back in Greensboro after posting nine on three goals and three assists last year. Her, alongside Zekiah Johnson (Winston-Salem, N.C.) were efficient sources of points in last season and should now take on more prominent roles in the Quaker attack. Ashlyn Kahre (Fort Mill, S.C.) is a strong breakout candidate in her second season in the cardinal and grey as the winger looks to find consistency after playing a significant role as a freshman. Another potentially impactful offensive player is Ainsley Yates (West End, N.C.) in her second year with GC after finishing 2024 strong and enjoying a strong preseason to this point. Throw in the steady play of Emily Parker (Lillington, N.C.), a potential return to form from Lily Brown (Boone, N.C.), who was second on the team in points, with 12, and goals, with five, just two years ago, and some contributions from the core of incoming freshmen, and Guilford still possesses plenty of potential on the offensive side.

Starting the new year with a clash on their home pitch against Mary Baldwin University on Friday, August 29 at 7:00 PM, GC opens league play about a month later on September 27 at Roanoke before a tough first conference match at home against the reigning ODAC Champions, Washington & Lee University, on Saturday, October 4 at 2:00 PM.
 

Rk.	School (First-Place Votes)	Pts.
1.	Washington & Lee University (12)	144 pts.
2.	Virginia Wesleyan University (1)	129 pts.
3.	University of Lynchburg	125 pts.
4.	Bridgewater College	101 pts.
5.	Randolph-Macon College	95 pts.
6.	Shenandoah University	93 pts.
7.	Roanoke College	82 pts.
8.	Guilford College	71 pts.
9.	Randolph College	54 pts.
10.	Averett University	44 pts.
11.	Eastern Mennonite University	37 pts.
12.	Hollins University	26 pts.
13.	Sweet Briar College	13 pts.

#GoQuakes