CLEVELAND, Ga. (August 18, 2023) – The Truett McConnell University women's soccer team is set to begin their 2023 season on Saturday, August 19, where they will travel to take on the University of the Cumberlands Patriots. The reigning undisputed Appalachian Athletic Conference Champions were voted in the No. 1 spot in the AAC coaches' preseason poll, receiving 233 points and 13 of the 15 first-place votes, favoring them to win the 2023 Championship. The Lady Bears were also seen securing their place at No. 18 in the NAIA Top 25 Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
In the 2022 season, TMU dominated in the regular season and the conference tournament, earning the titles of AAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions, while keeping a perfect conference record of 13-0. The Lady Bears were featured punching their ticket to the NAIA National Championships, their fifth straight appearance, where they fell to a tough loss in the West Palm Beach Bracket to No. 3 seed, College of Idaho. The Lady Bears concluded the 2022 season with an overall record of 17-3-1.
 
"We've had a very good preseason. I was very pleased with how our returners came back," said Head Coach David McDowell. "Their fitness levels are good and they picked up where they left off from the spring with playing a high level of soccer. What has also been very impressive to me is while we graduated some good leaders last year, we have had a good number of our returners step up and express their leadership style. They embrace what we are all about as a program and have done a great job of maintaining our standards and are guiding the new girls along in understanding what we stand for and how things work within the program. As coaches we love having a strong dependence on returners who know their jobs and do their jobs, and this group is definitely embracing the dynamic."
 
The Lady Bears will be returning senior Eliska Dvorakova, the back-to-back AAC Offensive Player of the year, along with senior Nadiia Ivanchenko and graduate student Lyndsey Darden, who were both members of the AAC All-Conference First Team. Senior Brianna Hernandez and junior Ruffa Meger, both named to the AAC All-Conference Second Team, will also be returning amongst this core group of returners.
 
"The new girls have come in with great energy and enthusiasm. They are very coachable and humble and have settled in nicely. The overall camaraderie in the team is good and we are very excited about the upcoming season."
 
Saturday's match is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. in Williamsburg, Ky., followed by the Lady Bears home opener scheduled for Saturday, March 26, at 1:00 p.m.