CLEVELAND, Ga. (August 19, 2024) - The No. 13 Truett McConnell University women's soccer team is set to begin their 2024 season on Wednesday, where they will host Faulkner University, inside the TMU Soccer Complex. The Lady Bears enter the season as the reigning back-to-back Appalachian Athletic Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champions, and were voted No. 1 seed in the AAC coaches' preseason poll after receiving 223 points. TMU is sitting pretty at No. 13 in the NAIA Top 25 Preseason Coach's Poll, the highest ranking the program has ever seen.
 
TMU dominated in the 2023 regular season and conference tournament play, earning the titles of AAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions for the second consecutive year, while finishing with a conference record of 13-0-1. The Lady Bears were featured punching their ticket to the NAIA National Championships, their sixth straight appearance, where they bested No. 10 Marion University with a score of 3-1. The Lady Bears made TMU program history with the recorded victory over Marion as they advanced to the Sweet 16 at the final site location. TMU put up a fight against (RV) Life University in what proved their final game of the season, ultimately falling to a heartbreaking score of 2-1. The Lady Bears concluded their historic season with an overall record of 18-3-2.

The Lady Bears will be returning senior Eliska Dvorakova, a three-time AAC Offensive Player of the Year, NAIA All-American Third Team and AAC All Conference First Team member, along with AAC All-Conference Second team members Emelie Taylor and Ashley Johnson. Amongst the core group of returners, TMU will be welcoming 16 incoming Bears to the women's soccer program.

The Lady Bears home opener on Wednesday  is set to begin at 2:00 p.m., followed by TMU's conference opener scheduled for Saturday, September 7, at 12:00 p.m.