1. DOING IT WITH DEFENSE
Defense has been a strong suit for the Tritons in the last two seasons and with three back-line starters returning as well as all-conference goalkeeper Casey Winn, that tune should remain the same in 2018.
Winn and the defense posted four clean sheets in 2017, including three in a row in conference play. After a slow start allowing four goals in each of the first two matches, Eckerd gave up an average of only 1.4 goals per contest on the way to hosting its first conference tournament match in program history.
Along with Winn, Haley Knowles earned second-team all-conference honors as a defender. Teagan Payne and Sophia Kopko also return as starters while senior Johanna Andersson and junior Gabby Martinez add experienced depth.
2. RETURNING TO LEAD THE ATTACK
The team's top two goal-scorers from last season are also back with Stephanie Linton (7) and Paula Astiazaran (4) ready to lead the attack. Linton tied a long-standing Triton record by scoring four goals in a single match against Spring Hill (Ala.) on September 3 while Astiazaran scored all four of her goals in SSC action.
Astiazaran's first career goal was golden, as she touched the ball behind her on a run down the left side on the way to firing in the game-winner in overtime against Embry-Riddle on September 27. She also scored both of EC's goals in a 3-2 loss at Barry on October 28.
Linton started the season on fire, scoring six times in her first three matches. She also netted the game-winning goal against Saint Leo on October 4 and earned first-team all-conference honors for her efforts up top. She was Eckerd's first selection to the SSC First Team since 2002.
3. ALOHA, HAWAII!
After opening the season with a pair of non-conference matches at home, the Tritons will traverse the Pacific Ocean and land in the Aloha State for two more contests before beginning conference play. Eckerd will face Hawaii-Hilo on September 7 and Hawaii Pacific on September 9, then return to the continental United States to host Barry in the SSC opener on September 15.
The Tritons also host Florida Tech, Lynn, Rollins, and Florida Southern in conference action while traveling to Tampa, Embry-Riddle, Saint Leo, Palm Beach Atlantic, and Nova Southeastern.
The regular season ends with a non-conference contest against Flagler (Fla.) College on October 24.
4. BUILDING ON CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Last season featured a historic moment for the women's soccer program. The Tritons earned the No. 4 seed in the SSC Tournament and hosted a first-round postseason contest for the first time in history. The outcome wasn't what the team hoped for - a 1-0 overtime loss to Tampa - but the competitiveness the Tritons displayed throughout the stringent Sunshine State schedule certainly lent credence to the belief that the program is on the rise.
Eckerd was particularly tough at home last season, winning four of its five conference contests at Johnson Field. The highlight was a 2-1 overtime victory over No. 7 Nova Southeastern on senior night, giving EC 15 points in conference play - enough to clinch a top-four spot in the regular season.
The conference certainly won't be an easy road again this year but the Tritons seem well-equipped to build on last season's progress.
5. LARGE LIST OF NEWCOMERS LOOK TO MAKE IMPACT
Head coach Danielle Fotopoulos brought in 11 new players to bolster the Tritons' roster for the 2018 season.
Expect to see several of those newcomers become fixtures in the team's lineup. JUCO transfer Siobhan Longmire was an all-conference and all-region performer at Dodge City (Kan.) CC while scoring 18 career goals. Taylor Fu, Lashanti Williams, and Morghan Craven were also highly-successful attackers before coming to Eckerd and should add plenty of options to the EC offense.
RETURNING LEADERS
GOALS: Stephanie Linton (7)
ASSISTS: Stephanie Linton, Paula Astiazaran, Madison Dilgard (2)
POINTS: Stephanie Linton (16)
SHOTS: Stephanie Linton (33)
SAVES: Casey Winn (80)
GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE: Casey Winn (1.56)
CIRCLE THESE DATES
September 15: vs. Barry University (6:00 PM)
The Tritons were edged on the road at Barry last season, 3-2, in the regular season finale. This season, Eckerd opens SSC play against the Buccaneers looking for its first win over Barry since 2013. The Bucs were picked second in the preseason coaches poll, so an early-season win for the Tritons would certainly make a statement.
September 19: at University of Tampa (7:00 PM)
Last season, Tampa twice edged the Tritons at Johnson Field including a 1-0 overtime victory in the SSC Tournament. Eckerd will look for a measure of payback this season at Tampa.
October 17: vs. Florida Southern (7:00 PM)
This match could be highly important for Eckerd as the SSC schedule winds down. The Tritons certainly hope to be in the mix for a top-four spot in the conference standings heading into the postseason and - if the team is indeed in that spot - a win in the conference home finale would go a long way to staying near the top. Eckerd has beaten FSC on the road in three of its last four trips to Lakeland, but is looking for its first home win over the Mocs since 2013.