FREDONIA, N.Y. -- When Fredonia head coach Chris Case, now in his 15th season, was putting together his strong 2016 women's soccer schedule, he was counting on more firepower than he currently has at his disposal.

The Blue Devils enter opening weekend without their top two scorers from 2015 due to injuries, including First Team All SUNYAC Alexis Moreland (Newfane, N.Y./Newfane). A senior forward, Moreland had eight goals and five assists last year. She is out indefinitely.

Until Moreland returns, senior forward Maria Gordon (Stephentown, N.Y./Berlin) will seek to shoulder a heavier scoring load; she had three goals last year. Gordon will be joined up front by junior transfer Kaitlin Huyler (Troupsburg, N.Y./Jasper-Troupsburg) and freshman Shania Platt (Chaffee, N.Y./Pioneer).

The scoring might also come from the midfield, where the senior Maggie Papia (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South) and sophomore Karly Torppey (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara-Wheatfield) are ticketed to see more than part-time duty.  Platt is also an option to start in the midfield as is freshman Melanie Minotti (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield).

The defensive group is loaded with experience.  It includes Third Team All SUNYAC junior Audrey Yokopovich (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) and senior Kaleigh Creeden (Rock Tavern, N.Y./Washingtonville), both full-time starters, plus seniors Morgan Marshall (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) and Sarah Lindovski (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker). Morgan is back from an injury that sidelined her the second part of 2015 while Lindovski is back from a year studying abroad.

Sophomore goalkeeper Kendall Owczarzak (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) started all 19 games as a freshman. She will be pushed this year by freshmen Allison Kropf (Bergen, N.Y./Byron-Bergen) and Jordan Cahill (Stephentown, N.Y./Berlin).

The defense would have been further bolstered had it not been for a season-ending injury to junior transfer Ali Henby (Hornell, N.Y./Hornell), a First Team Junior College All-America at Finger Lakes C.C.

The 2016 tri-captains are Creeden, Gordon, and Moreland.
 
Tough slate looms
 
Case is a proponent of scheduling strong non-conference teams, often past NCAA participants and nationally ranked schools. This season is no different. The Blue Devils will oppose York College at 7 p.m. Friday and Rowan College at 7 p.m. during Rowan's Prof Classic. Both teams participated in last year's NCAA tournament with Rowan advancing as far as the round of 16. The Profs open the season at No. 15 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of American pre-season poll.

Other foes in the pre-season rankings are No. 15 William Smith and No. 23 Oneonta.

The 2016 home schedule kicks off Sept 9 with the Blue Devil Classic when Fredonia meets Baldwin-Wallace, followed Sept. 10 vs. Mount Union. The Blue Devils will also play host to Rochester Institute of Technology (Sept. 17), St. John Fisher (Sept. 27), SUNY Cortland (Oct. 7), Oswego State (Oct. 8), New Paltz (Oct. 21), and Oneonta (Oct. 22).