The St. Andrews Women’s Soccer team will look to build off the 2008 season, which was the schools first winning season in it’s Divison II era.

First year head coach Jen Montgomery is looking forward to upcoming season with high hopes.

The Lady Knights finished the 2008 season with an overall record of 8-7-3. SAPC also tied their single-season record for most wins in a season at eight (2006 & 2008).

The Lady Knights will play a 17-game regular season schedule that will once again consist of 11 Conference Carolinas clashes.

During the off-season workouts in the spring Montgomery said she worked the returning players in different positions to see what they could do in different situations.

"It's going to be exciting to see what my team will do this year," she said.

Montgomery will look to her upperclassmen which consists of only two seniors and four juniors for leadership as the freshmen come in.

"All my players can be leaders, I saw it in the spring, but I will look to my seniors to mentors to there fellow players," she said.

Also she will look to all her players to score goals this year.

"It will be interesting to watch my players this year because not one player will be the main goal scorer," she said. "I think there will be multiple scorers on this team this year and I am excited for that."

Montgomery will look to replace four-year starter at goalie, Garrison Burton. The 2008 Second Team All-Conference honoree finished her career at St. Andrews with records that include 23 career wins, 19 career shutouts, and 403 career saves.

“I have brought in three goal keepers this year to replace Garrison,” Montgomery said. "It will be tough to replace her, but I think the girls that I brought in will work hard and fill the position."

Montgomery said she brought in two midfield players to help returners like Seniors Carrie Jones and Hannah Sheffield.

"The two midfield player that I brought in are strong players and I think they will have an impact on the team immediately," Montgomery said.

Montgomery also said she brought in a defender to help Third Team all-conference defender Becky Brandenburg.

The junior defender Brandenburg was a key factor in the Lady Knights having their best defensive season in the program’s NCAA Division II era in 2008.

Montgomery thinks the season will be a rebuilding year but is hopeful the team will improve game by game.

"With a well structure pre-season and with leadership on and off the field, hopefully the team will come together and have a good season," she said.

Montgomery said her team being young can finish in the top 8 of the conference and make the conference tournament two years in a row.

The Lady Knights start off the season against Chowan University on Aug. 27 at 3 p.m. in Laurinburg.