The William Smith College soccer team starts the 2013 season with a road trip to Ewing, N.J., this weekend. The Herons will compete in the TCNJ Classic, taking on the host No. 24 Lions on Friday, Aug. 30 at 4:30 p.m., and then squaring off with Stevens on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Head Coach Aliceann Wilber begins her 34th year at the helm of the program.  Her Herons are ranked No. 13 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Continental Tire NCAA Division III preseason rankings.

This year's roster features a strong senior class whose leadership has already proven to be extremely helpful to the team. The group has done a stellar job integrating the first-years into the William Smith soccer program. Senior Chelsea Dunay will return as the starting goalkeeper. She garnered All-Liberty League honorable mention last fall after starting all 20 games and posting a league-leading 0.53 goals against average and a .863 save percentage. Dunay tallied 10 shutouts, ranking first in the conference. Senior Olivia Zitoli returns to anchor the Heron defense. She was tabbed All-Liberty League second team last year after playing in 18 games and chipping in two goals. Senior forward Kim Knefel will also be battling for playing time on the varsity squad. She saw time in 11 games last fall.

The Herons welcome back a solid group of eight juniors who will be expected to step up and contribute regularly, carrying a lot of weight for this year's team. Midfielders MaryClaire Pelletier, Caitlyn Mitchell, Dineo Mmutla and Amanda Faherty will bring experience at midfield. Pelletier played in 18 games last year and notched an assist, while Mitchell produced a goal and four assists in 19 matches. Mmutla, the 2011 Liberty League Rookie of the Year, also returns after playing in only four matches last season. Faherty will also be fighting for a spot on the varsity squad. She played in three matches last year.

Juniors Madeline Buckley, Krista Longo and Brenna Kincaid return at forward. Buckley, an All-Liberty League first team selection, ranked second on the team last year with 24 points on a team-high 10 goals and four assists. Longo is back after suffering an injury which kept her off of the field all last season. She notched five goals and two assists in 2011. Kincaid played in all 20 matches last fall and tallied five goals. On defense, Riley McCarthy is back after seeing time in eight matches last year.

Zoe Eth, Zoe Jackson Gibson and Emma Bracken are the three sophomores on the varsity roster. Each played in every game last fall and will look to build on their rookie seasons. Eth had a very strong spring and a productive summer, coming back to preseason in great shape. She scored once last season. Jackson Gibson earned All- Liberty League honorable mention in 2012. She is a solid returning defender, but is currently battling an injury. Bracken, a midfielder, produced one assist last year, but has since transitioned into the defensive line.

This year, William Smith welcomes 14 first-years to the team. They have shown a lot of promise in preseason and the Herons will look to a number of them for immediate contribution.  "As a group they are technical, fit and intelligent soccer players," said Wilber.

First-years Ella McMackin, Sam Sansone, Lauren Randaccio, Kara Shue and Evie Manning will look to make an impact up top. Maddie Devereaux, MacKenzie Smith and Sarah Freer will play in the midfield and Molly Dietrich, Shay Callahan, Bridget Westerman, Emma Diehl, and Allie Flaherty will look to help build up the Heron defense. In addition, Olivia Biles will back up Dunay in goal.

After the Herons trip to Ewing, William Smith returns home to host top-ranked Messiah on Cozzens Field on Sept. 7 at noon. The Herons will then compete in the 2013 Upstate Collegiate Cup, hosting Rochester on Sept. 14 at 11 a.m. for their first round match. William Smith will begin league play on Sept. 28, when it travels to take on St. Lawrence at 3 p.m.