The No. 10 William Smith College soccer team opens the 2015 season with three of its first five opponents ranked in the top 25 in the nation according to the NSCAA preseason poll. The Herons begin the year competing in the Bob Baptista Invitational hosted by No. 18 Wheaton (Ill.) this weekend.
 
William Smith will take on the host Thunder on Friday, Sept. 4 at 4:30 p.m. CT and then face Emory on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 11:30 a.m. CT.
 
"We have a litmus test for the whole season in our first five or six games," said Head Coach Aliceann Wilber. "We have quality opposition right away. We're excited to see how the team will handle that."
 
In her 36th year at the helm of the program, Wilber returns 17 from last year's roster and welcomes eight newcomers. There are seven first-years who join this year's squad and sophomore Evie Manning, who was a member of the 2013 national championship team, returns after not playing last fall. "We have a great first-year class. The group is very talented and has strong character. We will look to them to contribute almost immediately," said Wilber.
 
William Smith brings back four of its top five scorers and four 2014 all-conference selections. The Herons will look to seniors Krista Longo, Zoe Jackson Gibson and Zoe Eth for leadership. Longo earned second team all-league honors last fall. She ranked second on the team with 10 goals and third with 25 points in 2014. Jackson Gibson was tabbed the Liberty League's Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the all-conference first team. She also garnered spots on the NSCAA All-East second team, ECAC Upstate All-Star first team, and was named a D3soccer.com third team All-American. Jackson Gibson anchored the Heron defensive unit that led the conference and ranked 12th in the nation with a 0.44 goals against average. Eth played in 13 games last fall, posting a goal and two assists for five points before being sidelined by an injury. 
 
Here's a position-by-position look at the rest of the team:
 
FORWARD
 
Alongside Longo, William Smith returns All-Liberty League first team selection Kara Shue and second team honoree Lauren Randaccio up front. A starter in all 20 games, Shue notched 26 points on seven goals and a team-high 12 assists. Randaccio logged six goals, including two game-winners, and added two assists for 14 points last fall. Junior Shay Callahan also returns. She played in all 20 games and posted two goals and an assist for five points. Juniors Ella McMackin and Chloe Sudduth and sophomore Cailin MacLean are also back at forward for the Herons. McMackin saw time in 19 matches and scored once, Sudduth saw time in 11 games and MacLean played in nine. First-years Sarah Olick-Sutphen, Kristina Camaj and Megan Richard will also look to make their mark in their rookie seasons.
 
MIDFIELD
 
Eth returns as the veteran for William Smith at midfield, but the Herons are experienced at this position returning juniors MacKenzie Smith and 2014 all-league second team selection Brie Ruane as well as sophomores Lauren Kogelmann, Evie Manning and Kate Spiegel. The Herons also add first-year Megan Barwick at midfield. Ruane started all 20 games last fall and posted seven goals for 14 points.  Smith played in every game and notched a goal and two assists. Kogelmann played in 19 matches logging a goal and an assist, while Spiegel saw action in 13 matches and notched her first collegiate goal against Pitt-Bradford.
 
DEFENSE
 
Alongside last season's conference Defensive Player of the Year, Jackson Gibson, returning juniors Bridget Westerman and Emma Diehl as well as sophomores Theresa Lohr and Katherine Campbell will play key roles in the Heron defensive unit. Last season William Smith notched 12 shutouts and allowed just nine goals. Diehl garnered a spot on the All-Liberty League second team last fall, starting every game and adding two goals and three assists. Westerman played in nine matches and Campbell saw time in 14. Lohr started 15 of the 16 matches she played in and contributed one goal. First-year Denali Minnick will also bring depth across the back.
 
GOALIE
 
This year two members of the Class of 2019 are battling for the starting spot in goal. First-years Kaileen Murray and Veronica Romines have both responded well to preseason training. They have been pushing each other to see who emerges as the starter on Friday. "Both Kaileen and Veronica have been impressive in their aptitude for work, maturity and ability to be coached," said Wilber.
 
SCHEDULE
 
In addition to the nationally-ranked Thunder, the Herons will return to Cozzens Field to take on No. 3 Messiah in their home opener on Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. After facing Fredonia for a non-league game on Sept. 15, William Smith will compete in the Upstate Collegiate Cup. The Herons will face No. 25 Ithaca in its opening match on Sept. 19. William Smith will begin league play the next weekend hosting Union on Cozzens Field on Sept. 26 at 3 p.m.