With a roster of 26 players -- up from 18 when it began the 2024 campaign -- the Shawnee State women's soccer program will look to execute the growth in numbers into a positive result to begin the 2025 season when the Bears take on Mount Vernon Nazarene Saturday afternoon at CH4 Stadium in Mount Vernon, Ohio. The nonconference bout will begin at 2 p.m.

A quick breakdown of both teams are below:

• The Bears return four of their top five scorers from 2024 -- including All-RSC talents Lucie Ashkettle and Madison Culp as well as Haynna Addy and Annie Coriell. The quartet combined for 17 points in 2024.
• All-RSC honoree Isabelle Riddle heads up the defense as the team's top returning defender.
• Harlee Brand returns for her second season in goal after assuming command of the starting goalkeeper slot in 2024. Brand made 61 saves and posted a 2.06 goals-against-average as a freshman in 2024.
• Shawnee State returns 13 letterwinners from 2024 and adds back a previous letterwinner from 2022 and 2023 to the 2025 version of the roster. A total of 12 newcomers will be joining the group as well.

• Mount Vernon Nazarene returns its top two scorers in 5-7 senior Alexis Hoffman and 5-1 junior Bekah Blair. Hoffman and Blair combined for 13 goals and four assists in 2024.
• The Cougars also return 5-5 senior goalkeeper Hannah Miller to the roster. Miller made 99 saves and posted a 1.45 GAA as a junior in 2024.