There is a quiet confidence surrounding this season's Roadrunner Women's Soccer team as Coach Stephen Hart begins his second season with the program.

Last Fall, Coach Hart began his tenure late , arriving in early summer and missing most of the major recruiting opportunities. But despite having a shortage of players at times, his squad overcame all odds, posting a 7-5-2 overall record and advancing to the Region 19 championship game, narrowly missing a berth in NJCAA Division III National Tournament.

"We started our first practice in August with just 8 players, and it took awhile to get more students to consider coming out for the team," said Hart. "It was tough at times, but I could not have been more proud of what that team accomplished."

Entering the current campaign, the Runners begin the season with 15 players on the current roster, with several returnees and a group of some very talented freshmen ready to contribute,

And the returning players are confident in their team's chances at moving on to the next level this Fall.

"We have a few talented players returning and a lot of amazing freshmen on the roster," said Goalkeeper Lauren Graham, who is one of the best in Region 19. "To say the least, we are excited about the new season."

Returning all-star defender Rayael Marshall, a former Clayton High standout, feels the team will be well-prepared for the new season.

"Many of us know Coach Hart's system well now, and that will make a big difference right away," she said. "And with the group of new players we have, we're looking to qualify for National Championships."

The Runners open their Fall 2024 season with a tough opponent, meeting Division I Harford CC on the road in a 1 pm start on Saturday, August 24.

Here is some additional information on the upcoming season below.

Fall 2024 Season Preview

Head Coach: Stephen Hart, second season.

Assistant Coaches: Kenyatta Collins, Leigh Swietanski, Nikki Tricocci.

Last Season: 7-5-2 overall record, including a heart-breaking Region 19 title loss in overtime to Ocean County College.

Season Opener: Saturday, August 24, 1:00 pm, vs. Harford Community College (Maryland) on the road.

Fall 2024 Roster:  Emily Belsanti, Allison Blankenship. McKinley Cielski, Riley Cogan, Da'Jore Darby, Lauren Graham, Nala Johnson, Leah Kling, Brielle Landwher, Kacey Marshall, Rayael Marshall, Brianna Moon, Isabella Moor, Ava Pino, Meghan Zieger