PROVO -- The women's soccer team was all smiles Wednesday evening as players took turns posing for the camera. Fall camp officially began Wednesday with veterans and newcomers alike attending meetings and receiving their uniforms. The day was capped off with a photo shoot in the evening, followed by a team dinner at the Brick Oven.
The team was visibly ecstatic to begin a new season.
"I'm so excited," said senior goalkeeper and captain Ashley Smith. "I think the beginning of every new season is so much fun because there's so much anticipation of what can happen during the year. You always have such high hopes. It's fun because everyone has so much energy and is so excited."
With just over two weeks of practice until the Cougars' first game, the players will be stretched in order to prepare themselves for the season. The team will participate in two-a-day practices for the next several days. The practices will test each individual's endurance and skill, but midfielder Bobbi Tillotson says she doesn't mind the hard work.
"You don't really think of practice as hard because it is so exciting and fun to be back out on the field with all your teammates," she said. "You kind of forget about the hard part. The practices will be hard, though. They'll be challenging on our bodies and we'll definitely feel the affects of the practices. But for the most part, I just feel pure excitement for a new season."
The women's soccer team welcomes nine freshmen and one transfer to this year's squad. Katie Larkin, a top-50 national recruit, two-time NSCAA High School All-American and Utah 5A MVP, was beaming after putting on her BYU jersey for the first time.
"It's really exciting to be a Cougar," Larkin said. "It's exciting to finally feel like it's starting. We've all been working so hard. Starting a new season, especially at this level, is exhilarating for me."
The transition from the high school to collegiate level can be intimidating, but Larkin said the seniors have been encouraging, helping the freshman feel comfortable on this new team.
Despite a 7-10-4 finish during 2004, the Cougars are highly optimistic and confident about this year.
"I expect us to do great things," Larkin said. "I know [the team] had a little bit of a rough year last season, and I'm just excited to be part of a team that's going to get back on track and be successful."
The Cougars' first appearance will be at the annual Blue/White game on Aug. 17. BYU will then play two exhibition games on Aug. 20 and 23 against UVSC and Dixie State, respectively. The three games will be played at 7 p.m. on the South Stadium field.
BYU will open up its season in Honolulu with games against George Mason and Hawai'i on Aug. 27 and 29. The first official home game will be on Sept. 2 against Weber State.