The Cougars will look to carry momentum from the best season in program history with an ambitious out-of-conference schedule. It starts when they host No. 39 Texas at 7 p.m. tonight at Robertson Stadium.
Last season, the Longhorns were towards the back of the pack in the Big 12 in offense, averaging 1.43 goals per game, but were strong on defense, allowing 0.99 goals per game.
Last season, head coach Susan Bush guided the Cougars to a 12-5-4 record (6-2-3 Conference USA) en route to earning C-USA Coach of the Year honors. The Cougars reached new heights last season by pushing the pace offensively and getting exceptional play from their goalkeepers and defensive units. They ranked No. 34 in the nation in goal differential, plus-23.
Sophomore Cami Koski will be back in the net for the Cougars, along with top defenders Stephanie Derieg and Danielle Munoz.
The goals allowed a conference-best 0.62 goals per game and also had the most shutouts in C-USA. Koski and Munoz both earned spots on the All C-USA Second Team as freshmen.
The Cougars tallied the fourth-best goal per game in C-USA with 1.71, but lost top goal-scorer Lauri Byrne.
They return many of their top players, including junior midfielder Katelyn Rhodes, and sophomores Sami Sackos, Kylie Cook and Nicole Duarte. Rhodes’ ability to help defensively and facilitate the offense earned her a spot on the 2010 C-USA First Team. Sackos was second on the team in scoring last season as a freshman.
Cook and Duarte each scored three goals and recorded three assists as freshmen.
The Cougars’ non-conference schedule will continue this weekend when UH heads to North Carolina to face No. 24 Duke and Bush’s alma mater, No. 3 North Carolina.