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Otters Welcome Old Friend For 2018 Home Opener

| By: By Kevin Gilmore (@OtterKevin)

Laura VanWart dishes on her team as former coach Erin Brunelle visits with Biola Saturday

SEASIDE, Calif. — Following a strong showing in its season–opening roadtrip to Idaho last week, the Cal State Monterey Bay women's soccer team returns home hoping to build momentum while facing an old friend in its 2018 home opener Saturday versus Biola University at the Otter Sports Complex.

CSUMB (1–1 overall) will look for its second consecutive win against a Biola side led by former Otter coach Erin Brunelle. The Otters will rise to the challenge with a roster that is both young and talented. Before the team debuts in front of the home fans, Head Coach Laura VanWart sat down with OtterAthletics.com to talk about her squad and the 2018 season.
 

OTTERATHLETICS.COM: MORE THAN HALF OF THE ROSTER IS NEW FOR 2018. HOW HAS THE BLENDING PROCESS GONE NOW THAT THEY TASTED SOME SUCCESS OPENING WEEKEND?
COACH VANWART: While the 2018 class is diverse, it all shares a mentality. They are here to win. The blending process has been exactly what every coach dreams of. A group of talented, ambitious newcomers who energize and challenge the returning group. The coaching staff's job is to make sure we are constantly challenging every player on the roster to bring out everyone's best version of themselves. We are young, but we are connected to each other and a common goal.

A LOT OF NEW PLAYERS GOT A BAPTISM OF FIRE OPENING WEEKEND. HOW DO YOU FEEL THEY ACQUITTED THEMSELVES? DID YOU LEARN ANYTHING NEW ABOUT YOUR TEAM?
The newcomers did play a role in our opening weekend, but it was seniors Taylor Duplantier and Madison Aguirre who broke the deadlock. I also think if you ask the team, they were not happy with their performance on the road. They have very high expectations for themselves, and while we put together some good minutes, overall we were not consistent enough in the final third or defensive thirds of the field. The great thing was that they want to be pushed and improve. To see themselves fall short on the road only lit a fire under them. I think it was an important trip to help us set our goals for the rest of the season.

WILL THE INFUSION OF NEW TALENT MEAN OTTER FANS CAN EXPECT A DIFFERENT STYLE OF SOCCER FROM THEIR TEAM IN 2018?
Our style of play is the same as it was last season. Coaches recruit players that fit their own styles of coaching, and the 2018 Otters are players who were either handpicked to play a role, or players who have been in the system for over a year and know exactly how we play.

SATURDAY'S HOME OPENER WILL BE THE TEAM'S LAST TEST BEFORE JUMPING INTO CCAA PLAY AGAINST NCAA CONTENDER UCSD. IS IT ONE LAST CHANCE TO PLAY EVERYBODY OR A DRESS REHEARSAL FOR ONE OF THE TOP TEAMS IN THE COUNTRY?
Saturday will be a tough test for our team. Biola is talented and organized. Every game is important and we plan to play at the top of our ability. We are only focused on the team in front of us, executing our game plan, and defending our home turf!





 
GO OTTERS!
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