After a dominant 14-2-4 campaign in 2025 that ended with a heartbreaking penalty-kick shootout loss to Swarthmore College in the second round of the NCAA tournament, the Case Western Reserve University women’s soccer team returned to DiSanto Field with 10 new faces and its sights set firmly on a national title.

The Spartans graduated nine seniors, seven of whom were consistent starters and three of whom served as team captains. While the departures left significant gaps in experience and leadership, the program has worked to fill those voids, bringing in eight first-years and two graduate students. At the same time, returning upperclassmen have stepped into larger roles, looking to carry on the foundation established by last year’s senior class.

“With losing that many players we really had to look at ourselves and get a lot more players to step up in leadership roles and understand that it’s not just going to come to them, they have to go find it,” head coach Alyssa Johnson said. “It’s definitely a tough and challenging thing, but it’s a really exciting opportunity for everybody under them to now have the opportunity to step into that role.”

Fourth-year co-captain and defender Katerina Tsarouhas recognizes that bringing 10 newcomers into the program marks a significant change for the Spartans. However, she also sees the team’s youth as one of its greatest strengths, creating an element of unpredictability.

“The newcomers have come ready to just fully adapt to the team and the culture that has already been present,” Tsarouhas said. “They are putting in a high work rate and effort in everything they do and they are willing to learn and adapt to a new team environment.”

Johnson shares Tsarouhas’ perspective, praising the newcomers for their enthusiasm and willingness to embrace the program. She said their eagerness to jump in, commit to the team and contribute to its culture has made the transition seamless.

“They have all come ready to go, and you can tell that they’re eager,” Johnson said. “They’ve been comfortable enough to be themselves both on and off the field. That’s partially because of them, but mainly in part because of the returners and how they give back to the underclassmen because that’s how they were treated when they were freshman.”

The Spartans have built a strong, closely held team culture that fourth-year co-captain Maya Healy described as the heart of the program. But with the departure of an influential senior class and the arrival of 10 newcomers, Healy recognizes that the team’s identity will inevitably evolve and believes that change is a good thing.

“I think there’s a lot less pressure,” Healy said. “That senior class went to a national championship their first year, so that kind of past was hanging over our heads. Now, this is a new opportunity to make a name for ourselves.”

Tsarouhas is grateful for the opportunity to step into a leadership role and is committed to maintaining, supporting and strengthening the team’s culture, believing that doing so will only make the Spartans better.

“Having that strong team first mentality, if we all have that together it’ll translate to supporting each other on and off the field, which will then allow us to push each other and put us in situations where we’re comfortable to push each other, and hopefully be more successful,” Tsarouhas said.

Along with the challenge of a changing roster, the Spartans are also navigating a number of injuries, with several players just beginning to return from long-term setbacks that limited them last season. Despite this, Healy remains positive about the team’s future.

“I think a good thing about all these injuries is everyone’s coming back from them,” Healy said. “Everyone’s just building their confidence with each day, with each practice and the healthy players are there to support them and allow them to make mistakes to get back.”

The Spartans begin this season with a preseason national ranking of 11. After being knocked out the past two seasons in the second round of NCAA playoffs, the team is eager for success this season and willing to do whatever it takes to get it.

“I think the best thing about having such a new team is that we are capable of literally anything,” Healy said. “We’ve kind of been in a rut of getting stuck in either the middle of [conference] or the second round of the NCAA tournament. But since we have a completely new team, none of that defines us anymore. We just have to work towards it every day. Win one day at a time.”

The Spartans hope to carry that mentality throughout the season, beginning with their home opener against John Carroll University on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 5 p.m. at DiSanto Field.

Disclaimer: Ellie Palaian is a third-year on the women’s soccer team.