ST. LOUIS - The Missouri Baptist University women's soccer team prepares to kick off the 2025 season, as excitement builds around the program entering the Heart of America Athletic Conference. With a strong core of returning players, a flood of talented newcomers, and the challenge of a new conference schedule, the upcoming season promises to be one of the most intriguing.
The Spartans finished the 2024 season with a record of 9-9-1, highlighted by Gabbie Wood scoring the game-winning goal against William Woods in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) semifinals, sending the Spartans to the championship game. Despite falling short of one goal in the AMC conference championship, the season was marked by resilience after a slow start and a steady improvement on the attack.
The 2025 season marks the Spartans' first year in the Heart, a league known for its competitive balance and strong national presence. The new conference alignment means fresh rivalries and a new travel schedule, but also opportunities for the Spartans to prove themselves against some of the best programs in the region. Head Coach Deno Merrick has emphasized adaptability and preparation as key themes heading into this new chapter.
MBU brings back a seasoned group of returners who will provide stability and leadership both on and off the pitch. Piper Brockmeier, a senior defender, returns as the engine of the team's possession game after leading the squad in assists last season. Natalie Gum, a senior midfielder, looks to build on a breakout year in which she scored two goals and made two assists. Between the posts, Hannah Miller is back after recording 18 saves and a goals-against average of 2.16.
The 2025 recruiting class and transfer additions have generated plenty of buzz. Freshman standouts like Tayler Dedeaux (attacking midfielder/wing forward, [St. Louis, Mo.]) and Anna White (midfielder, [St. Charles, Mo.]) bring pace, technical skill, and creativity. Transfers such as Jersey Moonier, a junior defender from Mineral Area College, add collegiate experience and tactical versatility. Moonier put up three goals and seven points at Mineral Area.
"I am excited for the group we have," said Merrick. "I think we have a better balance this year. We have more running power and are more dynamic in certain spaces. The hope of the season is good competition, conference and non-conference. We have to rise to the occasion and work to get it."
With several veterans, promising new additions, and the excitement of testing themselves in a new conference, the Spartans enter 2025 with confidence and ambition.
The opening match against the University of the Cumberlands is on Thursday, August 21, at 1 p.m.
