Huskies Kick Off 2017 In The Midwest

Friday, August 18

Ann Arbor, Mich.

5:00 PM

University of Washington

Michigan

August 14, 2017 | Women's Soccer

Season / Single Game Tickets Watch: 2017 Season Game Notes-Michigan Game Notes-Michigan State

SEATTLE – The Washington women's soccer team kicks off the 2017 season this week with the first two games of a three-game Midwest road trip. The Huskies will start the season at Michigan, taking on the Wolverines on August 18 at 5:00 pm. After that, the Huskies will play the Michigan State Spartans on August 20 at 10:00 am.

Washington enters head coach Lesle Gallimore's 24^th year at the helm with two of its top three scorers from 2016 back in Shannon Simon (7 goals, 0 assists) and Kimberly Keever (4 G, 0 A) both back for their senior seasons. Simon was named an All-Pac 12 Honorable Mention after serving as team captain and leading the Huskies in scoring last year, her second consecutive year with an All-Pac 12 honor. Keever also made it three years in a row with conference honors, being named to the All-Pac 12 Second Team once again.

Also back is Washington's minutes leader and defensive cornerstone Dominique Bond-Flasza (1 G, 1 A). Bond-Flasza, a senior, has started 39 of the Huskies' last 40 matches over 2015 and 2016, serving as a rock on defense. Last season, the California native provided the winning goal against Tennessee, her second career goal.

That trio is part of a nine-person senior class as the Huskies look to lean on their veteran leadership for production. Sarah Shimer will once again serve as the primary goalkeeper for Washington. Last season, Shimer recorded three shutouts in her 12 starts, blanking Tennessee, Cal Poly, and Seattle.

Rachel Wheeler, Lauren Conley, Shaye Villanueva, Ava Lewis, and Amanda Perez also all return for their senior season. Wheeler has started 26 games over the last two years, while Conley made three appearances in her first Husky season last year after transferring from Denver. Villanueva had two assists last season while making 12 starts. Lewis scored her first goal as a Husky against UCLA in 2016, while Perez returns to the program after missing almost all of last season with injury.

Pascale Dumesnil and Asia Brisco also return to the Huskies after scoring goals in 2016. Additionally, Washington will welcome eight freshmen and a sophomore transfer for their first seasons as Huskies.

Washington went 7-12-1 last season, winning five of eight home games but going 2-9-1 away from Husky Soccer Stadium.

The Michigan Wolverines finished 2016 10-5-5, with a 6-3-2 mark in conference. This marked the fifth consecutive year of 10+ wins for the program. Michigan finished the year 53^rd in the RPI. The Wolverines welcome back their top scorer in Reilly Martin, who had 7 goals and 10 assists in 2016 as a sophomore. Martin is one of two returning All-Big Ten honorees alongside Ani Sarkisian. This match will also be the season-opener for Michigan.

The Huskies last faced off with the Wolverines two years ago in Seattle, with Washington prevailing 1-0.

The Michigan State Spartans will head into 2017 with six of their eight goal-scorers from 2016 back on the team, including leading scorer Jamie Cheslik (5 G, 4 A). Also back from last season's 7-10-1 squad is goalkeeper Savanna Wojtanowski, who started nine games for the Spartans last year, allowing 1.34 goals per game.

Single-match tickets for the Huskies season are on sale now at GoHuskies.com. Make sure to follow Washington women's soccer on Twitter with the username @UW_WSoccer.