RICHARDSON, Texas - Three UT Dallas women's soccer student-athletes were named to the American Southwest Conference Preseason Players to Watch List the league announced Thursday. Senior midfielder/forward Kaitlyn Futschik, senior goalkeeper Jade Press and junior defender/midfielder Kaley Robison were among those honored.

Futschik, from Lake Jackson, Texas, was an All-ASC Third Team selection last year, recording one assist. Press, of Lago Vista, Texas, was the ASC Goalkeeper of the Year an earned United Soccer Coaches All-Region Second Team honors. She started the season with eight consecutive shutouts, posting 10 on the year and a 0.80 goals against average with 88 saves. Robison comes to UTD from Dallas College Brookhaven where she was the USC Junior College National Player of the Year. She recorded 14 goals and 18 assists in two seasons with the Thunderducks.

Stephen Shirley returns for his second season as head coach. In his debut campaign, the Comets went 9-2-7 overall and started the season with a school record 15-game unbeaten streak which included eight consecutive shutouts.

UTD returns 13 players from 2023, including five starters. Joining the team are 18 newcomers.

Also back is sophomore defender Jenna Wilkinson, who started all 18 games at center back, recording a goal and an assist, and contributed to 10 shutouts. Sophomore forward Kate Meyer scored a goal with two assists last season and with her sister Maddie Meyer playing in all 18 contests in the backfield. 

UTD, in its first season transitioning to NCAA Division II, will still be associated with the ASC in 2024. They will play a majority Division III schedule and compete against the remaining five American Southwest Conference members home and away. The Comets are not eligible for the ASC title or postseason play, but will remain eligible for league awards.

After playing at Dallas Baptist in an exhibition on August 24, UTD will host Centenary (La.) and UC Santa Cruz in exhibition matches on August 30 and September 1, respectively. They will play at Christopher Newport, Virginia Wesleyan and Trinity (Texas) before opening the home regular season with Texas Lutheran on September 15.

The Comets will also host Rogers State on September 20, Schreiner on September 22, East Texas Baptist on October 10, LeTourneau on October 12, Mary Hardin-Baylor on October 19, Hardin-Simmons on October 24 and Howard Payne on October 26.

All home matches will be streamed and feature live stats. 

FULL ASC RELEASE