RIVERSIDE --- California Baptist University's women's soccer team will open the 2022 season at home and under the lights for the first time in school history against CSUN on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m.

The Lancers will welcome 10 teams throughout the season to the newly built CBU Soccer Stadium, with nine of the 10 being played under the lights.

This marks the first season the Lancers are eligible for the WAC Tournament and the NCAA postseason after the NCAA Division I Board of Directors granted active status to the Lancers for the 2022-23 academic year.

"We're thrilled to finally be NCAA postseason eligible," said head coach Kristen St. Clair. "Our goal every year is to compete for championships. We have a young, hungry squad this year with 13 new players. With 11 freshmen and two transfers, it will take a lot of hard work on the training field to get to where we want to be, and I'm confident we can get there."

The 2022 team is comprised of 19 returners and 15 newcomers, as the Lancers return Morgan Witz and Malia Cerdon, who were both named to the 2021 WAC All-Freshmen Team. Erin Gallagher was recently named on the Preseason All-WAC Team for the third straight season and will lead the Lancers' backline on the year.

As for the newcomers, Coach St. Clair brought in Lourdes Bosch and Marcella Brooks from UNLV, Jana Heinen from Arkansas – Little Rock, and Noa Schumacher from Cal State Fullerton.

"Lourdes, Marcella, Jana, and Noa all bring in high-level NCAA Division I experience for us," added St. Clair. "All of them will make an immediate impact on our program on and off the field."

The freshman class is the largest class on the team this season, with 11 new players. "We're excited and have high expectations for this deep and positional diverse group," said St. Clair. "We expect them to contribute right away."