The collegiate soccer season makes its debut today with the Wyoming Cowgirls hosting the Houston Baptist Huskies at 5 p.m. in the Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex.

The Cowgirls have high expectation entering this 2016 season, as they return all 11 starters from last year’s squad that finished 10-6-4 and fourth in the Mountain West. They’re picked fourth again in a preseason poll of MW head coaches.

Junior forward Shaina Ashouri I think we all have huge goals for the season.

“We’re returning everyone. We’ve got some good freshmen. Yeah, I think the expectations are there, and we need to meet them.”

Ashouri led the Cowgirls with nine goals and seven assists last year. She was first team all-conference and third team all-region.

Fifth-year head coach Pete Cuadrado knows they’ll get tested right away with the Huskies.

“They were in the NCAA Tournament two years ago, so obviously a good challenge for us, especially right out of the gates. Hope to have a great crowd out supporting us… I tell the team, anybody can beat anybody on any given day, especially in soccer. As long as we do our job and take care of our things, the rest will take care of itself, and the results will take care of themselves.”

Houston Baptist returns nine of 11 starters from last year’s team that went 10-6-1. They compete out of the Southland Conference.

Wyoming is 2-2 in home openers under Cuadrado, which includes a victory over Morehead State last season.

This will be the first meeting between the two teams.

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