With a new season ahead of them, the Mines women’s soccer team pushes forward in their attempt to gain the title of National Champions, an award they were only too close to getting in the past two years before they were knocked out by heartbreaking shootout losses. This new season provides a fresh start, and with this clean slate, head coach, Kevin Fickes, has brought in a new assistant coach, Shannon McDonnell, to replace Kate Cortis after her devastating departure from the program last spring. McDonnell played for Illinois (2004-2007), leading them to four NCAA tournament appearances, including a sweet sixteen and elite eight appearance. With the help of McDonnell and the foundation Cortis and Fickes created for the team, Mines hopes to follow in last year’s footsteps during conference play and keep the RMAC tournament trophy.