It’s been nine long months since the Washington University women’s soccer team came inches away from taking Messiah College—unbeaten in over 50 matches—to overtime in the Division III National Championship, but the wait is over as the Bears make their much-awaited return to the pitch tonight at Southeast Missouri State University.

Head coach Jim Conlon’s team stands as the preseason favorite in the University Athletic Association, which it has championed for four years running, but the team has a very new look. Departed are the likes of Caryn Rosoff, last year’s conference MVP and the team’s second-leading scorer, and defender Libby Held. Held developed a notorious reputation for a powerful leg that was an important element of the team’s pass-and-move offensive style.

“Anytime you graduate players, you’ll lose some key elements. But we’re looking for some people to step forward, and I think we’ll have what it takes,” said Conlon.

Nevertheless, six starters return, highlighted by three all-UAA players from the 2009 campaign—sophomore keeper Clara Jaques and junior forwards Lee Ann Felder and Emma Brown.

Brown, co-captain of this year’s team, led the conference in goals (15) and points (36) and had Wash. U.’s only shot on goal in the championship match. She’ll line up in the forward position and is considered to be the Bears’ most lethal weapon in 2010.

Jaques took control of the starting job in net three games into last year and worked her way to earning Rookie of the Year honors for the UAA behind six clean sheets, a 0.65 goals against average and nearly 100 saves. The big difference for Jaques this year will be her control of the starting job and experience to back it.

“Overall, coming in as a sophomore I feel more comfortable,” said Jaques. “Just being able to understand the expectations on the field and in school I think makes a huge difference…and for the team as a whole to know what it takes to get to where we were allows us to really be even better prepared than last year.”

Conlon added that her presence should “certainly provide some stability for us and the back line.”

Beyond those three, senior co-captain Julie Tembunkiart should start in midfield along with juniors Natalie Callaghan and Alyssa Marulli on the back line. As of Tuesday morning, Conlon said he had not yet determined the rest of the starting lineup.

The other major difference in this year’s team is that the title of underdog is gone. Conlon and Brown both praised the team’s work in the offseason, and the team’s confidence is clear both on and off the field.

“I think everybody’s excited,” said Brown. “We’ve set the bar high, but we definitely know that we can achieve better than we did last year….Our team has great heart. We work so hard, and we’re so dedicated and that’s helped develop great team chemistry—everyone realizes what they bring to the table.”

Following Wednesday’s match downstate, the team returns home on Friday to take on No. 15 Calvin College, whom the Bears defeated 2-1 in last year’s NCAA quarterfinals. They’ll host Alma College and St. Olaf College on Sept. 11 and 12 in the Washington University Classic and begin conference play on Oct. 3 against Emory University.