OMAHA, Neb. – As the College of Saint Mary soccer team heads into the 2023 season, the Flames are doing a lot of work both on and off the field.

CSM opens the new season Saturday with a nonconference match at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa. The contest starts at 7:30 p.m.

"We are talking a lot about intention on and off the field and the ladies are buying into that," CSM Coach Jordan Irsik said. "We see all the talent we have. Creating a team environment and culture is our biggest priority for our success. The ladies are building that every day and it's showing when we are on the field together."

The Flames went 5-6-1 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference last year and just missed the playoffs by one spot. The squad went 8-8-2 overall.

But the team lost a few players from that squad including long-time starter Courtney Kosch and standout Abbey Wilson, who will be sidelined with an injury this season.

Fortunately for the Flames, they return a solid core group of players including Jimena Estrada Gomez, Alivia Schade, Kaylie Ratzlaff, Hayley Holden, Kylie Anderson and Abbie Anderson. Gomez was All-GPAC Second Team last year, while Abbie and Kylie Anderson were both All-GPAC Honorable Mention selections.

"We return our entire back six starters so I expect us to be really strong in the defensive end," Irsik said. "Our leadership is also really strong. Our senior class has been together a long time and they're very driven to succeed. This is the class that lost their high school senior season to COVID and I think they're driven to do absolutely everything they can to have a great experience to end their careers."

Finding the right combination in the midfield will most likely be one of CSM's most pressing concerns.

"We lost some of our midfield presence with Abbey being injured," Irsik said. "It changes the dynamic of our midfield a lot and we're looking to find some cohesion as the season goes on."

Irsik said the team's goal is to get those things worked out early on and compete against a tough field in the GPAC.

"We're looking to put ourselves in the mix for a playoff spot," she said. "We are always right in the mix and we're challenging ourselves to push down the stretch of the season to solidify that position.

"Every season I want us to compete hard and play for each other. Our motto this season is 'Take the Stairs.' With that, we're taking every positive step and every setback as a step to what our ultimate goal is. We're trying to play our best soccer in October and push to a higher level this season."