Soccer season is right around the corner, and the women’s Wildcat squad have many faces familiar from last year’s team.

Among returning players is redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Shelby Conard. Conard filled the shoes of departed all-conference goalkeeper Jessica Baker last season, starting 14 games, three of which were shutouts, and compiling a 2.52 goals-against average.

Conard arrived at NMU three years ago from Port Huron, Mich., where she was named to four all conference and two all district honors, and compiled two MVP awards for the Port Huron High School Big Reds, along with breaking 10 team goalkeeping records.

Conard also played for the Michigan Gators in club ball, winning back to back league championships. Conard made the decision to come to NMU after a college fair.

“I picked up everything from the different colleges in the state at the college fair at my local community college,” Conard said. “I was flipping through everything and saw the brochure with Black Rocks and everything else on it and thought it looked awesome.”

After taking a trip to campus, Conard said she had no doubt NMU was the place for her.

“I came up for a visit and everything just seemed amazing,” Conard said. “I loved everything about the campus and Marquette, so after that it was just set for me.”

After being redshirted her freshman year, Conard filled the net left empty by the graduation of Jessica Baker. Shorthanded in goalkeepers, she stepped into the starting role early in the season, and went on to play in 16 of the team’s 17 games, including 14 starts during the Wildcats’ rebuilding season.

Over the season, she compiled 75 saves in goal and was named to the GLIAC all-academic team. Conard said the squad’s trip to Europe allowed the team to bond and improve against high competition.

“Europe really helped our team bond and become closer,” Conard said. “We were with each other 24/7 and were able to work out some of the bugs that bothered us last season. We had a few issues that our play in Europe allowed us to work out.”

Conard said she is confident this year should be a good one.

“With this group of girls we’re going to have a very good year,” Conard said. “We have a lot of talent and a lot of hustle, and above all, we have a group of girls that just want to play, and that’s all we want to do.”

Veteran head coach Matt Granstrand said he has put a lot of faith into Conard.

“Shelby is a really classy person, the kind of person you really want on your team,” Granstrand said. “She stepped into a situation last year where she was learning as she went.”

Granstrand said he sees Conard as an invaluable asset.

“She knew she had a lot to learn and was going to make some mistakes, but she handled it very well,” Granstrand said. “Last season was tough on all of us, and our conference hasn’t gotten any easier, but we are a much better team this season and our record should show that.”

Conard is majoring in athletic training, and said she enjoys swimming and biking when she’s not playing soccer. You can see Conard and the rest of the women’s soccer squad in their home opener at noon on Saturday, Sept.  7 when the team takes on the University of Minnesota-Crookston.