PALM DESERT, Calif. - With a new coaching staff and a fresh outlook, College of the Desert women's soccer enters its 2015 season surrounded by a buzz of energy. 

Garrett Estrin steps in as head coach, a position he held in 2002-2004 on the men's side.  He will be assisted by Jorge Polanco, who also serves as head coach of the girls soccer team at Cathedral City High School, and as Director of Desert Elite FC. 

COD will return seven players from a roster that went 6-10-2 in 2014, but will need to replace a stalwart goalkeeper in First-Team All-Conference honoree, Kendyl Stephens.  Three All-Conference award winners return for their sophomore seasons, led by First-Team honoree Florangelica Coyote (Indio, CA / Shadow Hills HS), who paced the team in scoring with 14 points (four goals, six assists).  Second-Team All-Conference honoree, Sarah Felix (Indio, CA / Shadow Hills HS), will also return with an offensive punch for COD, as her 13 points (five goals, three assists) ranked second on the team.  Rebecca Recinos (Palm Springs, CA / Palm Springs HS) is also back for her second stint, following an All-Conference Honorable Mention designation in her rookie season. 

In addition to the group already returning, Coach Estrin will be looking to a strong recruiting class to pay immediate dividends. 

"We have had a nice recruiting class in a short period of time, and are super excited about the potential."

The class includes four First-Team All-Conference honorees: Defender Yesenia Barroso (Cathedral City, CA / Cathedral City HS) was first a First-Team All-DVL honoree; midfielders Vanessa Caudillo (Indio, CA / Shadow Hills HS) and Reyna Gutierrez (Desert Hot Springs, CA / Desert Hot Springs HS) were First-Team All-DeAnza; and forward Madison Decker (Palm Desert, CA / Aquinas HS), who was First-Team All-Ambassador.

Three freshmen, Brianna Lazzarini (Indio, CA / LaQuinta HS), Britney Vargas (Palm Desert, CA / La Quinta HS) and Elizabeth Moreno (Desert Hot Springs, CA / Desert Hot Springs HS) will be vying for the starting position in net for COD, but with what will hopefully turn into a deep defensive core will certainly help ease things for the new starter. 

"Playing solid defense this season will be a key to our success," commented Estrin.  "We will have some depth there, with seven players competing for minutes."

Midfield should serve as a position of strength this season, and will be, as Coach Estrin said, "the glue to our team."  Eight players will vie to fill those roles, and will look to supplement some of the fire power up front.  Six players will compete to land this attacking spot, with plenty of scoring potential for added depth. 

The Lady Roadrunners open their season with five straight road games, and have already earned wins in their first two from this past weekend.  They defeated Cuesta 3-2 on Friday, then followed it up with an 8-0 thrashing of Allan Hancock on Saturday.

They will return to Palm Desert on Friday evening, September 11 for their first home match against perennial Southern California power, San Diego Miramar College.  This serves as the first of seven home contests COD will host this season, including their first Foothill conference matchup on Friday, October 9 against Chaffey. 

Brimming with excitement, a new staff, and a fresh outlook, Coach Estrin hopes to bring an additional form of entertainment to the Coachella Valley this season, as all home games are free to the public and serve as great family outings to support the only collegiate women's soccer program in town.

"Our program is looking forward to bringing out a very attractive style of soccer," said Estrin.  "And we hope that the local community can get behind these young ladies who have been working all summer to get ready for this 2015 season."