In 2022, the Mary Baldwin women's soccer team's goal is to go "back to back."  That's back to back as in qualify for the playoffs for the second-straight year and advance to the conference tournament second round with a first round playoff victory. 

That's what the Fighting Squirrels did in 2021 under third-year coach Amanda Evans, finishing a 9-6-3 overall record.  Repeating that feat this year would put MBU in the semifinals of the revamped USA South Athletic Conference tournament, where eight of the 10 teams qualify for the post season.

Four of the top six scorers return for MBU, including junior Shea Rider, who found the back of the net seven times in 18 contests last year.  Other returners who contributed to the 29 goals scored in 2021 include junior Quierra Hawkins (four goals), Isabelle Fraher (two goals) and Kate Thoele (two goals).

Among those returning on the defense, which allowed just 1.25 goals per game in 2021, are fourth-year starting senior Sam Manfre and junior Katie Hayes, who joined Rider and Thoele in earning All-USA South post-season recognition last year.

The Fighting Squirrels open the 2022 campaign with consecutive games at SMA Worth Field against Ferrum (9/1) and Christendom (9/2), both beginning at 4:30 p.m.  MBU will play 10 non-conference games along with the nine vs. USA South rivals, starting with a showdown Saturday, Sept. 24 vs. Pfeiffer.

The Fighting Squirrels, who were picked to finish third out of 10 in the USA South Conference pre-season coach's poll, look for back-to-back success, and hope to take the season even further to the championship game and beyond in 2022.