YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown State women’s soccer team kickstarts its 2021 spring season today with a Horizon League match against Oakland. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Farmers National Bank Field across from Stambaugh Stadium.

YSU returns eight starters and 17 letterwinners from last season’s squad, including Fitch graduate Jordan Evans, who was named as one of the team’s three captains.

Other local talent for the Penguins include freshman midfielder Abby Knight, also from Fitch, and defender Bethany Rasile, from Niles.

Also returning to the team are All-Horizon League selection Marcella Sizer (Waynesville, Ohio), senior goalkeeper Kate McEachern (Troy, Mich.) and sophomore Regan LaVigna (McMurray, Pa.), who set the YSU freshman assist record last season.

The Penguins, coached by Brian Shrum, finished 4-13-1 last season and are projected to finish eighth in the Horizon League in this season’s preseason poll. Milwaukee is projected as the preseason favorite with 132 points and 10 of the 12 first place votes.