EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) women's soccer team is coming off one of its best seasons in program history but the success of 2017 won't factor into how the 2018 season turns out. 
 
"What got us here won't get us there," Bugariu said. "Last season is over. We need to continue moving forward. We have set new challenges for us for this season. I look at everyone's schedules and everyone's rosters, in conference, out of conference, everyone has made superior and tremendous gains and hopefully we have made some of the same."
 
UTRGV graduated its first full four-year class which included Andreya Barrera, Hanna Spets, Marcela Ramirez, Frida Farstad-Eriksson, Allyson Smith, and Erica Gonzalez but it also returns a good core that made big contributions last year.
 
Sarah Bonney returns for her junior campaign after scoring five goals with six assists last year. Dianadra Aliaga, Gina Steiner, Jada MacLean and Anna Hover return to power the offense as each had multiple goals last year. Matilyn Hepker and Tuva Rolstad Nilsen also return to anchor the defense. 
 
UTRGV also brings in 10 newcomers to help the returners. Through the first few weeks of the preseason coach Bugariu has seen high levels of competition from the team. He knows that his team will have to elevate its play.
 
"Everyone has to step up from last year because through the schedule everyone has to play better," Bugariu said. "For the freshmen, it's the same thing. We are going to expect freshmen to contribute."
 
"At the same token, we have to accept the fact that the players have been pushing themselves tremendously and that makes me happy," Bugariu said. "It gives us a lot of questions within the staff. Who's going to play? Who is going to start? Those are questions that still have to be answered. The players are doing their job. I am very proud of them. I think they are doing very well so we will see what happens when the real test begins."
 
That test begins Friday as UTRGV hosts Texas Southern at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex at 7 p.m. It will be a challenging schedule as UTRGV also faces the likes of Abilene Christian, UTEP, Miami, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and NCAA Tournament participants Texas and Baylor.
 
The match against Texas Southern will be the first of 10 home matches this year. UTRGV will also welcome in Oral Roberts, McNeese State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas Lutheran, Omaha, defending WAC Champion UMKC, and WAC Tournament Champion Utah Valley while also hosting Seattle U and the WAC's newest addition California Baptist.
 
Coach Bugariu believes his team will be tested throughout the 2018 season.
 
"The challenge is going to be to play well every game," Bugariu said. "It's a challenging schedule in the fact that there is no opponent we can beat just by simply showing up. This will be the schedule throughout the year. Everyone is good. Everyone will provide us with a monumentous   challenge. For us it will take tremendous effort and the player will have to play above themselves every single game."
 
A big part of the success last season for UTRGV came at home where it posted a 9-2 record. That continued success at home will be important for UTRGV in 2018 but matches away from the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex are just as valuable. 
 
In order to find success like in 2017, UTRGV needs to play better on the road. It's no secret for Bugariu and his staff. 
 
"First off, we have to win our home matches," Bugariu said. "Last year, we were 9-2 at home. Undefeated on Sundays for example. We have to win the home games. We have to continue making our soccer stadium here a fortress but we have to be better on the road from last year. Let's start with the home games, if we win those then the sky is the limit from there."


UTRGV is about two weeks into the preseason. The squad is starting to mesh and Coach Bugariu has seen some good things throughout each of the sessions. 
 
One of the things he has noticed is that his team is deep at multiple positions and that builds competition.
 
"We are very deep this year," Bugariu said. "The standard of training has been very high. There is a lot of competition for places. I think the mood in camp has been very good. They are ready for the challenge. Their training effort and dedication has been showing."
 
The 2018 season brings excitement. Not because of what happened in 2017 but because of what the possibilities bring for 2018.
 
"We are very balanced this year, which may be the first time we are this balanced," Bugariu said. "Sometimes we were a little too thin in certain positions and too thick in other positions so I think this year is very balanced and very competitive. We are deeper than we have ever been. I am excited and look forward to working with them every day."
 
Every season is a challenge but it is about how you react to those challenges that determines the season as a success or not. UTRGV is ready to get its 2018 season underway and awaits its challenge with open arms.
 
"We are really looking forward to it," Bugariu said. "We have had a good preseason so far but the test are the games so we are looking forward to this weekend. We have two quality opponents, two opponents we have never beaten in our history, two opponents that will provide us an introduction to a very difficult schedule. We are looking forward to the challenge."
 
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