SENATOBIA – Last season wasn't exactly the best in recent memory for the Northwest women's soccer team.

After making the MACJC Tournament in each of the previous two seasons, the Lady Rangers failed to qualify for postseason play in 2015, winning just three games, the lowest since 2010. Six of the team's losses came by one goal or less, however, but Northwest was also shut out in seven contests.

With a mix of returning sophomores and a new crop of freshman talent, fourth-year head coach Levi Nunnally hopes to see his team back on the upswing in 2016.

"It's a new mindset," Nunnally said on this year's group. "No one wants to repeat the season that we had last year, although I felt that as a team we were good. We just couldn't get it done in front of the goal. That's going to be one of the things that we really have to work on this year."

Although the Lady Rangers return six sophomores from last year's team, only three – Kimbre Watros, Mary Catherine Hutchens and Sierra Lasher – were starters last season. Ultimately, that translates to a young team ahead for Northwest.

Still, Nunnally is looking forward to what his team has to offer this season.

"I believe that the freshmen we have are speedy and athletic," Nunnally said. "Going through the preseason, they seem pretty determined to get the job done. The group as a whole has really stepped up and has been working hard. I expect a lot from them, they're a majority of the team and I expect the sophomores to step up and lead the freshmen."

A total of 14 freshmen make up the Lady Rangers' roster this season, and based off a pair of exhibition matches, new faces like Gaby Villatoro, Madison Thrasher, Micah Rhea, Harlie Ray and Anna Kayte Webb should play a large role as first-year players. For the first time in three seasons, the Lady Rangers will be relying on a new goalkeeper with Ivy Cook handling those duties.

In order for Northwest to improve, they'll will have to do so against a tough MACJC North Division schedule. The Lady Rangers only came away with one division win last season and between teams like East Central, Holmes and Itawamba, the division slate looks to be tough once again. Add to it the rule changes allowing more out-of-state and international players and Nunnally believes that the division is anyone's game this year.

"It's pretty wide open," Nunnally said. "I believe that every team has gotten better, so every game is going to be a battle. We're going to take it one game at a time. It's going to take that mentality in order not to overlook anybody."

Northwest will open the regular season with a three-game road swing at Copiah-Lincoln (Aug. 26), Southwest Mississippi (Aug. 27) and Hinds (Sept. 3), before hosting its home opener on Sept. 7 against East Central.