A different season with new precautions, a new coach and extra excitement are on tap for spring 2021 Cyclone women's soccer.

The Cyclone women's soccer program is looking quite different these days. First, they have a new coach after Al Palar, who served as head coach for five years, moved on to lead the women's soccer program at the University of Saint Francis. He was replaced by former Cyclone men's soccer Assistant Coach Gerry Norris. Second, the Cyclones normally compete in the fall, but COVID-19 restrictions pushed the start of the season to spring. As a result, the coaches and athletes have an added layer of caution they need to display when not competing as a result, just like every other team. However, in a preseason NJCAA Division II poll, the Cyclones are already ranked No. 14.

Norris coaches with the local Inter FC Soccer Club, so he already knew some players on the team before coming on board. His hope is to teach the athletes his breadth of soccer knowledge (he played semi-professionally overseas) and improve every game.

"I want to teach them more than they know. I can be hard on them, but the quicker we learn, the better we'll be. I hope they surprise me," Norris said. "I just want us to play as much football [soccer] as we can. When we lose the ball, we need to know what we can do to win it back. I want them to learn formations and strategy."

The last time the team competed was fall 2019. From that squad are a few returners, including leading region scorer Allison Schaar (Schaumburg). The All-Region and All-Conference player finished that season ranked No. 6 in the NJCAA Division I for shots (104) and was 15th for goals (22). Jenifer Latoza (Lockport Township), Gisselle Almazan (Eisenhower), Ixchel Salgado (Shepard), Azury Sanchez (Solorio Academy), Abby Palumbo (Sandburg), Sabrina Perez (Argo) and goalkeeper Jocelyn Estrada (Eisenhower) are all back and ready to get on the field.

New faces in the lineup include Hailey Bartlaga (Lockport Township), Raneen Betouni (Oak Forest), Ashley Canny (Lockport Township), Alyssa Froylan (Reavis), Sarah Hughes (Evergreen Park) and Gabby Zieba (Lockport Township).

"I love the game, and they're a good group. I want us to be able to compete and win at least six or seven conference games," Norris said.

The Cyclones open the season at home on Wednesday, April 7, 4 p.m., against Morton College. Up to 50 spectators are allowed at outdoor sporting events.