CARSON -- The last NCAA appearance for the Cal State Dominguez Hills women's soccer team was an eventful one as head coach Joe Flanagan's 2009 squad came within one win from earning the program's second NCAA Championship before falling to No. 3 Grand Valley State by a 1-0 count.

Fast forward to September 2013, and no Toro who's played the past three seasons has yet to experience any kind of postseason, including two freshman whose first season was 2010, and whose last will be 2013.

"Our goal is to make it to the CCAA Tournament," Flanagan says, as a matter-of-fact.  "We have a couple players who are now seniors who haven't tasted the CCAAs, and we want to get there for them. 

"Especially Kayley Evans, who's been fantastic the past three years.  We want this for her."

In fact, just one Toro on this year's squad has experienced any type of postseason play, with senior Melanie DeSalvo returning to the Toros after a three-year stint away from the program.  DeSalvo will be joined by seven seniors, notably fourth-year upperclassmen Evans and Natalie Barbosa, as well a group of 13 newcomers that welcomes seven freshmen to the mix.

Despite the amount of newcomers, Flanagan is optimistic this year's squad can surprise people.

"Honestly, we like our talent," he says, with confidence.  "We recruited another good class, but we just need to come together. 

"At the end of last year we started to put it together with two wins and two ties in our last four games, and hopefully we can continue to grow from there."

Here's a closer look at who will aid in CSUDH's growth this year.

FORWARD

Scoring goals proved a challenge in 2012 as the normally offensive Toros managed just 18 goals in regulation, with two coming in the second overtime period for a total of 20.  This total was down four from 2011's total of 24, down 15 from 2010 and down 22 scores from 2009.  But the return of De Salvo should prove liberating for the other scorers, who will feed off her experience, scoring and creating ability.

A Chula Vista native who earned 1st-team Daktronics All-Region, 2nd-team NSCAA All-Region, CCAA Newcomer of the Year and 1st-team All-CCAA honors as a junior in 2008, DeSalvo played in a pair of CCAA postseason and two NCAA postseason affairs before redshirting in 2009, and will be counted on for her experience and leadership as an offensive force who finished in the CCAA's top 6 in game-winning goals, points and goals in her one season of competition.

"Melanie can score and create, and we expect her to be one of the top players in the CCAA again," Flanagan says. 

"She's someonewho can carry a team, and give her teammates confidence," he continues.  "If she gets going early, it will allow others like Olivia Patterson, Gabrielle Pena and Natalie Barbosa to step out of the shadows and score some big goals for us, and will allow some newcomers to see what a great player she is and take a little pressure off of them as well."

Additionally, Flanagan's squad will be counting on newcomers Jayma Martin and Janelle McGee, as well as co-captain Patterson.

Last year, Patterson saw action in every game of the season with 11 starts and four goals scored, including her lone game-winning goal against then-No. 5 Sonoma State in a 1-0 victory on the Home Depot Center's "Main Stadium" on October 19.  The Chatsworth native finished second on the team in points, and led in assists.

"Olivia ended last year on a good note and a had a strong spring season," Flanagan says.  "She can score with either foot and we expect her to produce."

Martin, meanwhile, brings two MVP selections as a prep as well as three 1st-team all-league selections to the Toros in her freshman year, while the tallest Toro at 5-11, McGee earned Freshman of the Year honors at New Mexico Highlands University.

MIDFIELD

The midfielders will be led by a contingent of four returners, with some newcomers looking to get into the mix.

Co-captain Sami Feinstein, who's also the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's (SAAC) Vice President for the second-consecutive year, will lead both on and off the field after utilizing a redshirt season in 2012.

"Sami looks like she's ready for a strong season, andhas come into the season in good shape," Flanagan beams.

Junior Gabrielle Pena looks to see a lot of time on the field after solidifying her play towards the end of last year.  Seeing action in 16 games, she tallied a pair of assists in a 4-1 win over Humboldt State, and "will provide a spark from the midfield position as she was our best attacker at the end of the season."

Seniors Caitlin Peterson and four-year Natalie Barbosa also will compete for playing time after combining for three goals last year, as will newcomer Sonia Gramajo, who has "impressed early."

DEFENDER

Fourth-year senior Kayley Evans anchors the backline for the Toros after making nine starts in 13 games played, tallying one assist in the Toros' lone goal against Cal Baptist to kick off September.

Evans' presence will serve as a rallying point for this year's team, as the only four-year senior to play significantly in each of the last three seasons.

"Kayley is the one we want to win for," Flanagan begins.  "She came to us after we went to the National title game the year before, but since she came here, the team hasn't tasted the postseason."

Additonally, a pair of defenders is set to return in sophomores Lindsey Armstrong, a midfield convert who saw action in 15 games last year, and Katelyn Fregosi, who started 16 of 17 games played, and scored her first collegiate goal against CS San Bernardino in mid-October.

Redshirt freshman Jessica Parker will compete for playing time as well as newcomers Elisa Martinez and Alexandria Gambala, with returning junior Sara DeLaCruz also seeing some time after continuing to improve.

Martinez brings four letters and a Defensive MVP honor to the Toros, with Gambala beginning her first year as a Toro with four 1st-team all-league and four MVP honors under her belt at Hueneme HS.

KEEPER

With the departure of two-year keeper Tiffany Hollis after last year, who placed in the top 10 in the CCAA in GAA, saves, shutouts, save percentage and saves per game as a senior, the position is up for grabs with returning sophomore Jennifer Ackerly the de facto pick.  As a true freshman, Ackerly held opponents to a 0.67 GAA in four games played, making 10 saves in her first collegiate win against Humboldt State en route to a 4-1 victory (Oct 21).

"Jenna is fitter than last year and really wants this position to be hers this year," Flanagan begins.

A pair of newcomers also will vie for playing time in Michelle Mendez, a JC transfer and three-year letter-winner at Santa Fe HS who will look to compete right away, as well as freshman Cortney Coyle, a two-sport athlete in high school who earned MVP status as a senior and "has come in and done well, and is someone we like for now and for the future."

FINAL THOUGHTS

With the Toros picked to finish 10th in this year's CCAA coaches preseason poll, the team no longer has last year's "rebuilding" year to fall back on as an excuse, and will feature many players who gained valuable experience in a season that saw five defeats come via a 1-0 tally.

"I think the girls know our level of expectation," says Flanagan.  "We have several returners who played a ton last year, so coming in as second-year players, they have a bit of experience behind them.

"Last year we did many good things, but just couldn't score goals," he continues.  "And after last year, we need to rebound and compete right away, starting in practice, and build on that intensity.

"I think the future is bright for this group -- the next 2-3 years with this group should be strong -- but I think we can compete right away this year.

"We have several underclassmen, but having a player like Melanie, who can win a lot of games for us this year, and Patterson, who as a senior wants it more than ever, I like our chances."