Saint Joseph's softball team opens its 2024 season this weekend as the Hawks compete at the Charleston Invitational. For St. Joe's first-year head coach Gina McCool, this year's team is poised and ready to compete daily and contend for an Atlantic 10 title.

"I expect Team 42 to play with passion, a growing IQ and love for the opportunity to play the game," said McCool.

Saint Joseph's enters the season returning 13 letterwinners, including three seniors in pitcher Emily Siler and outfielders Nicole Bondoc and Lauren Pscolka.

An A-10 All-Conference honoree, Siler is looking to build off her junior campaign in which she led the Hawks in nearly every pitching category, including wins (10), saves (four), strike outs (132) and innings pitched (154).

Joining Siler in Saint Joseph's talented pitching staff are junior Karlee Smith, sophomores Jules Scogna and Taylor Trowbridge, and freshman Jenna Wagner.

Sharing time in the circle and in the outfield, Smith is coming off a career-best three appearances a season ago, while Trowbridge capped a rookie season second on the team in wins (six), innings pitched (81.2) and strikeouts (55). Missing the final portion of last spring due to injury, Scogna is set to build off a freshman year that featured a 2.38 ERA and .213 opposing batting average, while Wagner begins her collegiate campaign after building a strong resume at Cathedral Prep.

"Our strength comes in our staff versatility. Each one of our pitchers bring a different skill set, and a different look," McCool said. "If we can figure out the pieces to the puzzle, this staff will be able to take us far into the postseason."

Appearing in 38 and 35 games respectively, Bondoc and Pscolka have proven two of the best sure-handed outfielders in the A-10 during their time on Hawk Hill. An A-10 All-Rookie selection last year Meghan Sinkus led SJU in runs (29) and stolen bases (14), and ranked second in batting average (.285), hits (45) and home runs (five), while classmate Riley York appeared in 34 games and made 22 starts as a freshman. Newcomers Kasi Loser and Gianna Muhaw bring talent and depth to the outfield and will play key roles in the Hawks' success this season.

Behind the plate, sophomores Jenna Currie and Shelby LaMont, and junior transfer Sierra Fretz will compete for time. Currie and LaMont each earned appearances at catcher as freshmen, while Fretz was a two-time All-America East honoree at UAlbany.

Joining Currie, LaMont and Fretz in a gifted infield are juniors Sarah Cancila, Hailey Malito and Kayla Tauber, and freshmen Morgan Lester and Haley McMenamin. A two-year starter and A-10 All-Conference honoree, Cancila is coming off a career-high in hits (37) and runs (22), while Malito set new career-bests in most offensive categories in 2023. An A-10 All-Rookie selection in 2022, Tauber is set to build off an injury-shortened sophomore campaign in which she ranked among the team leaders in stolen bases (five) and runs scored (14).

"You don't choose to play softball at St. Joe's if you're not willing to grind together. This team is exactly that; a team of individual ball players all working towards the same mission. When we put on the Crimson and Gray, we are going to fight for as long as we need to in order to win," McCool said. "The Hawk Will Never Die isn't just a saying, it's our lifestyle."