The beginning of the end of an era commences Saturday when the University of South Carolina Beaufort women's soccer team kicks off its fourth season at Milligan (Tenn.) at 5 p.m. 

It's the final season opener for a group of Sand Sharks who played on the inaugural team in 2011 and have endured a sometimes bumpy ride en route to the eve of a promising senior season. Only four players remain from that initial team, which won only one game against a strong slate of opponents but began to lay the foundation for what has grown into a successful program. 

The four original Sand Sharks — goalkeepers Chelsie Mummert and Fred Gallman and midfielders Alexa Muffley and Steph Moldenhauer — often remind newcomers — and even prospective recruits — how far the program has come in three short years and prepare them for the work ethic required to continue the upward trajectory. 

"We wouldn't be where we are today without them being here," USCB coach Ed Heberling said. "Without them going through what we went through the first year, none of our players would understand where we've been and where we are now. Those four can give a perspective that only they can truly comprehend. It takes a special kind of player to buy into what we've had to do to build this program, and those four players have been able to get that message across."

The Sand Sharks have set a high bar for themselves to clear. Just two years removed from that one-win season, they've won 18 games over the past two seasons and last year finished 9-9-1 overall and 5-4 in the Sun Conference, good enough for fifth place and a home game in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.

Heberling feels confident his team is ready to take the next step thanks to a strong group of returners and a recruiting class he says is on par with last year's deep group. USCB returns seven starters and 18 letterwinners from last year's squad and expects several of the newcomers to step into key roles and make a major impact. The new recruits include a number of players Heberling and assistant Hilary George brought in because of their offensive prowess. 

"The first three years, we've been really focused on the defensive effort," Heberling said. "This offseason we really went out and tried to add some players who would allow us to add more of an offensive component to our game. I feel confident we have some players in place that will help us become more attack-oriented, possess the ball more in the attacking half and finish more of our scoring opportunities."

The influx of talent might not present itself early in the season, though. Because of the sheer number of new players, as well as a rash of injuries in preseason training, Heberling and George are still working to put together all the pieces of the puzzle. 

They'll have to figure things out quickly. After opening against a solid Milligan team on Saturday, the Sand Sharks return home for two tough tests next weekend, hosting Georgia Gwinnett at 5 p.m. on Aug. 30 and Westminster (Utah) at 11 a.m. on Sept. 1. Both teams are within a few votes of cracking the NAIA Top 25.  

Heberling's goal is to finish in the top four in the Sun Conference, a challenging task considering the top three teams in the league are ranked among the top 11 in the nation in the preseason.

POSITION BREAKDOWN

Goalkeepers 

Senior Chelsie Mummert returns to protect the net for the Sand Sharks after another strong campaign. An honorable mention All-Sun Conference selection as a sophomore in 2012, Mummert put up even more impressive numbers as a junior, posting career-bests in  goals against average (2.04) and save percentage (.753). Mummert has recorded five shutouts in each of the past two seasons and compiled 256 saves over that stretch. 

Fellow senior Fred Gallman has steadily improved throughout her career at USCB and is more than capable of stepping into the starting role if needed. Gallman was the Sand Sharks' primary goalkeeper as a freshman in 2011 but took on a backup role when Mummert returned to her natural position full-time in 2012. 

Sophomore Kenzie Rathe adds depth and experience to the ranks. A transfer from Salem College, Rathe appeared in 10 games (four starts) and compiled 11 saves while allowing three goals as a freshman. The Cloquet, Minn., native also recorded a shutout. 

Freshman Caroline Smith will redshirt this season while recovering from knee surgery but should compete for the starting job along with Rathe in 2015. 

Defenders

The Sand Sharks return two players in the back who started 10 or more games last year in sophomores Poppy Miller and Megan Benoist, but neither is a lock to be a full-time starter thanks to a deep pool of defenders. Sophomore Caroline Bowman appeared in 17 games (six starts) as a freshman and developed into a key member of the defense as the season progressed and is poised to start at outside back along with junior Alexandria Radue, a transfer from Parkland (Ill.) Community College. 

Benoist is a versatile player who is expected to see time at center back and forward. She played in 17 games (10 starts) as a freshman and scored three goals, including two game-winners. Benoist has worked well at center back in the preseason with senior Megan Atkinson, who has a chance to be the biggest surprise for the Sand Sharks in her senior season. She appeared in only six games a year ago but has blossomed into a strong central defender and should be a key reserve, if not a starter. 

Miller started 15 games and played in two more in the back line last year and will play a key role again, as will junior Emily Mentrup, who has been a strong, versatile player for the Sand Sharks the past two seasons. Mentrup could see time anywhere along the back line or in the midfield and provides a strong, veteran presence, having played in 31 games over the past two years. Sophomore Shannon Blair, who played in 18 games (eight starts) as a freshman and recorded an assist, also will see time in the back and the midfield.

A trio of freshmen — Los Angeles natives and high school teammates Mandy Preciado and Karen Pimentel and Jacksonville, Fla., product Hanna Crist — also will compete for playing time and have the potential to grow into key roles, and redshirt freshman Brittany Pacifico is working her way back from a knee injury that cost her all of last season. Junior DeAngelus Anderson will join the team upon returning from National Guard duty after sitting out last season, and sophomore Cristen Sturkie will redshirt because of offseason surgery.

Midfielders

Seniors Alexa Muffley and Steph Moldenhauer are back to anchor the Sand Sharks' strongest overall unit. Muffley and Moldenhauer rank first and second on USCB's career list for goals, points and game-winning goals. 

Muffley was the team's clear MVP as a junior, leading the Sand Sharks in goals (7) and points (16) despite playing a defensive position. Her physical presence in the midfield helped USCB control possession, and she was able to use her size and leaping ability on set pieces to generate a large portion of the Sand Sharks' scoring opportunities. 

Moldenhauer appeared in all 19 games a year ago, starting 17, and ranked second on the team in goals (5) and third in points (12). That duo is rejoined in the middle by sophomore Sam Satterlee, who was one of USCB's best players before a season-ending knee injury cut short her freshman campaign and a second knee surgery wiped out her 2013 season before it began. 

Junior Pascale Rocca has been a starter or key reserve throughout her two-year career at USCB and will be expected to continue that trend. The native of Sudbury, Ontario, played in 17 games (eight starts) and has tallied two goals and one assist each of the past two seasons.

Fellow junior Marissa Hamm also returns after appearing in 33 games as a key substitute over the past two seasons, and freshman Daniella Borjas was a big-time goal-scorer as a Miami, Fla., high school star and adds strong depth to a talented pool. 

Forwards

The Sand Sharks hope to employ the most explosive attack of their brief history with a reconfigured crop of forwards led by sophomore Bridgette Noonan. 

Noonan was one of the Sand Sharks' most dynamic players as a freshman, spending time as a shut-down defender and a quick-strike forward. She played in all 19 games (17 starts) and spent most of her time anchoring the back, but she also was able to push forward and provide an offensive punch. The Hilton Head Island High School product likely will be used in both roles again in 2014. 

Freshman Hayley Pina is poised to hold down the other wing and showed signs of being a dangerous offensive threat in the preseason. The Culver City, Calif., product brings speed and tenacity to the position, as well as an instinct for finding the net. 

Sophomore Kimberly Johnson was a role player who appeared in 14 games off the bench a year ago, but the speedy sophomore from Charleston, S.C., has shown the ability to be a bigger contributor this year. 

Sophomore Madalyn Adams, a standout softball player at Modesto (Calif.) Junior College, was slowed by injuries in the preseason but looks to be a strong offensive presence when healthy, and freshman MJ Orduna also had a strong preseason. 

English import Sarah Withers and redshirt freshman Aly Richards also will compete for playing time. 

The Sand Sharks will count on some of the newcomers to develop quickly, as sophomore Brittany Lorentz and junior Hunter Dye begin the season on the injured list and could be redshirted. 

When healthy, Lorentz provides a strong offensive presence. One of only two players to start all 19 games last season, she ranked second on the team in goals (5), assists (5) and points (15). Dye has scored one goal in each of her first two seasons at USCB. Sophomore Cameron Croney-Clark will redshirt while recovering from offseason surgery.