LINKS: 2016 Women's Soccer Tickets | #LIONSTRONG | Give to LMU Athletics | LMU on Facebook | LMU on Twitter

LOS ANGELES - After one of the best seasons in program history, the he 25th-ranked LMU women's soccer team returns to the field this weekend to begin the 2016 season. They do so with a little more expectations on their shoulders, and Head Coach Michelle Myers says this team more than met those expectations this summer, putting them in good shape as the season begins this Friday against Tulsa.

The Lions travel to Norman, Okla., for a pair of games this weekend at the Nike Sooner Classic. They begin with Tulsa on Friday, Aug. 19 at 2 pm. They end the trip with host Oklahoma on Sunday, Aug. 21 at 1 pm.

Both games will be an early test for the Lions, as they take on a Tulsa team that finished 13-6-1 in 2015, The Golden Hurricane began the year with an 8-0 record for the best start in program history; had nine clean sheets on the year, including a six-game streak to set a new high for consecutive shutouts; and the program received its first-ever top-25 national ranking, coming in at No. 19 in the September 14 Top Drawer Soccer poll.

As for the early test, Myers feels the team is in its best shape physically to start the season in her 21 years with the program. She enters her fifth year as head coach, leading the squad to the Sweet 16 and a program record 15 wins in 2015.

"The thing we were most please about was the fitness level the players came back with," said Myers. "This is the first time since I have been here that every player that was healthy met the fitness standards. And those fitness levels were raised last year and they are pretty high. And every freshman passed, which is usually not the case. And some of those freshmen were the leaders in the fitness test. That says a lot for that incoming class."

Setting the tone for that incoming class was a veteran group that saw a reward to their offseason work ethic a year ago. The Lions are led by captains juniors Jill Farley and Raquel Angelone and senior goalie Sophia Leksan.

"The returners really set the tone in guiding them in what to expect. They set the tone in what is needed to be successful," said Myers. "The fact that they come in fit gives us a chance to do more soccer. Now it is about putting the puzzle together. I think we have been pleased with the energy level, and the work ethic. The team has already really gelled well together off the field, that goes a long ways."

The Lions played a single exhibition leading into the season opener, defeating Cal State Fullerton, the 2015 Big West Champions and NCAA Tournament participation, 2-1.

"The exhibition game was a good game for us to start the season with," said Myers. "Playing against Fullerton is a great team to start with because they play a very direct style and play with a lot of pressure. The first 10 minutes you could tell we were nervous. The most important piece was just to play someone different than ourselves and get those jitters out."

In working out those jitters, the Lions got to see some new pieces to their puzzle and Myers liked what she say.

"In the second half we settled in better and it gave us an opportunity to try a couple players, a couple players we weren't sure how they were going to help us," said Myers. "And in that game they came on in the short amount of time they had and made a difference. They listened to the adjustments we needed to make at halftime and it resulted in a goal. That's a great starting point to the season."

Defense and the midfielders were the strength of the Lions in 2015. The Lions defense posted 12 shutouts a year ago, ranking second in program history.

"I think last year we were strong defensively, and we return four of five defenders, including the goalies. Now it is about piecing in that one missing defender. I think we will get there," said Myers. "With that, our midfield was our big strength last year. The big thing this year is finding that midfield strength. We lost Ali (behind scene work) and Jo (assists and free kicks), and we are going to have to to pick that up."

Coming into the first weekend of the season, the Lions hope they can use the opening weekend to improve each day and find more success.

"This weekend, our goals every day are to get better. We tell them all season, get better every day. We go into this weekend knowing we did some things against Fullerton that we have to improve on. Our hope is to get better at those things," said Myers.

Support LMU's 22 intercollegiate teams and it's student-athletes through scholarships and team support by joining the Lions Athletics Fund. Your help will make LMU #LIONSTRONG.