The first two seasons of Grays Harbor College women’s soccer were a tough time for everyone involved. The third season should be a much better one for the Chokers.

Possessing the one trail they were missing since the program was born in 2014 — depth — the Chokers are aiming for an improved outlook, as well as results, this season.

The season kicks off at the NWAC Friendlies in Eugene, Ore. against Wenatchee Valley and Blue Mountain colleges on Aug. 27-28.

“From what everyone has told me, it takes five years to build a program,” GHC head coach Chris Schumacher said. “We are on Year 3. The last two years were pretty tough; we had just one win in two seasons. This year is looking up. We have 20 on the roster and we’ve had a lot of competition in practice.”

Local and West Coast recruiting did Grays Harbor good for this upcoming season. Seven returning players will anchor the squad — Elma’s Morgan Jump and Maci Shumate, Shelton’s Cecelia Flores, Aberdeen’s Allie Oropeza, Omak’s Maggie Cervantes and North Beach’s Paola Robles and Anya Marcisz.

Ocosta will be well represented at GHC this season, led by goal-scoring forward Mary Davis, along with goalkeeper Emily Bjornsgard and defender Corrina Perry. Montesano’s Taylor Birdsall will bring the Bulldogs’ attacking style to the Chokers as a forward.

Regionally, defender Roni Crone (Glens Ferry, Idaho) will solidify the back line, while a large group of Las Vegas players will move up to the Harbor to play — Centennial’s Ashley Marshall and Cienna Mendez, Chaparrel’s Deisy Beas and Mercedes Cortez, Pahrump’s Gabriela Vasquez, Legacy’s Brittani Snook and Cheyenne’s Perla Hernandez.

Incoming goalkeeper Moani Kupahu, of Kialua, Hawaii, will be on the roster after this weekend and will compete with Bjornsgard and Shumate for the starting goalkeeper’s position.

“Being at the college level, I have to get the girls in quickly,” Schumacher said. “They are here for 1-2 years and they have to gel and get their chemistry together quickly. We have players who are rooming together in the same complex and are cooking dinners together. That’s important.”

Schumacher noted that the competition inside pre-season practices have been higher than at any time during his tenure with the Chokers. This is an important component, especially with the added depth now on the roster. GHC spent the first two season with just enough players to field a team and substitutes were a luxury.

“It is remarkable,” he added. “With the amount of talent coming in, there is improvement from everyone. It’ll change the mentality of the team, knowing that there are other players vying for spots on the field and you weren’t guaranteed playing time just because we didn’t have enough players.

“In practice, combinations are forming,” Schumacher said. “They are working hard to get to know each other and to know what they want to do on the field. I’m looking for some good things this year.”

Inside the NWAC Western Division, Schumacher noted Highline, Bellevue and Tacoma as the teams to beat. As for the Chokers and how they fit into the division, he is optimistic.

“With the talent coming in, we have a chance to surprise a lot of people,” he said.