With a roster that boasts 17 returning letter winners off of the 2007 NCAA Tournament squad, the Auburn soccer team began fall practice on Thursday with an early morning and late afternoon practice.

The team hit the field at 6:30 a.m. for a two-hour practice to start the 2008 season in preparation for a season that begins in just 15 days.

“We have a great team coming back. We only lost three players off of the entire roster from last year so we are a very experienced team after having been very young the last couple of years,” Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa said of her 10th squad at Auburn. “We have four terrific seniors that I think will provide some key leadership. Add in a big junior class with nine players that are key players for us, and it provides us with a great core of impact players coming back.”

The seniors returning to lead the squad include all-America goalkeeping candidate Allison Whitworth (1.16 GA, 102 saves in 2007), forward Kara Kasten (four goals, five assists, 13 points), midfielder Kori Hoelscher (one goal) and defender Jenn Johnson (has started 60 consecutive matches).

The two offensive leaders from 2007 also return in leading scorers Rebecca Howell (six goals, seven assists) and Caitlin King (five goals, 13 assists), both juniors.

Auburn will play its first match of the season on Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. against Grambling State at the Auburn Soccer Complex.