Kate Herren, an Auburn Mountainview High School graduate and senior soccer defender at the U.S. Naval Academy, will serve as the team captain for the 2011 season.

Herren (pictured) and her teammates are midway through their preseason training schedule and are gearing up for the Aug. 19 season opener at High Point (N.C.).

“Kate is a fantastic leader, and she has embraced this role,” said coach Carin Gabarra. “She is a role model in how she acts on and off the field, how she works in school and how she approaches the military side of the Academy. In everything she does, she always does her best. She wants to excel and she does the right thing. She will make great choices and she will be a fantastic leader for us.”

Herren is the most experienced member on the roster, having played in 61 games over the first three seasons of her career. Herren played in all 20 games a year ago and ranked second on the team with five assists and third in minutes played (1,462).