MOUNT ST. MARY'S (0-1) vs. HOWARD (1-0)
Friday, August 26 | 4 p.m.
Emmitsburg, Md. | Waldron Family Stadium
VIDEO | LIVE STATS | TWITTER
MOUNT ST. MARY'S (0-1) vs. AMERICAN (0-2)
Sunday, August 28 | 1 p.m.
Emmitsburg, Md. | Waldron Family Stadium
VIDEO | LIVE STATS | TWITTER
The Mount St. Mary's University women's soccer team continues its four-game home stand with a match against Howard on Friday (Aug. 26) at 4 p.m., and follows with a contest versus American on Sunday (Aug. 28) at 1 p.m. Both games can be seen for free at NECFrontRow.com.
LAST TIME OUT
The Mountaineers opened the 2016 season last Friday, falling to Loyola by a 3-1 margin at Waldron Family Stadium. The Greyhounds jumped ahead early, scoring a pair of goals in the opening 11 minutes of play before adding one more early in the second period to open a 3-0 advantage. The Mountaineers fought back, cutting the deficit to 3-1 in the 72nd minute on redshirt freshman Noelle DeFede's first collegiate goal. Off a corner kick, the ball found its way to rookie Jaylyn Chandler, who headed it across the box to DeFede. DeFede sent a volley past keeper Sumer Rahe as the pair of Mount rookies each recorded their first career points on the play. The Mount had a couple other promising scoring opportunities late in the contest, but the Greyhounds ultimately held on for the 3-1 victory.
ABOUT THE MOUNT
Mount St. Mary's brought back many key players from its 2015 squad, including five of its top seven scorers. NEC All-Rookie Team selection Jenna West, and fellow classmate Nikki Pinto are each in their sophomore season after tying for the team-lead in both points (8) and goals (3) last year. Two other key offensive weapons, Lauren Bogardus and Gianna Pomykacz, are also back for their sophomore campaigns, and junior Kristen Morawski looks to anchor the Mount's defensive unit this season.
NEWCOMERS
Nemzer bolstered the 2016 squad with the addition of nine newcomers, including transfers Maddy Bunnell (Central Michigan), Chloe Cain (Chicago State) and Noelle DeFede (Wagner), who combined to play in 43 games during their collegiate careers. Freshmen Jaylyn Chandler, Kristin Isoldi, Tenia Jordan, Carter Merrigan, Andrea Rodriguez and Sydni Surowiec enter their rookie campaigns with the Mountaineers in 2016.
SCOUTING HOWARD
The Bison opened the 2016 season last Friday with a 2-1 victory over visiting Cleveland State. Noelle McCullom got the team on the board off a feed from Sandra Bond for the Bison's first goal of the season. Cleveland State tied the game in the 57th minute, but Howard responded off a header from Anna Mitchell to regain a one-goal advantage, 2-1, and held on for the victory.
Howard, winners of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in each of the last two seasons, was selected as the favorite in the SWAC Preseason Coaches Poll this year. The Bison also swept the preseason awards as Kela Gray was tabbed the SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Kendall Hamilton earned Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors, and Diotte was named Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. HOWARD
The Mountaineers own a 7-4-2 advantage over Howard in the all-time series and have won two of the last three matchups. The Mount is looking to avenge last season's 7-1 loss at the Hands of the Bison in Washington, D.C.
SCOUTING AMERICAN
The Eagles sit at 0-2 on the year following a 3-2 loss in double overtime to UMBC in the season opener and a 4-1 loss at Campbell last time out. Yari Bradfield, Charly Slavick and Alexandra Taylor have a goal apiece through the opening pair of games and Madie Light has the team's lone assist. Sophomore Colleen Vivaldi has posted a .571 save percentage and 3.00 goals against average in two starts in net.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. AMERICAN
The Mountaineers and Eagles are set for their 20th meeting all-time with American holding a 16-2-1 advantage in the series. The Eagles have posted victories in each of the last two meetings, including a 2-1 win last season in Emmitsburg.
UP NEXT
The Mount wraps up its home stand with a contest against Lehigh on Saturday, September 3 at 1 p.m. at Waldron Family Stadium.
