GAME PREVIEW: Women's Soccer at William Jessup (9/4) | Mills College (9/6)

(9/4 at William Jessup)

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THE LEAD

The University of Dallas women's soccer team (0-1) continues its three-game road trip on Friday, September 4 at William Jessup University. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. (PT) and 6 p.m. (CT). Dallas wraps up the road series on Sunday, Sept. 6 at Mills College. It will be another west coast start at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. central.

The Lady Crusaders dropped a 5-0 decision on Tuesday at University of Texas at Tyler in the season-opener. After limiting a tough Patriots' squad to a one-goal differential for nearly 75 minutes, a 4-0 run would expand the margin in the second half and  be too much for UD to overcome.

Junior Cascade Mayer (Kapaa, Hawaii), sophomore Alice Nelson (Jackson, Tenn.), and freshman Mason Cosgrove (Las Cruces, N.M.) attempted shots in the setback. Sophomore Elena Naccari (Covington, La.) picked up 18 saves in 90 minutes as the goalkeeper.

IMPACT PLAYERS

In 2014, three Lady Crusaders blasted three goals apiece to lead the scoring. Mayer, Nelson, and sophomore Mackenzie Vasile (San Antonio, Texas) form the trio, with Nelson having delivered all of her netters for game-winners.

Nelson leads the returners with 26 shots and 18 shots on goal. Right behind her is Mayer with 23 and 16 attempts on target. Sophomore Taylor Ray (Cypress, Texas), and seniors Mariah Fairbanks (Rocklin, Ca.) and Abigale Weisbrod (Mesquite, Texas) also reached the scoring column. Ray added 15 shots and 10 on goal.

Naccari was part of a trio in the SCAC to earn Newcomer-of-the-Year. In her rookie collegiate season, the goalkeeper worked eight shutouts, including seven the Lady Crusaders prevailed in. She allowed 1.53 goals a game, faced 201 shots, and notched 73 saves overall through 1,296 minutes between the posts.

SCOUTING WILLIAM JESSUP

The Warriors have captured two wins through the early portion of the fall campaign and are 2-0 coming into Friday's match. In 2014, William Jessup logged a 6-11 overall record and were 4-7 at home.

After narrowly prevailing 2-1 in the home-opener on August 22 over Southern Oregon University, the Warriors exploded for a 6-0 win at Simpson University last Saturday. WJU posted four scoring plays in the opening half and rattled 24 shot attempts.

Yvette Perez landed a hat trick, with two of her goals counting as the only ones in the second half. Celia Rangel was also part of the scoring barrage and has found the back of the net in both matchups this year.

This is the first time the programs will meet on the pitch in history.

SCOUTING MILLS COLLEGE

The Cyclones fell 6-0 in the season-opener at home on Wednesday to Eastern Oregon, and will continue a three-game home stand with the Lady Crusaders being the second team to stop in Oakland, California.

Eastern Oregon logged three goals in both stanzas, and posted 15 shots on goal out of the 28 compiled. Dalia Pimentel posted the lone shot on goal for Mills College and Tayla Muise grabbed nine saves in 90 minutes at goalkeeper.

In the all-time history, Dallas holds a 2-0 advantage with the latest meeting between the squads occurring on Sept. 23, 2011. The Navy and White prevailed 8-1, posting four goals in the first and second half.

UP NEXT

Dallas is home for the first time this season and will play season-long, five-straight matches at the friendly confines. Within the stretch is a trio of games known as the Dallas Challenge. The home-opener for UD is on Sept. 9 versus University of Texas at Dallas. Kickoff is 5:30 p.m.

Lewis and Clark College and George Fox University are also within the event, playing at Crusader field on Sept. 12 and 13, respectively.

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