PREVIEW: Women's Soccer vs. Howard Payne University (9/1) | at Sul Ross State University (9/3)
MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE
(vs. Howard Payne University 9/1)
Video (Tape Delay Possible)
(at Sul Ross State University 9/3)
SOCIAL MEDIA
UD Twitter: @UDallasSports
UD Women's Soccer Twitter: @UDallasWSoccer
Facebook: University of Dallas Athletics
Instagram: udallassports
THE LEAD
The University of Dallas women's soccer team opens the 2016 campaign on Thursday versus Howard Payne University at 5 p.m. First tilt begins a little while after the conclusion of the men's soccer match prior. On Saturday, the Crusaders travel to Sul Ross State University for a 2 p.m. start time. (Note that match was originally scheduled for 3 p.m. but has been changed).
The Crusaders will play four of the first five matches at home and three games in five days.
3 THINGS TO KNOW
- Dallas hosts 12 contests this season out of the 20 listed on the docket.
- Junior Elena Naccari (Covington, La.) earned SCAC Defensive Player of the Year to go along with her Newcomer of the Year in 2014. Naccari also was named to the First Team All-SCAC after finishing second in the league with a career-high 137 saves.
- The Crusaders won five of its six matches via shutout. Altogether UD posted six shutouts.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
(HOWARD PAYNE UNIVERSITY)
The Yellow Jackets were selected to finish 9th in the American Southwest Conference (ASC) pre-season poll. HPU posted a 3-10-2 record in 2015. Lynsie Anderson, Taylor Bicknell, and Kaitlyn Harrison were recognized on the ASC Players to Watch List.
The programs last met in 2012 at Brownwood, Texas, where the Crusaders won 3-2. It took a trio of scores in the second stanza to overcome a 1-0 halftime deficit. None of the Crusaders on this current squad were enrolled at UD. The last meeting between these teams at Crusaders Field was in 2011, where HPU escaped with a 1-0 final.
Dallas is 1-5 in the all-time series.
(SUL ROSS STATE UNIVERSITY)
The Lobos finished in a 1-1 last Saturday against Texas-Permian Basin. Sul Ross State is coming off a 4-12 season and open the fall schedule on Thursday at home against Western Texas College. Dallas visits on Saturday to complete a short home stand. Three players for the Lobos were named on the ASC Players to Watch List. These include; Valeria Rey, Rachel Hamilton, and Ashley Coody. Rey led the team with five goals in 2015.
Dallas is 1-0 in the all-time series, claiming a triumph (5-0) in last year's first meeting between the programs. The Crusaders poured season-highs with 53 shots and 28 shots on goal. Juniors Lauren Hood (Bedford, Texas) and Mackenzie Vasile (San Antonio, Texas) each scored in the match, and sophomore Mason Cosgrove (Las Cruces, N.M.) dished a pair of assist.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Dallas is back home on Monday, September 5 for a contest with McMurry University. Kickoff slated for 5 p.m.