Crusaders open 2017 campaign on Friday.
Crusaders open 2017 campaign on Friday.

GAME PREVIEW: Women's Soccer vs. Concordia (9/1) | at Belhaven (9/2)

MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE

(9/1 vs. Concordia University)

Livestats

Video

(9/2) at Howard Payne University)

Livestats/Video


SOCIAL MEDIA

UD Twitter: @UDallasSports

UD Women's Soccer Twitter: @UDallasWSoccer

UD Facebook: University of Dallas Athletics

UD Women's Soccer Facebook: University of Dallas Women's Soccer

UD Instagram: udallasathletics


BACK ON THE PITCH

The University of Dallas women's soccer team begins the new season on Friday with a home match against Concordia University at 3 p.m. Dallas has opened at the friendly confines last season and were blanked 2-0 to Howard Payne University.

It will be Head Coach Lexi Stinson's first career contest at the helm, as she looks for her team to improve on a 4-13-2 year in 2016. The Crusaders were selected tied sixth in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) preseason poll. 

Her squad will have a quick turnaround with the first road match of the year at Belhaven University on Saturday evening. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. The Crusaders get Sunday off before playing their third match in four days at Louisiana College.


UD NOTES

- Dallas returns 16 players from last year's squad.

- Elisa Duran (Pomona, Calif.) posted three goals and two assists for eight points. That is the top total for returners on the current roster.

- Mason Cosgrove (Las Cruces, N.M.) dished a team-high three assists and had a scoring result for five points.

- A trio of players back on the team this year also broke onto the scoreboard once last season. This list includes: Mackenzie Vasile (San Antonio, Texas), Aileen Machado (Dallas, Texas), and Kate Vidimos (Bedford, Texas).

- Elena Naccari (Covington, La.) made 72 saves in 1,232:45 minutes in between the posts. She had 17 starts and went 3-10 with one full 90-minute shutout win.

- Olivia Severson (La Crosse, Wis.) posted 31 saves in eight matches (2 starts) and logged 433:17 minutes in her debut season as a goalkeeper.

UD 2016 SEASON STATS


QUOTABLE

"For the team the main goal this year is to win more games and go to conference this year." - Sarahi Osorio on goals for new season

"Determined" -  Sarahi Osorio describes the Dallas women's soccer team in one word 


A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS

(Concordia University)

- The Tornados open their season on Friday and then play another match on September 3rd at Southwestern University to complete the first road trip. CTX plays all five of is first non-conference matches against the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC).

- Concordia went 8-7-1 overall in 2016 and had a 6-5 record in the American Southwest Conference (ASC). They were ousted by University of Texas at Dallas, 2-1, in the quarterfinals.

- The Tornados were picked seventh in the ASC preseason poll with 180 points.

- Kayla Carlove, Maria Paula Vela, and Skylar Larkin represented CTX on the Players to Watch list that included 36 players named across the ASC. The trio all played significant minutes and combined for two goals and seven assists.

- Madi Timmons was the leading contributor to the offense last year with 20 points and nine goals. Peyton Heilig added five goals.

- These squads last met on the field in 2014 for a season opener in Irving. The Tornados prevailed 3-2 in double overtime. UD forced extra time with a game-tying netter in the 84th minute, but were downed 42 seconds left before the 110 minute was completed.

- Despite that setback, the Crusaders are 8-2-1 against Concordia all-time.

Concordia University 2016 Season Stats


(Belhaven University)

- The Blazers had two scrimmages this past week with Millsaps College and Holmes Community College. They open the regular season on Friday against LSU Shreveport, and then host Dallas the following night.

- Belhaven posted a 6-11 record overall, and had four of them at home.

- Jessica Mahoney and Erica Rempel combined for 18 goals with nine each and accounted for the majority of BU's 27 goals as a team. The tandem also both eclipsed 20 points with 22 and 20, respectively.

- The Green and Gold were selected 11th in the ASC Preseason Poll.

- Mahoney, Rempel, and Alex Trammel were named to ASC Preseason Watch List. In addition t the aforementioned duos contributions on offense, Trammel provided a steady presence with 17 starts in all contests and 1,415 minutes with play on defense and midfield.

- Alexis McDonald is back and did most of the work in goal last year. She amassed 79 saves and a 70.5 save percentage in 16 starts and 1,394 minutes.

- Dallas and Belhaven have never met on the pitch prior to Saturday's tilt.

Belhaven 2016 Season Stats


UP NEXT

Dallas remains on a three-game road stretch with Louisiana College on Monday. The Crusaders finalize that trip on September 8th at LeTourneau University.