The Game
In what will be the final match of the regular season, the Delaware State women's soccer team (6-9-2) will head to Washington, D.C. to face the Howard Bison (11-7, 7-3 SWAC) Thursday night (7 p.m.).
Media Coverage
» Live Broadcast: None
» Live Stats: None
» Twitter: @DSUWsoc | @DSUHornets | #GBGBGH | #DSUWsoc
The Opponent
» Howard Bison (11-7, 7-3 SWAC)
Winners of four in a row heading into Wednesday's matchup, the Bison have outscored their opponents throughout the season, 62-27, led by forward Kela Gray's 17 goals and seven assists for a team-high 41 points. In the net, freshman Mackenzie Diotte (10-6) has allowed 22 goals, while collecting 92 saves.
» The Series: The Hornets are 3-14 all-time against HU. In year's regular season finale, DSU pulled off a 3-0 victory at home, scoring all three goals in the first half.
A Win Would Mean…
» DSU would tie a school single-season record for most wins (7).
» The Hornets' third road victory of 2015, setting a new single-season school.
» Delaware State's second-straight win over HU.
Last Time Out…
DSU nearly picked up its fourth road win of 2015, but managed to settle for a scoreless tie with the high-scoring Virginia Military Institute Keydets last Thursday. Winning the shot total was Delaware State, totaling a game-high 11 shots for the afternoon, with forward Taylor Addison and Elise Pratt registering four each. However, none of DSU's attempts were placed on-goal. VMI, meanwhile, recorded nine shot attempts, led by forward Olivia Cotton's five. Luckily for the Hornets, goalkeeper Michele Lammers (6-9-2) collected two saves to push her shutout total to three, tying Katelyn Koslosky (2011-14) for the second most in DSU single-season history.
Moving Up the Career List
Defender Taylor Pratcher is now in a three-way tie for most assists in DSU all-time history (5)... Forward is Taylor Addison is now sits fifth for most shots (61), seventh for most shots on-goal (26) and in a three-way for most games played (68) in school history… Forward Julia Bossert and defender Morgan Durham are tied for the seventh in school history for most games played (65).
Scroope Eclipses Milestone
With DSU defeating NJIT on Oct. 6, 2-0, Kerri Scroope became the program's all-time winningest head coach with 11 career victories. Her current career total stands at 13. In 2014 - Scroope's second season at the helm - she led the Hornets to their second best finish in team history (6-12-1), in addition to being named Independent Conference Coach of the Year by College Sports Madness.
Balanced Attack
Tallying 24 goals this season, which is the most in DSU single-season history, 15 players have scored for the Hornets in 2015, led by newcomers Elise Pratt (3) and Taylor Love (3).
At This Point Last Season…
The Hornets were 4-12-1, coming off a 3-0 home victory over Howard.
Coming Up Next…
The Columbia Blue & Red will head Florence, S.C. to defend their Independent Conference Tournament crown this weekend as the top seed, beginning with the Hampton Pirates on Friday at 4 p.m. Depending on the outcome, DSU will play the winner or loser of Francis Marion and South Carolina State Sunday afternoon.
2014 in Review
Coming off its second best finish in team history, in addition to winning the first-ever Independent Conference Tournament Championship, the Delaware State women's soccer will aim for repeat success under third-year head coach Kerri Scroope. In 2014, Scroope not only received Independent Conference Coach of the Year honors, but nine Hornets earned All-Conference selections. The Hornets also closed the year on a program-best three-game winning streak.
The Forwards
Topping the list of returnees are senior veterans Taylor Addison and Julia Bossert. Addison returns as DSU's top scorer, tallying two goals and one assist for five points on her way to receiving Second Team All-Independent Conference honors. Bossert – a Second Team All-Independent Conference selection also – led the Hornets in assists (3) last season, which tied a team single-season mark. Providing depth behind the senior duo will be sophomore McKenzie Miller, who will look to build on a All-Independent Conference Tournament Team selection. Newcomers in freshmen Taylor Love, Bri Musco and junior transfer Ayanna Smith, meanwhile, will also battle for playing time. Spending her freshman season at Southern Connecticut State, followed by sitting out her sophomore campaign, Smith took four shots and scored once.
The Midfielders
With nine players designated as midfielders, this position group is the deepest for the Hornets this season, led by senior Danielle Valente. In 2014, Valente was a First Team All-Independent Conference selection, appearing in 16 games while making 15 starts. Behind Valente are letterwinners from a season ago in juniors Dina Isham and Morgan Pottinger, whereas returners Kym Brewton and Tori Hamilton will battle for significant playing time. The newcomers, on the other hand, feature freshmen Dasia Busch, Logan Taylor, Kayleigh Leschinski and junior transfer from Stony Brook in Elise Pratt. Appearing in a combined 24 matches in two seasons, Pratt's lone goal occurred as a freshman in Stony Brook's double-overtime victory against Maine to complete the regular season.
The Defenders
The veteran trio of seniors Morgan Durham, Tere' Crawford and junior Taylor Pratcher headlines the backline for DSU in 2015. Durham, who started all 19 games last season on her way to earning First Team All-Independent Conference honors, likes the feel of the team with the regular season set to begin this Friday evening (7 p.m.) at home against Lafayette.
Goalkeepers
Aiming to fill void the left by Katelyn Koslosky (graduated), DSU's all-time leader in saves (387) and shutouts (9), will be sophomore Michele Lammers and freshman Leslie Fazio. Lammers appeared in three games for a little over a combined 16 minutes as a freshman. Fazio – a product of nearby Sussex Technical High School located in Lewes, Del. - started all four years on the varsity level, garnering First Team All-Henlopen North Conference honors, along with First and Second All-State recognition during her final two seasons.
