The Game
The Delaware State women's soccer team (3-8-1) will head to north to face a familiar in the NJIT Highlanders (2-8, 0-2 A-Sun) Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
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The Opponent
» NJIT Highlanders (2-8, 0-2 Atlantic Sun)
The Highlanders enter Tuesday night's contest on a seven-game skid. During this stretch, NJIT has been outscored 17-1, headlined by allowing a season-high six goals in its most recent loss at Kennesaw State on Saturday. Leading the way offensively for NJIT is the duo of midfielder/forward Arianna Gerber and forward Neema Liverpool, tallying a team-high three goals each. Gerger also leads NJIT in shots (31) and shots on-goal (20). In the net, goalkeeper Samantha Bersett holds a 2-7 record, in addition to collecting 47 saves and surrendering 18 goals.
» The Series: The Hornets are 2-12 all-time against NJIT. Last season, the two squads met twice, with NJIT winning the first contest 2-1 at home. However, DSU rebounded with a 2-0 shutout victory at home in the post-season play to win the Independent Conference Tournament Championship.
A Win Would Mean…
» Back-to-back victories for the first time this season.
» DSU's second-straight victory over the Highlanders.
» Delaware State's second road win of 2015.
Last Time Out…
DSU snapped a season-long four-game slide last Sunday with a dramatic 2-1 home victory over Mount St. Mary's, headlined by freshman Savannah Taylor (1) scoring on a free-kick opportunity just outside of the Mounts' goalie box with 38 seconds to play.
Moving Up the Career List
Senior Taylor Addison is now ranks sixth on DSU's all-time list for most shots (51) … Defender Morgan Durham and Addison are now seventh in DSU's all-time history most games played in DSU history (63).
Scroope Approaching Milestone
With 10 career wins as DSU's head coach, Kerri Scroope needs one victory to become the program's all-time leader. 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.
At This Point Last Season…
The Hornets were 3-8-1, coming off a 1-1 tie at home with VMI.
Coming Up Next…
The Columbia Blue & Red will return to Alumni Stadium for the final time, as DSU will face first-year program Hampton on Sunday (1 p.m.)
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.
