The Game
Aiming for its first win of the young 2015 season, the Delaware State women's soccer team (0-2) will look to upend the visiting Quinnipiac Bobcats (1-0) Friday night (7 p.m.) at Alumni Stadium.
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The Opponent
» Quinnipiac Bobcats (1-0, 0-0 MAAC)
Despite being picked to finish ninth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Bobcats opened their 2015 campaign in dramatic fashion by way of a 2-1 overtime victory at home over Holy Cross earlier this week. Notching the game-winning goal was forward Nadya Gill, who was one of eight freshmen that received significant time in the team's thrilling season-opening victory.
» The Series: The Hornets are 0-2 all-time against Quinnipiac. The last meeting between the two team's occurred in 2008, as the Hornets fell 1-0 at home.
A Win Would Mean…
» DSU's first 1-2 start since 2006.
» The Hornets would not start a season at 0-3, snapping an eight-year streak.
» Delaware State's first regular season victory since defeating Howard last year on Oct. 29, 3-0.
Last Time Out…
The Hornets opened 2015 with a 1-0 loss at home to Lafayette, followed by a 5-0 loss on the road to Temple. Against Lafayette, the Hornets surrendered a late unassisted goal during the 86th minute, whereas the Owls poured in four second half scores on their way to a convincing victory. For DSU, goalkeeper Michele Lammers collected a combined 16 saves – including a career-high 11 in the loss at Temple.
Scroope Approaching Milestone
With seven career wins as DSU's head coach, Kerri Scroope needs four victories to pass Matt Okoh (2005-07) 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.
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.
At This Point Last Season…
The Hornets were 0-2, coming off a 1-0 loss at Stony Brook.
Coming Up Next…
The Columbia Blue & Red will hit the road for back-to-back games, beginning with UMass Lowell next Friday (7 p.m.). Last season, DSU fell at home to the River Hawks in double overtime, 2-1.
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.
The 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.
