The Games
Continuing its stretch of playing three games in five days, the Delaware State women's soccer team (1-4) will kickoff a season-long four-game homestand this weekend, beginning Friday night (7 p.m.) against the Wagner Seahawks (1-5). Sunday afternoon (3 p.m.), meanwhile, will be matchup against the Manhattan Jaspers (4-1).
Media Coverage
» Live Broadcast: None
» Live Stats (Free – Both Games): Click Here
» Twitter: @DSUWsoc | @DSUHornets | #GBGBGH
The Opponents
» Wagner Seahawks (1-5, 0-0 NEC)
The Seahawks enter Friday night's contest aiming to snap a three-game skid, while their lone victory resulted in a 4-2 road win over Saint Peter's on Aug. 26. Leading the Seahawks in goals (2) and points (5) is midfielder Megan Fritz, whereas Wagner as a team has been shut out three times. In the net, goalkeeper's Katelyn Murphy, Kaitlin Flaherty and Jessica Wilm have all seen significant time this season. Totaling the lone victory out of the group is Wilm, as she also leads the team in saves (16). Murphy, meanwhile, has allowed a team-best three goals, whereas Flaherty has played the most minutes (225:00).
» The Series: The Hornets are 2-7 all-time against Wagner. Last season, DSU squeaked past the Seahawks on the road with a 1-0 victory.
» Manhattan Jaspers (4-1, 0-0 MAAC)
Riding a three-game winning streak heading into the weekend, Manhattan will conclude a season-long five-game road trip Sunday afternoon (3 p.m.) against the Hornets. Offensively, the Jaspers have tallied nine goals this season, including seven in their last two games. Leading the Jaspers in goals (5), points (10), shots (13), shots on-goal (2) and game-winning goals (2) is midfielder Erica Modena, while goalkeeper Kristen Skonieczny has allowed two goals, tallied two shutouts, collected two shutouts and maintained a .895 save percentage.
» The Series: Delaware State is 0-4 all-time against the Jaspers. The two squads last met in 2013, as Manhattan pulled out a 2-0 home victory.
A Win Would Mean…
» DSU's first home victory of the season, snapping a two-game slide.
» The Hornets' first win against the Jaspers.
» Delaware State's first 2-4 start since 2006.
Last Time Out…
DSU allowed three first half goals on the road this past Wednesday on its way to falling 3-0 to the Rider Broncs, in what was their first home match of the season.
Scroope Approaching Milestone
With seven career wins as DSU's head coach, Kerri Scroope needs three 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.
At This Point Last Season…
The Hornets were 0-5, coming off a 2-0 loss at American.
Coming Up Next…
The Columbia Blue & Red will continue their season-long four-game homestand next Tuesday evening (7 p.m.) against American.
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.
