The Games
The Delaware State women's soccer team (2-5-1) will wrap up its season-long four-game homestand Friday night (7 p.m.) against the UMBC Retrievers (1-6-1), followed by a road test against the George Washington Colonials (1-4) Sunday afternoon (1 p.m.).
Media Coverage
» Live Broadcast (vs. George Washington): Click Here
» Live Stats (Free): vs. UMBC (Click Here) – vs. George Washington (Click Here)
» Twitter: @DSUWsoc | @DSUHornets | #GBGBGH
The Opponents
» UMBC Retrievers (1-6-1, 0-0 America East)
Currently riding a four-game skid, UMBC's lone victory of 2015 came at American on Aug. 30 by way of a 2-1 victory. The Retrievers' top scorer is midfielder Gabby Boehmer, who has tallied four goals on the season. Sitting second in shots (15) and first in shots on-goal (7), meanwhile, is forward Alexa Quaranta, who leads the Retrievers in assists (3). In the net, senior Jen Nance holds a 1-4-1 record, allowing 12 goals and collecting 29 saves.
» The Series: The Hornets are 0-5 all-time against UMBC. Last season, DSU were shutout on the road by the Retrievers, 4-0.
» George Washington Colonials (2-4, 0-0 A-10)
Somewhat similar to UMBC, GW is aiming to snap a three-game losing streak. However, the Colonials will have a chance to get back on the winning track Thursday afternoon in the first of a back-to-back home slate, beginning with Liberty. Offensively, forward Mackenzie Cowley leads GW in goals (4), shots (7) and shots on-goal (4), whereas goalkeeper Miranda Horn holds a 2-4 record, surrendering 10 goals , totaling 20 saves and two shutouts.
» The Series: The Hornets are 0-3 all-time against the Colonials. The two squads met last season with DSU falling at home, 2-0.
A Win Would Mean…
» DSU's first victories over UMBC and GW.
» The Hornets' second home and road wins of 2015.
» Delaware State would avoid losing back-to-back for the second time this season.
Last Time Out…
In what was the finale of a three-game stretch over a five-day period, DSU could not overcome a first half one-score deficit, as the visiting American Eagles scooted past the Hornets with a 1-0 victory Tuesday evening at Alumni Stadium.
Scroope Approaching Milestone
With nine career wins as DSU's head coach, Kerri Scroope needs two 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 2-6, coming off a 1-0 win at Wagner.
Coming Up Next…
The Columbia Blue & Red will head to Jersey City, N.J. to face Saint Peter's next Thursday (4 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.
