The Game
The Delaware State women's soccer team (2-8-1) will look to snap a season-long four-game skid Sunday afternoon (1 p.m.) at home against the visiting Mount St. Mary's Mounts (1-9).
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The Opponent
» Mount St. Mary's Mounts (1-9, 0-0 NEC)
After defeating UMBC 3-0 at home on Sept. 13, Mount St. Mary's began its season-long four-game road trip with back-to-back losses at Howard and VCU. Between the two losses, the Mounts were outscored 13-1. Offensively, freshman forward Jenna West leads the team in goals (3) and points (7). In the net, the Mounts goalkeeper by committee approach features freshman Quinn Costello-Mays (1-3), senior Rachel Bourne (0-2) and senior Vicky Cocozza (0-4). Along securing the team's lone victory, Costello-Mays has allowed a team-best six goals, in addition to collecting eight saves.
» The Series: The Hornets are 1-5 all-time against the Mounts. Last season, DSU picked up a 2-0 road victory, which was the Hornets' first win away from Alumni Stadium since 2008.
A Win Would Mean…
» DSU's first win since a 2-1 home victory over Manhattan on Sept. 13.
» The Hornets' second-straight win over Mount St. Mary's.
» Delaware State's second home win of 2015.
Last Time Out…
Delaware State nearly secured its second road victory of the season, but the Saint Peter's Peacocks managed to eke out a 2-1 win thanks to a Alix Couto (2) unassisted goal during the 58th minute to break the one-all tie. Trailing 1-0 at the break, the second stanza got off to a fast start, beginning with DSU's Ayanna Smith finding forward Taylor Addison (1) for her seventh career goal during the 50th minute. Unfortunately for the Hornets, the tie did not last long, as Cuoto's goal about eight minutes later put the Peacocks on top for the remainder of the afternoon.
Moving Up the Career List
With her performance against Saint Peter's, senior Taylor Addison moved in a two-way tie for most career goals (7) and points (16) in DSU history… Addison also is now in a three-way tie for most shots (50) in DSU all-time history… Senior Julia Bossert is now 10th all-time on DSU's career list for most shots placed on-goal (21)… Senior's Morgan Durham and Taylor Addison are now in a three-way tie for most games played in DSU history (62).
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 3-8, coming off a 3-0 road win over Saint Peter's.
Coming Up Next…
The Columbia Blue & Red will travel to Newark, N.J. to face NJIT on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
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.
