DePaul Heads to Connecticut and Providence
10/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S SOCCER
CHICAGO - The DePaul Blue Demons embark on the final road trip of the regular season with matches at Connecticut and Providence. Following this weekend’s action, the regular season concludes with home games against Seton Hall and Rutgers next weekend.
The Blue Demons open the BIG EAST trip on Friday night with a 7 p.m. ET game at Connecticut followed by a Sunday 1 p.m. ET match against the Friars in Providence. DePaul enters the weekend at 2-13-0 overall and 0-7-0 in BIG EAST play while Connecticut is 4-7-4 overall and 2-2-3 in league action. Providence holds a 5-5-3 record and 0-4-3 mark in BIG EAST matches.
Noting the Blue Demons: Ten different players have tallied at least one goal this season... Michelle Scandora’s three goals leads the team while Tara Strickland has totaled a team-high seven points on three assists and two goals... DePaul has scored 14 goals through 15 matches compared to 18 in 19 games in 2007... the eight goals in contests against Western Illinois, Miami (Ohio) and Northwestern are the highest three-game total since 11 in Oct. 2004... with two goals in each of those matches, it also marks the first time the Blue Demons have had three consecutive games with two or more goals since Oct. 2004... the 0-5 start to begin the 2008 season marks the third time in team history with a season-opening five straight defeats (1996, 1997)... with a goal against Northwestern on Sept. 14, Shannon Williams moved into a tie for eighth all-time with nine goals and tie for ninth all-time with 21 points (9G/3A)... her third assist came in the season opener... goalkeeper Kelsey Hoinkes has recorded 10 saves in four occasions throughout her career (two this season)... eight players have played in all 13 matches this season: Molly Borchardt, Morgan Celaya, Arianna Foster, Callie Hemming, Janina Locascio, Casey Mercurio, Lauren Pagone and Michelle Scandora... of those eight, Borchardt, Celaya and Mercurio have started every game... head coach Erin Chastain is in her second season at DePaul... 2008 is the 13th season of women’s soccer at DePaul University.
Scouting Connecticut: The Huskies stand at 4-7-4 overall and 2-2-3 in BIG EAST matches... last weekend, Connecticut won, 2-1, at Pittsburgh and tied West Virginia, 0-0... Connecticut is fourth in the American Division standings with nine points... the team has been outscored, 19-11, by opponents this season... Annie Yi leads the club with eight points and four goals... Len Tsantiris is in his 28th season at Connecticut. The Series: The Huskies have won all three meetings... last season saw Connecticut post a 2-1 decision at Wish Field.
Providence Preview: Providence enters the weekend with an overall record of 5-5-3 and 0-4-3 record in BIG EAST action... the Friars dropped a pair of games at West Virginia (3-0) and Pittsburgh (2-1, OT) last weekend... they host Notre Dame on Friday... Jill Camburn leads the team with nine points on three goals and three assists... the Friars have scored 16 goals this season while allowing 15 goals... head coach Jim McGirr is in his third year at Providence. The Series: Sunday is the fourth meeting between the two programs... DePaul holds a 2-1 lead in the series... the Blue Demons won, 1-0, at Wish Field last season.
Preseason Picks: The Blue Demons were picked to finish eighth in the National Division of the BIG EAST preseason poll. Notre Dame was selected to finish first in the National Division while West Virginia received the top spot in the American Division. Notre Dame’s Brittany Bock was the selection for Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while Villanova’s Kelly Eagan was named the Defensive Player of the Year. The Goalkeeper of the Year was Stephanie Labbe of Connecticut.
2008 BIG EAST Championship: The semifinals and championship of the 2008 BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Championship will be Nov. 7 and 9 at Notre Dame’s Alumni Field. The first round and quarterfinal matches will be hosted by the higher-seeded team on Oct. 30 and Nov. 2. The champion receives the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship. CBS College Sports Network will broadcast the semifinal and championship matches. The top five teams in each division qualify for the league tournament.