DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Travel to Villanova and Georgetown
10/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S SOCCER
CHICAGO - The DePaul women’s soccer program plays the first two of four straight BIG EAST road games this weekend at Villanova and Georgetown. The Blue Demons visit the Wildcats on Friday at 4 p.m. ET followed by a Sunday 1 p.m. ET match against the Hoyas in Washington, D.C. DePaul’s road trip continues next weekend with games at Connecticut and Providence.
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 13 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 five occasions throughout her career (three 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 Villanova: The Wildcats stand at 10-3-0 overall and 3-2-0 in BIG EAST matches after consecutive 3-0 wins over St. John’s and Syracuse last weekend... Villanova is tied for third in the National Division standings with nine points... the team has totaled 32 goals this season... Erin Hardiman leads the club with 18 points on 10 assists and four goals... Kaitlin Ryan has tallied a team-best seven goals along with three assists for 17 points... John Byford is in his first season as head coach of the program. The Series: The Wildcats have won all three previous meetings... Villanova claimed a 1-0 decision at Wish Field last season.
Georgetown Lowdown: The Hoyas enter the weekend at No. 17 in the NSCAA top 25 and No. 16 in the Soccer America poll... Georgetown is 8-0-2 overall and 2-0-0 in BIG EAST action... the Hoyas defeated Rutgers, 1-0, in their last match on Sept. 28... they host Notre Dame on Friday... Toni Hudson leads the team with 20 points on eight goals and four assists... Georgetown has outscored its opponents by a 25-4 margin... head coach Dave Nolan is in his fifth year at the helm of Georgetown women’s soccer. The Series: Sunday will be the fourth meeting between the two programs... Georgetown has won the last two games after DePaul opened the series in 2005 with a 4-2 victory... a year ago in Chicago, the Hoyas posted a 1-0 win over the Blue Demons.
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.
