BRADFORD, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women's soccer team will open up its 2017 season with a pair of weekend road games, first traveling to Oberlin on Friday and then Case Western Reserve on Saturday.
Under first-year Head Coach Melissa Lincoln, the Panthers return the core of its talent from 2016, which went 9-6-4 and finished third in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.
"The experience of our returners is going to be our biggest asset," Lincoln said. "With their leadership, they can lead the younger players and I think that is going to be beneficial for us throughout the season."
Among the 19 returners are five of the six Panthers named to the 2016 AMCC All-Conference teams – first-team goalkeeper Sarah Dailey, second-team midfielder Kaitlyn Donnelly, third-team forward Courtney Shade, third-team midfielder Abbey Kalin and third-team defender Meghan Stuck.
A pair of newcomers – sophomore Katie Keller and junior Victoria Stump – join a talented pool of up-and-coming players that will face a challenging schedule.
The Panthers will play host to Houghton on Sept. 13 for their home opener, and Lincoln has labeled that game as a highlight of the team's non-conference schedule.
Lincoln, a former member of the coaching staff and graduate from Houghton, foresees an early-season test against the Highlanders.
Late in the season, the Panthers will host the five-time defending AMCC champions and preseason conference favorite Penn State-Behrend on Oct. 18.
"That is the kind of game in which we can make a statement," Lincoln said. "It would really set the tone for the postseason if we can go out there and win that one."
Before the Panthers will compete in front of their home crowd, they will play five straight road games. The first, a 7 p.m. start at Oberlin on Friday and the next, a 6 p.m. kickoff at Case Western Reserve on Saturday.
About Oberlin:
- Friday's game will be the start of Oberlin's 2017 season as well.
- The Oberlin Yeowomen finished 7-8-1 overall in 2016, finishing up its season with a pair of victories.
- The 2016 squad outscored its opponents, 31-25. Four of Oberlin's seven wins came on its home turf at Fred Shults Field.
- Returning for her senior season is Gwennie Gardiner, who tied for the team lead last season with 11 goals. Her five assists, 27 points and 65 shots also led the team.
- Jackie Brant knocked in four goals and assisted two while appearing in all but one game.
- All three goalkeepers from last year's team are also returning. Jordyn Morris and Emma Gordon split time in goal. Morris logged 815:42 minutes on the pitch and made a team-leading 37 saves, and Gordon played 630:00 minutes with 33 saves. Emilia Omerberg also saw time on the pitch last season.
About Case Western Reserve:
- Case Western Reserve will open up its season Friday, the same day as the Panthers.
- The 2016 CWRU Spartans went 6-8-4, claiming four wins on their home field of DiSanto Field.
- Last season, the Spartans averaged 0.89 goals per game and surrendered 1.32 per contest.
- Neha Cheemalavagu returns for her senior season as one of the team's leading returning goal scorers. She found the back of the net three times and assisted one goal last season.
- Kimberly Chen scored three goals as well during her freshman campaign and has the team's top returning point total with eight. Her pair of assists were tied for the most on the team in 2016.
- The Spartans have a pair of goalkeepers on their roster: sophomore Lauren Unterborn and freshman Lauren Metz. Unterborn played in three games and made one start last season, making 10 saves and surrendering one goal in 140:49 minutes on the pitch.
