Women's Soccer Kicks Off Conference Play Sunday

Women's Soccer Kicks Off Conference Play Sunday

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Every gameday throughout the 2010 season, America East will provide a women's soccer update that  previews the day's matchups as well as recaps the previous day's action. The update will also provide links to live coverage, box scores and highlights of select games. Fans can also follow women's soccer action throughout the season at the America East Facebook page, Twitter account and YouTube page!

 

Upcoming Action

 

Sunday, September 26
Maine at Binghamton, 12 p.m. -- Live Stats

Maine (4-3-0) puts its conference-leading record on the line as it heads to Binghamton (2-7-0) for both teams' first conference match of 2010.

Maine has gotten off to a strong start and finished its non-conference schedule with a three-game winning streak. The recent success has been fueled largely by the scoring outburst of senior midfielder Kelsey Wilson, who has scored six goals in her last four games, including the game-winning goal in each of the last two.

Binghamton, on the other hand, enters its conference schedule having lost four straight, most recently a 3-1 decision against Cornell. In conference play, the Bearcats will look to rekindle the spark that took the 2009 squad all the way to the America East championship game.

The last time these two teams met was in the America East tournament semifinals. After playing to a scoreless draw, Binghamton advanced to the championship game on penalty kicks, 4-2.

 

UMBC at Vermont, 12 p.m. -- Live Video

UMBC (1-7-1) travels up to Burlington to take on Vermont (1-8-0) in the first match of conference play for both clubs.

Both teams are currently mired in slumps they desperately would like to break. Both teams won their first matches. However, neither team has won a match since their openers. The Retrievers have lost seven of their last eight matches, with one tie, while the Catamounts have lost eight straight, including a 2-1 overtime loss to American on Friday.

While both teams have been struggling of late, this match does have potential for excitement. The last meeting between these two teams last season was a back-and-forth barn burner won by the Catamounts at UMBC, 6-5. Vermont was behind, 4-3, before scoring three consecutive goals en route to the victory. Midfielder Jess Herbst, now a sophomore, scored two goals in the match, one of which proved to be the game winner.
 

New Hampshire at Boston U., 1 p.m. -- Live Stats | Live Video

Defending America East champion Boston University (5-5-0) will host New Hampshire (4-4-2) in the conference opener for both teams.

New Hampshire and Boston both come into the match with two-game win streaks. New Hampshire defeated Bryant and Dartmouth, each by a score of 1-0. Boston U. also blanked its last two opponents, grabbing 3-0 victories over Harvard and Connecticut.

The Terriers are coming off a non-conference schedule that included five opponents that were then nationally ranked, going 1-4 in those matches.

New Hampshire will look to avenge a loss to Boston U. in last year's meeting between the two teams. The Terriers won that match in Durham, 1-0.

Hartford at Stony Brook, 2 p.m. -- Live Stats | Live Video

Hartford (3-6-1) and Stony Brook (1-7-1) open up conference play on Long Island as the Seawolves host the Hawks at LaValle Stadium.

Both teams have gotten off to rocky starts in 2010, but each comes into this match on a positive note. The Hawks are unbeaten in their last two matches, a 3-1 triumph over St. Joseph's and most recently a scoreless draw at Fairfield. The last time out for the Seawolves resulted in their first win of the season, a 4-1 thumping of Bryant at home.

This is familiar territory for the Seawolves. Last season, they had just one win going into America East play. They then went 5-2-1 in the conference and made it to the conference semifinals. Their one tie in the conference last season was in West Hartford, Conn., against the Hawks.

 

Recent Results


Friday, September 24
American 2, Vermont 1 -- Box Score

In its final game before the start of the conference schedule, Vermont fell 2-1 against American University.

The loss to American marks the eighth-straight loss for the Catamounts. UVM fell behind early in the first half, when Shaena Alfonsi netted her first goal of the season in the 12th minute of action. However, the Catamounts tied the game in the 23rd minute, when senior midfielder Alison Hemphill scored her second goal of the season. Despite both teams having opportunities to take the lead, the score remained tied until the 58th minute. Brenna Smith grabbed the game-winner for American, scoring an opportunistic goal off a loose ball in the penalty box. Sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Kelly was impressive in the loss, making eight saves.

The Catamounts kick off conference play with a visit from UMBC on September 26.