ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd women's soccer team has a busy weekend ahead as the Tritons will play three matches in four days in Columbus, Georgia, to kick off the 2016 season.
THURSDAY: Eckerd vs. Auburn University-Montgomery | 2:00 PM |
Live Stats
FRIDAY: Eckerd vs. West Alabama | 2:30 PM |
Live Stats
SUNDAY: Eckerd vs. No. 18 North Alabama | 2:00 PM |
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NEW SEASON, NEW FACES
Over half of the Tritons' roster features players new to the program. Ten of the team's 18 players will make their Eckerd debut on Thursday, nine of which are freshmen. A pair of junior transfers -
Kayla Gray and
Sydney Tiiman - look to bring scoring to the EC attack in the final third. Gray has recorded 14 goals for the Jamaican National Team while Tiiman found the back of the net 19 times last season at Tyler (Texas) Junior College.
LEAD THE WAY
Eckerd will look to a pair of four-year seniors in
Leah Chisolm and
Monique Elliott to help lead a young roster. Elliott has started 45 matches in her first three seasons while Chisolm has logged 43 starts. Chisolm will be relied upon to help anchor the back four while the versatile Elliott is expected to move from the defense into an attacking center midfield role.
ABOUT AUBURN-MONTGOMERY (7-10-1 in 2015)
A former power in the NAIA, the Warhawks are now making the transition into NCAA Division II. This season will mark AUM's first playing a full Division II schedule, meaning Eckerd will be its first opponent as a provisional NCAA member.
ABOUT WEST ALABAMA (10-6-2 in 2015)
The Tigers are coming off a 10-win season and have been picked fifth in the Gulf South Conference preseason poll. The team is led by Kirsten Rielly, who scored nine goals last year on her way to all-region honors, and Mara DeLuca, who anchored a defense that allowed just 17 goals last season. Friday's contest against Eckerd will be the season-opener for UWA.
ABOUT NORTH ALABAMA (15-3-2 in 2015)
Eckerd's toughest test comes in its final match of the trip as the Tritons face the reigning Gulf South Conference champions. The Lions are ranked No. 18 in the NSCAA Preseason Coaches Poll but they do need to find a way to replace the production of Chloe Richards, who led D-II last season with 30 goals.
