LAKEWOOD, NJ (Oct. 13, 2023) - It's a big day for Georgian Court Women's Soccer who look to stay hot on both Homecoming and Senior Day.
Opponent
Caldwell Cougars (5-3-2, 3-1-2 CACC)
Where
Lakewood, NJ - Investors Savings Bank Field
When
Saturday, Oct. 12 - 12 p.m.
How to Watch
• Saturday's match is available to watch via a free to view broadcast on the Georgian Court portal of the CACC Digital Network powered by HUDL. Links for videos and live stats can be found above and on the Lions Soccer schedule page.
Previously vs. Caldwell
• Caldwell is one of the Lions longest rivalries. All-time, GCU is 16-10-3 against the Cougars.
• Playing at home, GCU is 10-4-1.
• The Lions are 2-0-1 in their last three games against the Cougars having pitched shutouts in all three.
• The last time Caldwell scored against the Lions was more than four years ago in 2019.
• Last year in Caldwell, the two teams played to a 90-minute scoreless tie.
• Caldwell dominated in possession leading in shots 17-5, but
Alyssa Dias fought them all off making 10 saves.
Last Time Out
• Georgian Court remained unbeaten through six CACC games with a 1-1 draw with Jefferson Wednesday.
• GCU was the first team to not only garner a point against the Rams, but score a goal. Jefferson had started CACC play with four straight shutout wins.
• Neither team was able to get on the board in the first half, but just two minutes into the second,
Sophia Ridolfo gave the Lions the lead.
• Jefferson found the equalizer though eight minutes later and the game ended 1-1.
Who's Hot?
• With her two goals last Saturday,
Abby Kennelly has taken over the team lead in goals and points.
•
Sophia Ridolfo scored three points in Saturday's win and has goals in back-to-back games.
•
Ashley Merizalde has points in three of her last six games.
•
Aliya Canfield has picked up an assist in consecutive matches.
•
Carley Polchak has allowed just two goals with 12 saves over her last 180 minutes of action spanning three games.
CACC Leaders
•
Carley Polchak moved to ninth in the CACC with 33 saves.
•
Abby Kennelly moved into the top-10 in goals and sits tied for sixth with four. She is also sixth in shot accuracy at 58.3%.
• Georgian Court is fifth in the CACC in total points with 45 and goals with 16.
• GCU is sixth with a 1.67 goals against average.
• The Lions have earned 4.25 corner kicks per game this season, third most in the CACC.
• GCU is second in the CACC in fewest fouls committing just 6.92 per contest.
Individual Milestones
•
Aliya Canfield is two points away from joining the Lions all-time top-10.
•
Carley Polchak is three saves shy of 50.
•
Bridgette King is one point away from 10.
• Two more shots will bring
Abby Kennelly to 75.
•
Emily Clayton and
Jessica Ford are one game away from 50 while
Breana Parkinson is one shy of 40 and Izzer Hernandez one away from 30.
Ties the Limit
• In his first 17 seasons as Head Coach, Jim Moore's Lions played to a draw 30 times. An average of 1.76 per season.
• Since the NCAA eliminated overtime in the regular season, the Lions have played to 12 draws in less than two full seasons.
About Caldwell
• Caldwell is one point ahead of Georgian Court in the CACC standings with 11 points.
• The Cougars are 3-1-2 in the league and 5-3-2 overall.
• In their last seven games, Caldwell is 4-1-2.
• Caldwell has been strong defensively allowing just nine total goals and five in six conference games.
• Goaltender Ariana Gaminara leads teh CACC with a .857 save percentage and is second in goals against average at 0.926.
• On the offensive side, Sarah Costanza leads the team with seven goals and 15 points.
• Melissa Martinez has added four. She and Costanza have combined for 11 of the Cougars 17 goals this season.
• Caldwell has the best goals against average as a team in the CACC allowing 0.9 goals per game.
• The Cougars are one of the more heavily fouled teams in the CACC at 10.8 per game and their 11 yellow cards are the third most.
Senior Day
• Prior to the match, Georgian Court will recognize their 2023 senior class. The Lions have seven members of the team they will be honoring Saturday afternoon.
Aliya Canfield
5-4 | Midfield | Graduate
Beachwood, NJ
Aliya Canfield came to Georgian Court prior to the 2019 season. She's appeared in more than 72 games and is nearing the Lions all-time top-10 in points and is already ninth in goals. She's scored 20 goals while passing out six assists for 46 total points.
Emily Clayton
5-6 | Defense | Graduate
Wall, NJ
Emily Clayton has been a stalwart on the backline for GCU since transferring here in 2021. She's played in 49 games starting 48 of them. The Wall, NJ native has six points setting career highs with one goal, two assists and four points in 2022.
Leticia Da Silva
5-4 | Defense | SR
Woodbridge, NJ
Another valuable member of the Lions backline, Da Silva is another three-year Lion veteran. She's appeared in 33 career games and started them all. This season, Da Silva scored her first career goal against Goldey-Beacom.
Bridgette King
5-1 | Forward | SR
Farmingdale, NJ
King is a transfer who arrived in Lakewood for the 2022 season. She's played in 24 matches and made 10 starts. King has totaled three goals and three assists for nine points with 21 shots and 11 shots on goal.
Kayla Newman
6-0 | Forward | Senior
Neptune, NJ
Newman is in her fourth season with the Lions having come in 2020. The Neptune native has seen action in 12 games with a high of six games in 2021.
Gabriella Paccione
5-4 | Midfield | Senior
Wantagh, NY
A four-year senior, Paccione arrive in Lakewood in 2020. She's played in 43 games since then making 14 starts. Paccione is nearing 1500 career minutes played and has three assists.
Carley Polchak
5-8 | Goalkeeper | SR
Whiting, NJ
Polchak has been in Lakewood for four years and is seeing her most playing time as a senior. This year, Polchak has set career-bests starting nine games, picking up her first win and has 33 saves. She's just three away from 50 career saves and has a 2.02 goals against average and .723 save percentage.
