LAKEWOOD, NJ (Sept. 4, 2024) - The new season of Georgian Court Women's Soccer is on deck with the team starting the year off with a pair of home games this weekend.

Opponents (2023 Record)
Pace Setters (7-7-2, 3-6-2 NE10)
New Haven Chargers (3-13, 1-10 NE10)

Where
Lakewood, NJ - GCU Track and Field Complex

When
Thursday, Sept. 5 - 4 pm
Saturday, Sept. 7 - 2 pm

How to Watch
• Both matches are 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. Pace
• Last season the Lions and Pace also met in Lakewood.
• The match however was suspended due to heat with a little less than 30 minutes remaining.
• Georgian Court led 1-0 on the back of an Abby Kennelly goal, but the extreme heat made the remainder of the the game unplayable and it was not resumed.
• With last year's game not being completed, this is the ninth time the Lions and Setters will meet. GCU is just 1-5-2 all-time against Pace. 

Previously vs. New Haven
• It was not the most successful season in 2023 for New Haven, winning just three games. However one of those was against GCU last season in West Haven.
• After a scoreless first half, New Haven scored four minutes into the second for a 1-0 lead.
• The Chargers made it 2-0 in the 76th minute and held on for the 2-0 shutout win.
• With the loss, the Lions are 3-8 all-time against New Haven. All three wins have come at home.

Last Time Out
• Georgian Court won their first round CACC Tournament game last season playing on the road at Caldwell.
• They remained on the road to play at host Bridgeport in a 6 vs. 7 matchup. Despite being the No. 7 seed, the Purple Knights were the hot team and knocked off the Lions 6-0 on their way to a CACC Tournament crown.

Individual Milestones
• One more shot will bring Ashley Merizalde to 25. 
• Abby Kennelly is four points away from 30.
• Sophia Ridolfo is one game away from 50 games played. Paige Coulahan and Juliana Rettino need one more to reach 20.
• Jessica Ford will start her 50th career game the next time she's in the starting lineup. She also needs 29 minutes to reach 3,000.

Preseason Rankings
• Coming into the season the Lions were picked to finish sixth in the CACC regular season.
• GCU finished sixth in 2023 as well, earning a spot in the CACC Tournament.
• Thomas Jefferson, last year's regular season champs rank number one. Bridgeport, the conference tournament champs rank second.

Season Opening Slump
• Georgian Court is looking to snap a rather dubious skid.
• The Lions are 0-8-1 in their last nine season openers. They last won a season opener in 2014, defeating New Haven 4-1.

About Pace
• A year after a 7-7-2 record, Pace is looking for their first winning record since the 2019 season.
• In the Northeast-10 Preseason Coaches Poll, the Setters were picked to finish eighth in the 11-team league.
• Speaking of coaches, the Setters have a new one. Former Associate Head Coach Edward Evans takes over the program.
• The Setter do return some of their key players from a year ago. Goaltender Anna Fiore started 14 games and was 7-7-1 with a 1.76 goals against average.
• Pace scored 25 goals last year and their top three goal scorers all return. Ava Viebrock scored six goals and 14 points to lead the team.
• Allison Carr and Andrea Flores each tallied five goals.

About New Haven
• It's been nearly a decade since New Haven's last winning season. They went 3-13 last year and 1-10 in conference play.
• Two of the Chargers three wins came on their road and their lone win was against the Lions.
• New Haven was picked to finish last in the NE10 Preseason Coaches Poll. 
• The Chargers are led by 14th year Head Coach Laura Duncan. 
• Back for her junior season is goalkeeper Caitlin Daley. She started all 16 games in net last season with a 2.13 goals against average and 91 saves.
• Scoring was a problem for the Chargers who found the net just 10 times in 16 games. Riley Drosopoulos is the leading returning scorer who popped two goals and totaled five points.