The Loyola University Maryland women’s soccer team is 1-1-2 in its first four games of the 2012 season and is unbeaten in its last two games.
The Greyhounds return nine starters from last year’s squad, including 2011 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, Nichole Schiro.
Scouting the Blue Hens
Delaware is coming off a 1-0 win over Siena on Sept. 2, the team’s first victory of the season.
Head coach Scott Grzenda enters his 23rd season at the helm of the Blue Hens and is the only coach in Delaware women’s soccer history.
The team returned 16 letterwinners from a squad that went 10-7-4 in 2011 and advanced to the CAA semifinals for the first time since 2005.
Scouting the Eagles
The Eagles are 1-4-1 to start the 2012 season and are coming off a loss to Virginia Tech in their last match.
The Eagles returned eight starters and 22 letterwinners from last year’s team, including All-Patriot League performers Michelle Montilioand Jasmine Mohandesi.
The Eagles host Virginia Commonwealth on Friday before battling the Greyhounds Sunday afternoon.
Series with Delaware
This is the seventh meeting between the Greyhounds and the Blue Hens, which each team recording three wins apiece.
It is the first meeting in the series since Sept. 30, 1998 when Loyola defeated Delaware, 1-0.
Series with American
The Eagles and Greyhounds will meet for the 10th time on Sunday, with Loyola holiding a 5-2-2 advantage in the all-time series.
Loyola won the last meeting between the schools, 1-0, at Ridley Athletic Complex on Sept. 21, 2011.
Nichole Schiro scored a goal in the 87th minute of play to help the Greyhounds earn a 1-1 tie against local rival Towson on Friday, Aug. 31 at Ridley Athletic Complex.
On Wednesday, Aug. 29, Loyola University Maryland announced that it had accepted an invitation to become the 10th member of the Patriot League beginning in the 2013-14 academic year for all sports.
Loyola will join American, Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh, Navy, Army and fellow recent addition Boston University.
Career Firsts
Loyola saw contributions from many different players while playing three games in five days, with three Greyhounds notching career firsts.
Loyola’s, 2-1, win at Oakland on Sunday, Aug. 26, was the team’s first road non-conference win since Sept. 18, 2009, when the Greyhounds beat American, 2-0.
Scoring Early
Four of Loyola’s five goals this season have come in the first half.
Schiro’s goal in the 87th minute vs. Towson was the team’s first second-half goal this year.
Scintillating Schiro
With two goals in the first give games, Nichole Schiro has added on to her program record with 39 career goals.
Schiro also has 89 career points, just tying her with Carolyn Kennington for first all-time.
She ranked second in the MAAC overall with 13 goals and first in league play with nine in 2011.
‘Hounds Picked Third, Three Greyhounds Earn Preseason Honors
The Greyhounds were picked to finish third in the MAAC Preseason Coaches poll, coming in just behind Marist and Fairfield.
In addition, three Greyhounds were named to the Preseason All-MAAC team including senior forward Nichole Schiro, senior defender Kelsey Rene and junior goalkeeper Didi Haracic.
Schiro also was named MAAC Preseason Player of the Year after earning 2011 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year accolades last season.
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Sophomore keeper Didi Haracic started 2012 right where she finished in 2011.
Haracic has 26 saves through the first four games, including a career-high 12 at Michigan State.
She recorded 96 saves in 2011, the fifth-most in a single season in Loyola history.
Stars Returning
Loyola returns six players of last year’s team who earned All-MAAC honors in 2011, highlighted by reigning MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, Nichole Schiro.
Since the opening of the Ridley Athletic Complex last season, the Greyhounds have posted a 14-4-3 overall record in their new home, including a 7-4 mark in 2011.
In The Coaches Box
Katherine Remy Vettori enters her fifth season as the head coach of the Greyhounds with a 43-33-12 career record. Vettori, who led Loyola to the MAAC regular-season and tournament titles in 2009, was named Anaconda Sports MAAC Coach of the Year in 2009.
Vettori has led Loyola to three MAAC Championship appearances in four seasons, going 4-2 in those games.
McFadden's Goal Pushes Loyola Past American
Sophomore Katelyn McFadden's first career goal pushed the Loyola University Maryland women's soccer team past American University, 1-0, on Wednesday evening at Ridley Athletic Complex.
Sophomore Katelyn McFadden's first career goal pushed the Loyola University Maryland women's soccer team past American University, 1-0, on Wednesday evening at Ridley Athletic Complex.
