University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Kickoff Colonial Athletic Association Play this Weekend at Home Against UNCW and Charleston
9/25/2014 3:51:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Delaware (4-5) is coming off a 1-1 home stand last weekend with a 2-0 win over Temple Friday followed by a 1-0 defeat to Penn.
UD's victory over Temple was highlighted by two goals from Natalie Zelenky, who is now tied with Nikki Adams for the team lead with three goals on the season.
The Blue Hens outshot Temple 15-4 Friday and matched Penn with six shots in Sunday's game. Delaware has now outshot or equaled the shot tally of their opponents in every game this season. UD has outshot its opponents 152-61.
“The first nine games really is about us finding ourselves,” said University of Delaware head coach Scott Grzenda. “With the conference schedule starting this weekend, this is when everything really starts to matter. We have outplayed most of the teams we have played against this season, but it all comes down to finishing.”
Friday's game marks the CAA opener for both UNCW and Delaware. UD is 5-5 in its last ten conference openers. The Blue Hens finished sixth in the CAA last season with a 3-3-2 conference record and the Seahawks finished fifth in the CAA a season ago with a 4-4 conference record.
The Seahawks come into tonight's game with the second best record in the CAA at 5-3-1. UNCW is coming off a 0-0 tie against East Carolina Friday and have a 1-2 road record this season. Katrina Guillou leads UNCW with five goals and 21 shots, while Lindsey Byrne has a team-high four assists
Friday's game will be the 15th meeting between the Blue Hens and the Seahawks. The first meeting between the two programs was in 2000 and UD boasts a 7-6-1 all-time record against UNCW. The Seahawks defeated Delaware 3-1 in last season's matchup.
Sunday, Delaware will face Charleston in its second game of this weekend's home stand. Coming into this weekend's play, the Cougars have a 4-5 record and are coming off a 2-1 victory over in-state rival The Citadel.
Last season, Charleston did not win a CAA game last season and finished in last place in the final conference standings.
Sarah Cardamone leads the Cougars in points (10), assists (four), and goals (three), while goalkeeper Lauren Killian has accrued 24 saves and boasts a 1.09 goals against average in nine games played this season.
This matchup will be the second meeting all-time between the Blue Hens and Cougars. The first game in the series took place last year in Charleston's first season in the CAA as UD played the Cougars to a 1-1 draw.
Delaware will face UNCW Friday at 7 p.m. and will take on Charleston Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games will take place at Stuart and Suzanne Grant Stadium.
