Syracuse University
St. Bonaventure
Orange Kicks Off Season Saturday
8/21/2009 9:39:47 AM | Women's Soccer
OLEAN, N.Y. -- The women's soccer squad is the first Syracuse team in action in 2009-10, taking on St. Bonaventure on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Olean, N.Y. The Orange welcomes back six starters and its top seven scorers from last season.
Head coach Phil Wheddon enters his second season at the helm of the Syracuse program. In his first year, the Orange won five games at home, the most victories at the SU Soccer Stadium since 2004, and shut out four straight opponents for the first time since the program's inaugural season in 1996.
THE SERIES
Syracuse leads the all-time series against St. Bonaventure, 2-1. The Bonnies won the first meeting between the two schools, 4-2, at the SU Soccer Stadium in 1996. The Orange has won the past two contests. SU defeated St. Bonaventure in Olean, 3-1, in 1997. In the last meeting, the Orange recorded a 2-0 win on its home field.
THE CAPTAINS
Senior Tessa MacDougall and junior Megan Bellingham will serve as team captains this season. MacDougall started all 18 games last season and tied her career high with five points. Bellingham led the Orange in scoring in 2008 with a career-best 17 points.
A LOOK AT TODAY'S GAME
Head coach Phil Wheddon enters his second season at the helm of the Orange. Wheddon is the third head coach in the history of the program. He joined Syracuse last season after helping the U.S. women's soccer national team claim the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics ... Saturday's game at St. Bonaventure is the first of six for the Orange against teams from New York state. Last season, the Orange posted a record of 3-1-2 against its fellow Empire State foes.
