SFU closes non-conference vs. Duquesne and West Virginia
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Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Saint Francis women's soccer team (2-4-2) closes out its non-conference schedule with away matches at Duquesne on Friday, Sep. 14 and West Virginia on Sunday, Sep. 16.
Scouting Duquesne
The Dukes enter the week 3-3 after a 3-0 drubbing of Morehead State on Sunday. Duquesne is 0-3 against power-5 programs and 3-0 against everyone else. The only common opponent between SFU and Duquesne is Binghamton. The Red Flash defeated the Bearcats 3-0 while the Dukes got the better of them by a score of 1-0. Duquesne has pitched shutouts in three of its last four contests. Offensively, the Dukes are led by Brooke Schutter and her two goals. Casey Aunkst leads the team with three assists.
Series History
Saint Francis is 7-11-1 all-time vs. Duquesne. The Dukes won the last meeting in 2016, 6-0.
Scouting West Virginia
The Mountaineers have been one of the top programs in the country over recent years but are off to a slow start in 2018 with a 2-2-3 record. West Virginia started the season ranked No. 9 in the United Soccer Coaches' Poll but have since fallen out of the top 25 after losses to No. 4 Penn State and No. 11 West Virginia. The Mountaineers have played three ranked opponents in their first seven games and seven opponents from a Power-5 conference. In its most recent match, West Virginia defeated Clemson 2-1. The Mountaineers are loaded with talent up and down the pitch. Outside back Biana St. Georges is a 2017 Unuted Soccer Coaches All-Region Second Team honoree as well as an All Big-12 First Team honoree. Forward Sh'nia Gordon entered her senior season with 45 career points and 16 goals. Senior Grace Cutler currently leads WVU with a goal and an assist in 2018.
Series History
The Mountaineers lead the all-time series 3-0. The two schools last met in 2016. Saint Francis led the No. 6 Mountaineers 1-0 on a
Shannon McGinnis (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) goal before WVU closed the game with three unanswered goals.
Reboot the Offense
The Saint Francis attack started the season with a bang but has been kept to a whimper over the last three matches. Since a 3-0 victory over Binghamton on Aug. 31, the Red Flash has been shutout in three consecutive games. Its highest shot total in those three games was 12 against Bucknell and Buffalo.
Challenging Schedule
Under head coach
Brenda van Stralen, the Red Flash have proven a willingness to play the best. Saint Francis has played a ranked opponent in three straight seasons. Although the Mountaineers won't be ranked on Sunday, they return nine starters from the same team that earned a No. 2 seed in last year's NCAA Tournament and advanced to the quarterfinals.
