GW Women's Soccer Set to Open Conference Play
9/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
 |  | Follow @GWWomensSoccer |
Sept. 30, 2015
GW vs. Saint Joseph's - Thursday, 3 p.m.: Watch on RaiseHigh Live | | Follow @GWWomesSoccer
GW at St. Bonaventure - Sunday, 1 p.m.: Follow Live Stats
The Colonials (5-4-0) look to take the momentum of a three-game win streak into their A-10 opener. Saint Joseph's enters the match ranked seventh in the NSCAA's Mid-Atlantic region with a 6-3-0 overall mark, while St. Bonaventure is 3-4-2 overall and will take on George Mason on Thursday before hosting GW.
The Buff and Blue wrapped the non-conference portion of the season on Thursday with a 2-0 victory at UMBC. Reigning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week Sofia Pavon netted the first two goals of her career as the Colonials tallied their conference-leading fifth shutout of the season.
Junior MacKenzie Cowley's six goals in 2015 lead the Colonials and are tied for second in the conference with Saint Joseph's Emily Gingrich.
Between the posts, redshirt-sophomore Miranda Horn leads GW with 25 saves, while senior Ellen Conway has chipped in eight stops. Both keepers have contributed to each of the team's five shutouts this season.
The Hawks most recently defeated LIU Brooklyn, 2-0, at home on Friday on Shannon Westhead's third goal of the season and Gingrich's sixth. Gingrich leads the league with 16 points (6g, 4a) and 5.14 shots per game. Between the posts, goalkeeper Allison Ebling ranks second in the A-10 in goals-against average (0.80); she and Grace Bendon have each recorded 16 saves for the Hawks this season.
St. Bonaventure has dropped its last two contests, falling at Cornell, 1-0, on Sept. 13, and at Youngstown State, 2-1, on Sept. 20. Abbey Maiello leads the Bonnies' offense with 12 points (5g, 2a) this fall. St. Bonaventure keepers Beth Moore and Christina Sarakon have split time in the net this season and have combined for 46 saves, putting the squad third in the A-10.
The Colonials lead the Hawks in the all-time series, 9-5-2, and hold a 12-3-2 advantage over St. Bonaventure. GW last met with both squads in 2013, dropping a 2-0 decision to SJU before being edged, 1-0, by the Bonnies in back-to-back matches.
Kickoff for Thursday's contest against Saint Joseph's is slated for 3 p.m. at the GW Soccer Field, and Sunday's bout is scheduled for 1 p.m. at St. Bonaventure's Marra Athletics Fields Complex.
