George Washington University Athletics
Thursday, August 15
Washington, DC
3 p.m.
George Washington University
vs
American
Women’s Soccer Opens 2024 Season with American, Binghamton
8/14/2024 9:55:00 AM | Women's Soccer
WASHINGTON – The Jeremy Williams era for the George Washington women's soccer team gets underway this week with a pair of home matches at the Mount Vernon Athletic Complex. The Revolutionaries host American on Thursday for the team's season opener at 3:00 p.m., then welcome Binghamton to the DMV for a Sunday clash at noon. Both matches will be available on ESPN+.
THE RETURNERS
GW returns a haul of 23 players for the upcoming season which includes incoming senior Kelly Poole who tied for the team lead in goals last year with four. Included in Poole's 11 points last season were three assists, marking the highest scoring output for a single year in her career. Sophomore Isabel Kelly looks to build off a first-year season that saw her register four total goals, while fellow sophomore Alexa Meinen returns following a three-goal, two-assist campaign last year. GW's full 2024 roster can be found here.
THE NEWCOMERS
GW welcomed 12 newcomers to the program which included 11 first-years and one transfer student. "We're excited to integrate our newcomers into the team and get them on campus this fall," Williams said prior to the start of the preseason. "We expect that they will bring a professional mindset both on and off the field and help continue to build our identity as a program. This is an exciting time for the GW women's soccer program, and we are looking forward to getting to work with them on the field." GW's class includes sophomore transfer Sophia Broz who joined GW after spending her rookie season at the University of Miami. Broz appeared in six matches for the Hurricanes a year ago. Info for all newcomers can be found here.
SCOUTING AMERICAN
Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Marsha Harper, American looks to build off a 2023 season in which it finished with a 3-9-4 record in the regular season. The Patriots, who picked up wins over Army, Lafayette and Navy, were chosen to finish ninth in the Patriot League preseason poll, announced last Thursday. GW holds a 14-5-3 lead in the all-time series against American following a 3-3 tie in last year's meeting.
Brooke Steel and Lailah Stewart, American's leading scorers with seven points apiece last season, both return for the 2024 campaign. Steel, a four-year member of the program, has accumulated eight goals in her collegiate career to go along with two assists. Last season, Steel tallied three goals and one assist, one goal shy of her season-best of four put up during the 2021 campaign. Stewart, a rising sophomore for the Patriots, was a welcome addition last year with three goals and one assist. The Georgia native looks to continue contributing to the Patriots scoring attack in 2024.
In goal, Julia Kato returns to American for her senior season after tallying 61 saves a year ago. Kato played every minute of American's 16 matches last season, finishing with a save percentage of 68.5% and a goals-allowed average of 1.75. Kato has amassed 185 saves in her collegiate career and has 10 wins in net.
SCOUTING BINGHAMTON
Coming on the heels of a 2023 campaign that saw Binghamton finish 6-5-6, the Bearcats look to continue growing during the 2024 season. Led by Neel Bhattacharjee who enters his ninth year with the program, Binghamton was picked to finish second in the America East Conference preseason poll after going undefeated in league play last year. The Bearcats finished with a 5-0-3 conference mark, dropping a narrow 2-1 loss in double overtime to Massachusetts Lowell in the America East Tournament semifinals. Sunday's matchup will be the first meeting all-time between the two programs.
The Bearcats saw the departure of 2023's leading scorer in Olivia McKnight, but welcome back Paige Luke and Lauren Clark who both played a significant role in the team's success last season. Luke, a sophomore in 2024, tallied four goals and two assists in her first-year season. She was ultimately named the America East Rookie of the Year, the first player in program history to achieve the feat. Clark, chosen the team's offensive MVP, recorded four goals last season for eight total points. Clark is entering her junior season and has appeared in 32 matches during her career.
On the other side of the field, senior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Williams returns after a 2023 campaign that saw her earn a second team all-conference selection. Williams started in all 17 matches for the Bearcats and posted five solo shutouts. She tallied 79 total saves, a 79.8% save percentage and a 1.17 goals-allowed average.
THE RETURNERS
GW returns a haul of 23 players for the upcoming season which includes incoming senior Kelly Poole who tied for the team lead in goals last year with four. Included in Poole's 11 points last season were three assists, marking the highest scoring output for a single year in her career. Sophomore Isabel Kelly looks to build off a first-year season that saw her register four total goals, while fellow sophomore Alexa Meinen returns following a three-goal, two-assist campaign last year. GW's full 2024 roster can be found here.
THE NEWCOMERS
GW welcomed 12 newcomers to the program which included 11 first-years and one transfer student. "We're excited to integrate our newcomers into the team and get them on campus this fall," Williams said prior to the start of the preseason. "We expect that they will bring a professional mindset both on and off the field and help continue to build our identity as a program. This is an exciting time for the GW women's soccer program, and we are looking forward to getting to work with them on the field." GW's class includes sophomore transfer Sophia Broz who joined GW after spending her rookie season at the University of Miami. Broz appeared in six matches for the Hurricanes a year ago. Info for all newcomers can be found here.
SCOUTING AMERICAN
Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Marsha Harper, American looks to build off a 2023 season in which it finished with a 3-9-4 record in the regular season. The Patriots, who picked up wins over Army, Lafayette and Navy, were chosen to finish ninth in the Patriot League preseason poll, announced last Thursday. GW holds a 14-5-3 lead in the all-time series against American following a 3-3 tie in last year's meeting.
Brooke Steel and Lailah Stewart, American's leading scorers with seven points apiece last season, both return for the 2024 campaign. Steel, a four-year member of the program, has accumulated eight goals in her collegiate career to go along with two assists. Last season, Steel tallied three goals and one assist, one goal shy of her season-best of four put up during the 2021 campaign. Stewart, a rising sophomore for the Patriots, was a welcome addition last year with three goals and one assist. The Georgia native looks to continue contributing to the Patriots scoring attack in 2024.
In goal, Julia Kato returns to American for her senior season after tallying 61 saves a year ago. Kato played every minute of American's 16 matches last season, finishing with a save percentage of 68.5% and a goals-allowed average of 1.75. Kato has amassed 185 saves in her collegiate career and has 10 wins in net.
SCOUTING BINGHAMTON
Coming on the heels of a 2023 campaign that saw Binghamton finish 6-5-6, the Bearcats look to continue growing during the 2024 season. Led by Neel Bhattacharjee who enters his ninth year with the program, Binghamton was picked to finish second in the America East Conference preseason poll after going undefeated in league play last year. The Bearcats finished with a 5-0-3 conference mark, dropping a narrow 2-1 loss in double overtime to Massachusetts Lowell in the America East Tournament semifinals. Sunday's matchup will be the first meeting all-time between the two programs.
The Bearcats saw the departure of 2023's leading scorer in Olivia McKnight, but welcome back Paige Luke and Lauren Clark who both played a significant role in the team's success last season. Luke, a sophomore in 2024, tallied four goals and two assists in her first-year season. She was ultimately named the America East Rookie of the Year, the first player in program history to achieve the feat. Clark, chosen the team's offensive MVP, recorded four goals last season for eight total points. Clark is entering her junior season and has appeared in 32 matches during her career.
On the other side of the field, senior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Williams returns after a 2023 campaign that saw her earn a second team all-conference selection. Williams started in all 17 matches for the Bearcats and posted five solo shutouts. She tallied 79 total saves, a 79.8% save percentage and a 1.17 goals-allowed average.
Players Mentioned
Defense
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfield
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
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