Women’s Soccer Looks for First Win at Loyola, Towson
8/21/2024 9:34:00 AM | Women's Soccer
WASHINGTON – The George Washington women's soccer team returns to action this week for the team's first two road matches of 2024. The Revolutionaries will travel to the Baltimore area twice, first to take on Loyola (Md.) on Thursday at 7:00 p.m., then to battle Towson on Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. Thursday's match will be available on ESPN+, while Sunday's contest will be streamed on FloFC. All match information including live stats links are available on GWsports.com.
RECAPPING WEEK ONE
GW got the 2024 season underway with two home matches last week. The Revolutionaries hosted American on Thursday for the team's season-opener, then returned to The Vern on Sunday to battle Binghamton. Thursday's match ended in a 1-1 draw with first-year Selah Koleth tallying GW's lone score of the day. The goal came in the 40th minute of the match off an assist from sophomore Rose Vigran. After GW captured the lead, American scored the equalizer right before the halftime break in the 45th minute. Neither team could find any offense in the second half, resulting in the draw.
On Sunday, Binghamton came out of the gates hot in its season-opener, registering two first half goals in the ninth and 32nd minute of the match. The Bearcats capitalized again out of halftime in the 48th minute, tallying the team's third goal of the day. Despite trailing 3-0, GW didn't quit, registering a goal in the 55th minute off the foot of graduate forward Lauren Prentice. Prentice's initial shot was saved by Binghamton's goalkeeper, but she managed to coral the rebound and bury the second shot for the score. Later in the second half, GW trimmed the deficit to 3-2 courtesy of Vigran's first goal of the year. Vigran received a cross from first-year Alex Caldwell and slipped it by the Bearcats' goalie in the 77th minute. Vigran now leads GW with three points on the season, while Prentice and Koleth both have two. Down the stretch, GW had Binghamton on the ropes with multiple scoring opportunities but couldn't cash in the equalizer.
SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS
Loyola enters the second week of the season 1-1 after splitting its first two matches of the year. The Greyhounds hosted A-10 member Dayton last Thursday, falling 2-1 in a tightly contested matchup. They then followed it up with a 1-0 shutout victory at Longwood on Sunday, using an 86th minute goal to capture the team's first win of the year. Through two matches, Baylee DeSmit is the team's leader in points with one goal and one assist. DeSmit was Loyola's lone goal scorer in Sunday's win at Longwood, while also assisting in the team's goal against Dayton. Elizabeth Gallagher registered the score against the Flyers and is the only other Greyhound with points thus far in the season. Brigid Mulholland has played all 180 minutes in goal for Loyola, registering 14 saves. She holds a goals-allowed average of 1.00 and a save percentage of 87.5%.
The Greyhounds were chosen to finish fourth in the Patriot League Preseason Poll. Loyola received 110 points in the poll, finishing behind Army (155), Bucknell (139) and Boston University (136). Individually, DeSmit was tabbed the conference's Preseason Player of the Year. She earns the honor after turning in 10 goals and eight assists during the 2023 season.
GW has faced Loyola five times in the all-time series, holding a 3-1-1 advantage in matches against the Greyhounds. The most recent meeting came during the 2014 season, seeing the Buff & Blue dominate the match en route to a 3-0 win. That victory helped catapult GW to a 5-0 record to start the season and a 12-win year overall.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Before Towson hosts GW, the Tigers will first welcome St. John's for a 6:00 p.m. match on Thursday evening. Towson enters the second week of the season 1-1 overall after falling 2-0 to Virginia in the season-opener, then defeating UMBC 1-0 on Monday. Towson's Rebecca Groseibl tallied a 39th minute goal, which proved to be all the offense that was needed to secure the team's first win of 2024. Riley Melendez has played the full 180 minutes thus far in goal for Towson, posting 18 total saves and a save percentage of 90%.
After a 15-3-2 season in 2023 in which the team claimed its first CAA title, the Tigers were picked to finish third in the preseason coaches' poll announced earlier this month. Towson received four of the 13 first-place votes, finishing just eight points off Monmouth who claimed the top spot with 133. Hofstra earned the second spot with 131 points, followed by Towson with 123 and Northeastern with 115. The Tigers also earned three preseason All-CAA honorees which include Demi Pierre (Forward), Maja Hanson (Defender) and Melendez (Goalkeeper).
GW and Towson have faced off in 11 meetings all-time, most recently in 2022 which ended in a scoreless draw. GW holds a 6-3-2 lead in the all-time series, with the most recent victory coming during the 2020-21 COVID shortened season.
RECAPPING WEEK ONE
GW got the 2024 season underway with two home matches last week. The Revolutionaries hosted American on Thursday for the team's season-opener, then returned to The Vern on Sunday to battle Binghamton. Thursday's match ended in a 1-1 draw with first-year Selah Koleth tallying GW's lone score of the day. The goal came in the 40th minute of the match off an assist from sophomore Rose Vigran. After GW captured the lead, American scored the equalizer right before the halftime break in the 45th minute. Neither team could find any offense in the second half, resulting in the draw.
On Sunday, Binghamton came out of the gates hot in its season-opener, registering two first half goals in the ninth and 32nd minute of the match. The Bearcats capitalized again out of halftime in the 48th minute, tallying the team's third goal of the day. Despite trailing 3-0, GW didn't quit, registering a goal in the 55th minute off the foot of graduate forward Lauren Prentice. Prentice's initial shot was saved by Binghamton's goalkeeper, but she managed to coral the rebound and bury the second shot for the score. Later in the second half, GW trimmed the deficit to 3-2 courtesy of Vigran's first goal of the year. Vigran received a cross from first-year Alex Caldwell and slipped it by the Bearcats' goalie in the 77th minute. Vigran now leads GW with three points on the season, while Prentice and Koleth both have two. Down the stretch, GW had Binghamton on the ropes with multiple scoring opportunities but couldn't cash in the equalizer.
SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS
Loyola enters the second week of the season 1-1 after splitting its first two matches of the year. The Greyhounds hosted A-10 member Dayton last Thursday, falling 2-1 in a tightly contested matchup. They then followed it up with a 1-0 shutout victory at Longwood on Sunday, using an 86th minute goal to capture the team's first win of the year. Through two matches, Baylee DeSmit is the team's leader in points with one goal and one assist. DeSmit was Loyola's lone goal scorer in Sunday's win at Longwood, while also assisting in the team's goal against Dayton. Elizabeth Gallagher registered the score against the Flyers and is the only other Greyhound with points thus far in the season. Brigid Mulholland has played all 180 minutes in goal for Loyola, registering 14 saves. She holds a goals-allowed average of 1.00 and a save percentage of 87.5%.
The Greyhounds were chosen to finish fourth in the Patriot League Preseason Poll. Loyola received 110 points in the poll, finishing behind Army (155), Bucknell (139) and Boston University (136). Individually, DeSmit was tabbed the conference's Preseason Player of the Year. She earns the honor after turning in 10 goals and eight assists during the 2023 season.
GW has faced Loyola five times in the all-time series, holding a 3-1-1 advantage in matches against the Greyhounds. The most recent meeting came during the 2014 season, seeing the Buff & Blue dominate the match en route to a 3-0 win. That victory helped catapult GW to a 5-0 record to start the season and a 12-win year overall.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Before Towson hosts GW, the Tigers will first welcome St. John's for a 6:00 p.m. match on Thursday evening. Towson enters the second week of the season 1-1 overall after falling 2-0 to Virginia in the season-opener, then defeating UMBC 1-0 on Monday. Towson's Rebecca Groseibl tallied a 39th minute goal, which proved to be all the offense that was needed to secure the team's first win of 2024. Riley Melendez has played the full 180 minutes thus far in goal for Towson, posting 18 total saves and a save percentage of 90%.
After a 15-3-2 season in 2023 in which the team claimed its first CAA title, the Tigers were picked to finish third in the preseason coaches' poll announced earlier this month. Towson received four of the 13 first-place votes, finishing just eight points off Monmouth who claimed the top spot with 133. Hofstra earned the second spot with 131 points, followed by Towson with 123 and Northeastern with 115. The Tigers also earned three preseason All-CAA honorees which include Demi Pierre (Forward), Maja Hanson (Defender) and Melendez (Goalkeeper).
GW and Towson have faced off in 11 meetings all-time, most recently in 2022 which ended in a scoreless draw. GW holds a 6-3-2 lead in the all-time series, with the most recent victory coming during the 2020-21 COVID shortened season.
Players Mentioned
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