Women's Soccer 8/20/2015 4:00:00 PM

WOMEN'S SOCCER SET TO OPEN SEASON AGAINST HOWARD, ETSU

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RADFORD, Va. – The 2015-16 Radford University athletics season gets underway with the women's soccer team playing host to a pair of matches at Cupp Stadium. The Highlanders begin their campaign against Howard Friday at 7 p.m. and welcome East Tennessee State on Monday, also at 7 p.m.

Ben Sohrabi is set for his 20th season as Radford's head coach, needing three more victories to reach 200 for his RU career. With 11 freshmen and seven sophomores, Sohrabi has another relatively young group overall, but the Highlanders do return eight players that started the vast majority of last year's games.

First-team All-Big South selection Jordan Lundin, senior forward Asyia Mitchell and midfielder Hannah Duff are expected to lead the way. Lundin tied for the conference lead during the regular season with eight assists as a freshmen defender and the hope is to take even greater advantage of her playmaking ability as she moves up to the midfield. Mitchell tied for second on the team in goals in 2014 and is expected to be the team's top threat in the offensive third in her final season. Sohrabi values Duff's contributions on and off the field enough to make her a co-captain as a junior, along with Mitchell.

Defensively, junior Miranda Carlson, who led the squad in minutes last year, and senior Shannon Nasca return along the backline, while sophomore Katie McCormick and junior Sydney Chervenic are back to compete for the starting goalkeeper spot. McCormick, who made 13 starts as a freshman, will get the nod against Howard.

Sohrabi is pleased with how the newcomers, as a whole, have meshed with the returners. In particular, he said the duo of Jessica Wollmann and Jane Everett, from two-time state champion Blacksburg High, have adjusted well to the Highlanders' system. Wollmann is expected to play up top, with Everett taking a centerback spot.

Scouting Howard: The Bison won the 2014 SWAC regular-season and tournament championships in their inaugural season in the league, while posting a 13-9-1 overall record, but have just one senior and six juniors on this year's roster. Dytria Ruddy is the squad's top returning goal scorer with four last year.

History: The teams played to a 1-1 tie last season in Washington after exchanging early second-half goals. Radford holds an 11-2-1 lead in the all-time series.

Scouting East Tennessee State: The Buccaneers went 15-6 last season, reached the Southern Conference semifinals and were selected third in the league's preseason poll. Senior Sarah Zadrazil is the program's all-time leader in points, assists and shots, and dished out 20 helpers last year. Juniors Jasmine Elliott and Anna Yancey combined to start all 21 games in goal, with Elliott making 61 saves in 16 games.

History: ETSU held on for a 3-2 home victory last year, despite Lundin scoring two goals in the second half. The Buccaneers lead the series, 8-5-2.

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Players Mentioned

#2 Miranda Carlson: D; 5' 3"; Junior; Richmond Kickers

#1 Sydney Chervenic: GK; 5' 7"; Junior; CYA Phoenix

#4 Hannah Duff: MF; 5' 4"; Junior; New River United

#16 Jordan Lundin: D; 5' 2"; Sophomore; FC Capital United

#32 Katie McCormick: GK; 5' 10"; Sophomore; Ottawa Fury FC

#9 Asyia Mitchell: F; 5' 3"; Senior; Triangle FC

#27 Shannon Nasca: D; 5' 2"; Senior; FC Virginia

#13 Jane Everett: MF; 5' 6"; Freshman; New River United

#12 Jessica Wollmann: F; 5' 5"; Freshman; New River United

Players Mentioned

#2 Miranda Carlson
: 5' 3"; Junior; Richmond Kickers
: D

#1 Sydney Chervenic
: 5' 7"; Junior; CYA Phoenix
: GK

#4 Hannah Duff
: 5' 4"; Junior; New River United
: MF

#16 Jordan Lundin
: 5' 2"; Sophomore; FC Capital United
: D

#32 Katie McCormick
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; Ottawa Fury FC
: GK

#9 Asyia Mitchell
: 5' 3"; Senior; Triangle FC
: F

#27 Shannon Nasca
: 5' 2"; Senior; FC Virginia
: D

#13 Jane Everett
: 5' 6"; Freshman; New River United
: MF

#12 Jessica Wollmann
: 5' 5"; Freshman; New River United
: F