Live Stats for Millersville Match (Friday, 1 p.m.)
The Edinboro women's soccer team heads east this weekend for back-to-back contests as it seeks to continue its perfect start to the season.
Edinboro (4-0, 2-0 PSAC) first takes on Millersville (2-1, 0-1) on Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. Then, Saturday afternoon brings a showdown between nationally-ranked teams as the No. 20 Fighting Scots face No. 12 West Chester (4-0, 1-0), also a 1 p.m. start.
MATCH NOTES
INTO THE NATIONAL RANKINGS – Edinboro jumped into the NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division II National Top 25 this week for the first time, entering at No. 20. The Fighting Scots had been receiving votes in the previous week's poll. The team was nationally-ranked for much of the 2011 season, reaching a height of No. 17 on Oct. 25 of last year. Closer to home, the Scots stand third in the Atlantic Region standings behind only PSAC foes Slippery Rock, fifth in the national poll, and West Chester.
RECORD FOR THE TAKING – With its 4-0-0 start, Edinboro has matched the best start in program history, equaling last year's squad. The Scots have the opportunity to set a new record for best start to a season on Friday at Millersville.
WHEN LAST WE MET – Edinboro last faced Millersville at home on Sept. 24, 2011 and came away with a 4-1 victory. Edinboro outshot Millersville, 24-12 on the day. The Fighting Scots saw West Chester twice a year ago – taking a 2-0 triumph over then-No. 12 West Chester, the same national ranking the Golden Rams hold for this year's meeting.
Karisa Fernandez and
Liz Debo had the Boro goals on that day. West Chester earned its revenge in the NCAA Playoffs, however, capturing a 2-0 win of their own in the first round of the NCAA Atlantic Regional.
FINDING THE NET – Saturday's match will face two of the PSAC's most prolific offenses, at least numbers-wise at the start of the year. West Chester leads the conference with 16 goals while Edinboro is tied with Gannon for second-most goals at 12 for the year.
PSAC POINTS LEADERS MEET – Sophomore
Liz Debo has started off the season fire with four goals. Her nine overall points are second most in the PSAC, behind only West Chester's Ashley Saylor (10). Debo and Saylor are in a four-way tie for the most goals in the conference at four each.
'D' CONTINUES TO SHINE – Through four matches, Edinboro has posted three shutouts while allowing just one goal thus far. The Boro began its PSAC play by recording back-to-back shutouts last week against Bloomsburg (3-0) and Shippensburg (2-0).
TAKING AIM – Part of Edinboro's success can be attributed to its amount of scoring looks as opposed to its opponents. The Boro has taken 72 shot attempts through four matches, while opponents have only been able to get off 37 shots against the Edinboro defense.
ROAD WARRIORS – Edinboro is in the midst of four straight road contests, beginning at Shippensburg last Saturday. After this weekend's matches, the Scots will play just up I-79 at local rival Gannon on Sept. 19 before returning home to face Mercyhurst on Sept. 22. Edinboro went 5-3 on the road last season.
