Wildcats ready to host Charleston Southern Thursday
8/30/2023 9:08:00 AM | Women's Soccer
* WILDCAT FOOD DRIVE - Thursday's match will serve as an opportunity for Davidson women's soccer to collect donations of nonperishable food items to be given to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. All those who participate in the food drive by donating an item will receive a free concessions combo voucher.
DAVIDSON, N.C. - The Davidson women's soccer team continues the non-conference segment of its 2023 schedule when it hosts Charleston Southern Thursday at Alumni Stadium.
Halfway through the non-league portion of the schedule, the Wildcats are 2-2 with wins over Gardner-Webb (2-0) and Wofford (2-0). Entering Thursday, Davidson will look to notch its first home-field victory of the year.
"There has been a good energy from the team at practice this week after getting a result on Sunday," said head coach Riley Piechnick. "Getting a win is great, but we know consistency going into the next game is so important. Charleston Southern has been scoring a lot of goals and look stronger each game they play. We will have to have a solid defensive performance and composure to finish out opportunities when we get them. This will be another good matchup for us with the Big South Conference, and we are excited for the challenge."
In Davidson's most recent win against the Terriers, both Emily Smith and Aleia Gisolfi-McCready posted solid showings for the team.
In 90 minutes of action, Smith for the second time this season allowed no goals from an opponent while making a current season-high seven saves. For the year, Smith sports a 0.75 goals against average and .850 save percentage to go along with 17 total saves.
Among the A-10, Smith is an early leader in GAA (3rd), saves (4th), save percentage (4th) and shutouts (1st).
Gisolfi-McCready has picked up where she left off a season ago having already scored two of the four total goals she scored last year. Gisolfi-McCready has coupled her two goals of the season by landing 50 percent of her total shots this season on goal.
Senior Riley Patton joins Gisolfi-McCready as a goalscorer this season while also placing 66 percent of her shots on target.
Rounding out point scorers this season are Brooke Ditcham and Lilly Lovell, who have each dished out one assist early on this year. Ditcham also compiled a key play in last week's win over Wofford as she scored on a well-placed a corner kick that deflected off of the goalkeeper and into the net.
Davidson in the early stages of the season has settled into a healthy rotation in which the majority of the roster sees time on the field and is able to contribute to the team's efforts.
SCOUTING THE BUCCANEERS
Charleston Southern enters Thursday's match with a 2-1-1 record after battling to a 2-2 tie in its home opener against Jacksonville Monday.
The Buccaneers are led by the duo of Fiama Hidalgo and Daniela Contreras, who will arrive at Alumni Stadium with six points apiece. Hidalgo has three goals on the year and has landed four of her five shots this season on target. Contreras has compiled her six points on two goals and two assists.
Six other players on the Charleston Southern roster have also netted one goal this season to bring the team total to 11.
Starting Buccaneers goalkeeper Jenna Moran has tallied 20 saves and allowed five goals to go along with a .800 save percentage and 1.67 GAA.
As a team, Charleston Southern has a seasoned roster that features eight total graduate students and seniors and only a two-member freshmen class.
DAVIDSON, N.C. - The Davidson women's soccer team continues the non-conference segment of its 2023 schedule when it hosts Charleston Southern Thursday at Alumni Stadium.
Halfway through the non-league portion of the schedule, the Wildcats are 2-2 with wins over Gardner-Webb (2-0) and Wofford (2-0). Entering Thursday, Davidson will look to notch its first home-field victory of the year.
"There has been a good energy from the team at practice this week after getting a result on Sunday," said head coach Riley Piechnick. "Getting a win is great, but we know consistency going into the next game is so important. Charleston Southern has been scoring a lot of goals and look stronger each game they play. We will have to have a solid defensive performance and composure to finish out opportunities when we get them. This will be another good matchup for us with the Big South Conference, and we are excited for the challenge."
In Davidson's most recent win against the Terriers, both Emily Smith and Aleia Gisolfi-McCready posted solid showings for the team.
In 90 minutes of action, Smith for the second time this season allowed no goals from an opponent while making a current season-high seven saves. For the year, Smith sports a 0.75 goals against average and .850 save percentage to go along with 17 total saves.
Among the A-10, Smith is an early leader in GAA (3rd), saves (4th), save percentage (4th) and shutouts (1st).
Gisolfi-McCready has picked up where she left off a season ago having already scored two of the four total goals she scored last year. Gisolfi-McCready has coupled her two goals of the season by landing 50 percent of her total shots this season on goal.
Senior Riley Patton joins Gisolfi-McCready as a goalscorer this season while also placing 66 percent of her shots on target.
Rounding out point scorers this season are Brooke Ditcham and Lilly Lovell, who have each dished out one assist early on this year. Ditcham also compiled a key play in last week's win over Wofford as she scored on a well-placed a corner kick that deflected off of the goalkeeper and into the net.
Davidson in the early stages of the season has settled into a healthy rotation in which the majority of the roster sees time on the field and is able to contribute to the team's efforts.
SCOUTING THE BUCCANEERS
Charleston Southern enters Thursday's match with a 2-1-1 record after battling to a 2-2 tie in its home opener against Jacksonville Monday.
The Buccaneers are led by the duo of Fiama Hidalgo and Daniela Contreras, who will arrive at Alumni Stadium with six points apiece. Hidalgo has three goals on the year and has landed four of her five shots this season on target. Contreras has compiled her six points on two goals and two assists.
Six other players on the Charleston Southern roster have also netted one goal this season to bring the team total to 11.
Starting Buccaneers goalkeeper Jenna Moran has tallied 20 saves and allowed five goals to go along with a .800 save percentage and 1.67 GAA.
As a team, Charleston Southern has a seasoned roster that features eight total graduate students and seniors and only a two-member freshmen class.
Players Mentioned
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