2017 BEGINS: The UAH women's soccer team will open up the new campaign on Thursday afternoon at Charger Park, welcoming non-conference foe McKendree to the Tennessee Valley with kickoff on the UAH campus slated for 2 p.m. The Chargers will then welcome Tusculum on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
LAST YEAR AT HOME: The Chargers went 6-4 in 2016 on their home pitch, and four of those wins came in the non-conference slate including a 3-1 victory over nationally-ranked Carson-Newman. UAH has had at least a .500 mark at home while playing in the always-tough GSC for the past three seasons.
KEY RETURNERS: Sydney Pfankuch is the top returning scorer for the Chargers as the senior potted seven goals and added five assists for 19 points during her junior campaign, and she is one of seven returning starters including
Hannah Oglesby,
Lauren Mayer,
Riley Ridgeway, and
Mia Jetsu who all were in the top five among field players in minutes played in the 2016 season.
ABOUT McKENDREE: The Bearcats reached the NCAA tournament a season ago after winning the GLVC tournament, and the squad has been picked to finish third in the league this year. Sydnee Carroll was the GLVC Offensive Player of the Year in 2016 after scoring 18 times and assisting on five other goals during her freshman campaign.
SERIES HISTORY: Thursday's meeting will mark the first-ever between the two programs.
ABOUT TUSCULUM: The Pioneers have been selected to finish fifth in the SAC after going 10-5-3 last year, and the team features four preseason all-SAC selections including defender Carlie Thornber who tied for the Tusculum lead in scoring last year as she scored three times.
SERIES HISTORY: Sunday's visitors have a 4-1-0 record in the all-time series between UAH and Tusculum.
