Aug. 19, 2011
WOMEN'S SOCCER GAMEDAY
Live Broadcast on Nova Nation All-Access
Women's Soccer Season Preview
VILLANOVA SOCIAL MEDIA
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VILLANOVA, Pa.--Prior to the start of a training session on Wednesday afternoon the Villanova women's soccer team held a team meeting in which both the coaching staff and student-athletes noted that a clear tone had been set for the 2011 campaign, as the team's attention shifted from the daily grind of preseason to focus on the start of the regular season.
All of the Wildcats preparations for a new year are now complete and Villanova makes its 2011 debut on Friday afternoon when it hosts James Madison in the season opener for both teams. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. at the West Campus Soccer Complex as the Dukes make their first trip to the Main Line since opening the 1996 season here.
Friday afternoon's game will air live on Nova Nation All-Access with Nick Mantegna calling all of the action. Click on the link at the top of this release to access the broadcast. Live stats via Gametracker is another option for following the game and can likewise be accessed via the above links.
Head coach John Byford begins his fourth season leading the Wildcats and will field a team that returns eight starters from a year ago, brings back virtually all of its scoring production and also adds nine freshmen to the fold.
The team has already faced one test during preseason play, as Villanova traveled to Hofstra last weekend for an exhibition game. A goal scored by freshman midfielder Victoria Gersh (Silver Spring, Md.) in the 85th minute of the scrimmage helped forge an eventual 1-1 draw for the Wildcats against an opponent that is receiving votes in the preseason national polls.
Hofstra is a member of the Colonial Athletic Association and in Friday's season opener Villanova will face a James Madison team that was predicted to repeat as CAA champions this season. Last year the Dukes finished with a 15-7-1 record, won the CAA title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship.
There have been six previous meetings between the Wildcats and James Madison, with the Dukes winning all six. The all-time series includes a 1-0 win by James Madison last season, which marked the first meeting between the teams in more than a decade. The first five games in the all-time series all took place between 1993-99.
In the matchup last season Villanova turned in a strong effort in Harrisonburg but was dealt the narrow setback via the game's lone score in the 81st minute. Sophomore goalkeeper Jami Kranich (Hamden, Conn.), in just her third collegiate game at the time, tallied a career-high eight saves in the contest.
Friday afternoon marks the beginning of the 29th season of Wildcats women's soccer. Villanova is 15-11-2 (.571) in season openers and has begun the season on a winning note in each of the last 10 consecutive years. The team is also 9-6 (.600) when playing the season opener at home.
