Gainesville, Fla. – Western Carolina women's soccer begins its title defense with a pair of opening weekend matches to begin the 2024 schedule, starting the year by visiting the SEC's Florida Gators for the first time in program history before hosting mountain-rival UNC Asheville on Sunday evening at the Catamount Athletics Complex.
Friday's Match Up:
Western Carolina (0-0-0, 0-0-0 SoCon) at Florida (0-0-0, 0-0-0 SEC)
2023 Records:
WCU – 13-5-3, 7-2-0 SoCon
UF – 6-5-6, 2-4-4 SEC
Gainesville, Fla. | 7:00 P.M. | Donald R. Dizney Stadium
Live Stats: https://tinyurl.com/3ydubpyb
Watch on SECN+: https://tinyurl.com/yk7kjdck
Listen: https://tinyurl.com/26nxjc4v
Sunday's Match Up:
Western Carolina (0-0-0, 0-0-0 SoCon) vs UNC Asheville (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Big South)
2023 Records:
WCU – 13-5-3, 7-2-0 SoCon
UNCA – 7-6-4, 2-5-1 Big South
Cullowhee, N.C. | 7:00 P.M. | Catamount Athletic Complex
Live Stats: https://tinyurl.com/nvt4xhvs
Watch on ESPN+: https://tinyurl.com/54vfe3mb
Quick Cuts:
Western Carolina and Florida will share the pitch for the first time in WCU's program history on Friday night. The Catamounts are no strangers to SEC competition, though, as the Purple and Gold have faced off with the South Carolina Gamecocks, Auburn Tigers, Tennessee Volunteers, and, most recently, the Alabama Crimson Tide in last year's NCAA tournament. The Catamounts have a 1-0 win over the then-20th-ranked Gamecocks in 2008. The Gators haven't seen a Southern Conference opponent this century but did share a brief series with the UNCG from 1996-1998, taking all three matchups. Florida also hosted the Davidson Wildcats in their inaugural season in 1994, shutting out the then SoCon member 2-0.
Sunday's opponent for the Catamounts is familiar, facing UNCA 19 times throughout WCU's 25-year women's soccer history. The Purple and Gold have dominated the series against their system rival, taking 13 wins all-time and holding an 11-1-1 record over the last 13 bouts. WCU dominated Big South competition last season, posting 4-0 and 5-1 wins over Presbyterian and Winthrop respectively, and tacking on a 1-0 shutout over the Bulldogs. Asheville held strong against a barrage of SoCon opponents, taking a 3-2-1 record in their six matchups against the conference, with wins over VMI, Wofford, and Furman. Their only loss came in the previously mentioned 1-0 Catamount shutout.
Players to Watch:
The Catamounts return over 15,000 minutes from last season's championship squad with preseason All-SoCon selection Becca Campbell and standout goalkeeper Leanne Trudel leading the way. The duo will look to anchor a Catamount defense that will work in new faces on the backline.
Another dynamic duo, reigning SoCon Player of the Year Isabella DeMarco – who garnered the league's preseason top player honor entering 2024 – and preseason all-conference selection Naya Marcil return after combining for 54 points on 19 goals and 16 assists last year.
Florida returns all major statistical leaders from a battle-tested 2023 squad. Megan Hinnenkamp led the Gators in shots (26), shots on goal (17), points (16), and goals (8) for an efficient 2023 stat line. Lauren McCloskey led UF in assists with four with Daviana Vanka leading the team in minutes with 1477 last season. Alexa Goldberg turned aside 30 shots in net last year as the Gator defense severely limited offensive opportunities, allowing only 6.8 shots per game last year.
UNC Asheville returns three of its top four 2023 goal scorers, highlighted by Taylor Gardener and Nao Kawasaki, who combined for ten goals, five assists, and 25 points last season. The Bulldogs fielded a relatively balanced scoring attack last season, with no player having more than five goals but five tallying at least two on the season, though Gardener dominated the shot chart for UNCA last year as the only player with more than 32 shots last season (53 total). The Bulldogs return Gracie Murray between the pipes who held strong marks in save percentage (.80) and goals against average (1.15) last season.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
The Catamounts follow up the season-opening sprint with a trip to Charlotte, taking on the Queens Royals for the second time in as many seasons next Thursday, Aug. 22 at 7:00 p.m. WCU then returns home to host the Longwood Lancers on Sunday, Aug. 25 at 1:00 p.m.
Keep track of everything related to Catamount women's soccer and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@wcu_catamounts), and Twitter (@catamounts, @Catamountsoccer).
