Women’s Soccer Kicks Off 2015-16 Star Series Friday

Friday, September 18

West Point, N.Y.

7 PM

Army West Point

Navy

Women’s Soccer Kicks Off 2015-16 Star Series Friday

September 17, 2015 | Women's Soccer

WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Army West Point women's soccer team returns to action with a pair of matches this weekend against Navy and Columbia. The Black Knights open Patriot League play at Clinton Field on Friday evening against the Mids, before traveling to New York City for a 1 p.m. Sunday non-conference tilt versus the Lions.

Army has struggled of late, with four losses, after opening the season with wins in two of its first three matches. Two of the losses have come to top-25 opponents on the road as the team fell to DePaul and Connecticut during a three-game road trip. Army is 2-1-0 at home in 2015 and has outscored its opponents 6-4 at Clinton Field.

Six different Army players have found the back of the net in 2015, and Senior CLASS Award candidate Katie Holder leads the squad with four points. In goal, junior Jordan Cassalia has played a majority of the minutes and owns a 2-4-0 record, with a 1.85 goals-against average and 28 saves. Cassalia made seven stops in Army's loss at No. 20 Connecticut.

Navy comes into Friday's Star Game with a 4-4-0 overall record, including a 1-2-0 record away from home. The Mids count victories over UMBC, VMI, ETSU and Illinois State in eight non-league contests. Army and Navy have one opponent in common, Connecticut, who the Mids fell to, 4-2, on Aug. 30. Navy has combined to score 17 goals on the year and has conceded 17 after a 4-2 triumph over Illinois State last time out.

Navy leads the all-time series with Army 13-11-2 after winning 3-0 last season in Annapolis, Md.

The Mids have had 12 different goal scorers through the first eight matches of 2015. Natalie Dzhandzhapanyan leads the team with three goals and four other Navy players have registered game-winning scores. Sophomore Meghan Hegarty, freshmen Anabell Motley, freshman Eleanor Pratt and freshman Margaret Woodward have each tallied a game-winning goal this season.

Of the 19 field players to have seen action this season, 16 Mids have tallied at least one point. Sophomore goalkeeper Taygan Grundy recorded her first career assist against ETSU. Twelve different players have at least one assist to their credit, paced by Pratt's team-high three helpers.

Grundy has played in four games, including two starts, while Dayton Wetherby has played a majority of the minutes (490:24) in goal for Navy. Wetherby owns a 2.20 goals-against average and Grundy has a 1.96 GAA. Navy has yet to record a shutout in 2015.

Every home match can be seen live online on the Patriot League Network. Visit PatriotLeague.TV or visit GoArmyWestPoint.com for additional information.