ANDERSON, S.C. – Anderson University women's soccer looks to continue the momentum from a record setting season from a year ago that saw the Trojans win a school record 14 matches while also tying for most conference wins in program history with eight.
First year head coach Julie Davis Carlson has the opportunity to win her first match at the helm of the Black and Gold while also earning the first points for Anderson in the Beville Cup competition between the two schools. In 2015, the Trojans retained the Cup for the fourth year in a row and sixth of the past seven years.
The Trojans
Anderson is slated to return five starters from a 2015 season where it closed with a 14-4-1 overall record and an 8-3 conference mark. The Trojans handed eventual SAC regular season and tournament champion Carson-Newman its only SAC blemish with a 2-1 win during regular season play.
Returning to the lineup is Megan Foster who became the third freshman in program history to earn SAC Honorable Mention honors. Foster was a staple in the Trojan midfield, starting in 18 of AU's 19 matches for the 2015 campaign. The Dayton, Ohio native totaled five goals with three assists, including scoring the game-winning goal on Homecoming against Lincoln Memorial on Oct. 24.
Also, returning to the lineup for the Black and Gold are 2016 All-SAC Preseason selections Alaina Gay and Tera Dolan as well as Trojan teammates Lyssa Engle, Kristin Herbert, Sophie Riggs, Abby Mills and Lexi Longmore all of whom played key roles in AU's success.
In goal, sophomore Abby Helm returns to the roster after posting over 1,605 minutes played, 77 saves and seven shutouts.
The Flying Fleet
Erskine only found the win column once in 2015, winning a nonconference road contest at St. Andrews. Thursday's clash will be both programs' season opener.
Senior Katie Coleman returns as the leading goal scorer for the Flying Fleet. Coleman started 12 matches scoring three goals in 695 minutes of play.
In goal, sophomore Abbigale Schmidt is set to see most of the action. Schmidt was the Flying Fleet's reserve goalie a year ago seeing action in four contest logging 145 minutes with 14 saves.
The Series
Since the Trojans broke away from Conference Carolinas before the 2010 season, Anderson has not dropped a match to the Fleet, entering Thursday's match with a perfect 6-0 record since the move. In the previous six matchups with Erskine, AU has out-scored its archrival 23-1, headlined by five consecutive clean sheets.
