Women's Soccer Opens 20th Season at VMI, Longwood This Weekend
8/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
The Youngstown State women's soccer program opens its 20th season this weekend when it visits VMI and Longwood. The Penguins take on the Keydets Friday, Aug. 21, at 4 p.m. and Longwood on Sunday, Aug. 23, at 7 p.m.
This is the fourth meeting between the Penguins and VMI in a series that dates back to 2005. The Penguins own a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series and have won the last two meetings, including a 2-0 win last year at Farmers National Bank Field.
This will be the first meeting between the Penguins and Longwood.
The Penguins are coming off a 7-9-2 overall record in 2014 and the program's first undefeated season at home (6-0-2). YSU has 18 letterwinners returning from last-year's squad, including seniors Katie Hohmann, Karlee Kline and Macey Riese.
Also returning for the Penguins is All-Horizon League Second-Team selection Kathy Baquero, who led the team in scoring with six goals and 13 total points. Hohmann, who ranks tied for 10th all-time with 21 career points, scored two goals with three assists.
Hohmann is on the verge of becoming Youngstown State's all-time assists leader. Hohmann has 11 career assists and needs three to tie and four more to break the record fo 14 set by Missy Laforet (1996-99).
Junior goalkeeper Katie Montgomery picked up two wins last season and ranks third all-time with a 1.58 career goals-against average.
Last season, Montgomery recorded 27 saves and a .844 save percentage.
The Penguins were picked to finish ninth with 27 points in the Horizon League Preseason Coaches Poll.
2015 Horizon League Coaches Preseason Poll
1. Valparaiso, 72 (9 first-place votes)
2. Oakand, 56 (1)
3. Detroit, 52
4. Cleveland State, 44
5. Northern Kentucky, 42
6. Green Bay, 38
7. Wright State, 35
8. Milwaukee, 28
9. Youngstown State, 27
10. UIC, 11
The Penguins visit Army on Friday, Aug. 28, and host St. Mary's (Calif.), Sunday, Aug. 30, in the 2015 home opener at Farmers National Bank Field.
