Opening Kick
The Youngstown State women's soccer team opens the 2024 regular season when it hosts nearby Kent State, Sunday, Aug. 18. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Farmers National Bank Field, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The Matchup
This is the 15th meeting between Youngstown State and Kent State in a series that dates back to 1996. The Golden Flashes own a 12-2 advantage in the all-time series. The Penguins won the first meeting in the series, 2-1, in 1996 before losing 12 straight times. YSU snapped the skid with a 1-0 victory at Farmers National Bank Field on Sept. 8, 2023.
About Kent State
Kent State defeated Cleveland State, 2-1, in its season opener on Aug. 15. Josie Morgan, scored the first goal of the season giving the Golden Flashes a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute. Kent state didn't take too long to double its lead after Thea Helen Oberhoff pushed the lead to 2-0. Cleveland State cut the lead in half with a goal in the 79th minute
Up Next
The Penguins continue their homestand when they host St. Francis (Pa.), Thursday, Aug. 22. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Farmers National Bank Field.
The Captains
Youngstown State women's soccer Head Coach Brian Shrum announced that graduate student Lianna Van Sice and juniors Taylor Berry and Emma Rigone have been named team captains for the 2024 season.
Program Rising
Youngstown State is coming off the first consecutive 500 seasons in program history after going 9-8-3 in 2022 and 7-7-3 in 2023. The 16 wins over a two-year span are also the most in program history.
What Returns
Youngstown State returns 18 letterwinners and five starters from last year's squad. More importantly, the Penguins return 76.1 percent of their scoring from a season ago. YSU returns its top three scorers and five of its top six. Â Chloe Weiland led the squad with four goals, three assists and 11 points,
Weiland Had Breakout Campaign
Junior Chloe Weiland had a breakout season for the Penguins in 2023. The Butler, Pa. native totaled four goals, including two game winners, and tied for the team lead with three assists.
Berry Continued Success
Junior Taylor Berry continued her success from year one into year two at YSU. She tallied three goals with three assists. In two years with the Penguins, Berry has scored seven goals with four assists for a total of 18 career points.
Berdiner Earned All-Freshman Laurels
Sophomore Emma Berdiner was named to the Horizon League All-Freshman Team last season after tallying a pair of assists in 2023. Berdiner, Taylor Berry, and Maddie Angelo have been named to the league's all-freshman team during their career.
Returning Scores
Along with Chloe Weiland and Taylor Berry, the Penguins return six players that scored goals last season. Lianna Van Sice posted a pair of goals and recorded three assists while Elis Klein Spindola and Maddie Keister each tallied two goals. Emma Rigone, Abby Knight and Marissa Masano also scored goals in 2023.
