Youngstown State University
Saint Francis
Women's Soccer Seeks First 2024 Win Against Saint Francis (Pa.) Thursday
8/21/2024 11:32:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Opening Kick
The Youngstown State women's soccer team (0-0-1) seeks its first victory of 2024 when it hosts Saint Francis (Pa.)., Thursday, Aug. 22. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Farmers National Bank Field, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The Series
This is the 14th meeting between Youngstown State and Saint Francis (Pa.) that dates back to 1996. The Red Flash own a 7-4-2 advantage in the all-time series, but the Penguins have won the last two contests. Youngtown State defeated the Red Flash, 3-1, last season and 3-2 in 2019. This also marks the first time since 2009 Saint Francis has played in Youngstown and the first time playing at Farmers National Bank Field.
About The Red Flash
Saint Francis (Pa.) enters the match with an overall record of 1-0-1 after a scoreless draw in their home opener against Iona on Aug. 18 and defeating Niagara, 2-1, on Aug. 15. This marks the first time since 2019 that Saint Francis has gone unbeaten in their first two matches of a season. Mercedez Paino and Anouk Landgraff each have two points from their respective goals against Niagara. Raine Korpics and Eva Barakos each have a point from their assists on said goals. Paino and Rita Kendziora are tied for the team lead in shots with four each. Emma Sawich has a .889 save percentage and eight saves through two games. She registered a clean sheet and three saves against Iona. Sawich and Landgraff were named NEC Defensive Player of the Week and NEC Rookie of the Week respectively on Aug. 19. Sawich, Landgraff and Paino were all named Prime Performers for the week as well.
Up Next
The Penguins play their first road game of the season when they visit Eastern Michigan, Sunday, Aug. 25 at 1 p.m. in Ypsilanti, Mich.
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.
Van Sice is SO Back
Graduate student Lianna Van is back to her 2023 form after one match played in 2024. She scored the Penguins first goal of the season in the Penguins 2-2 draw against Kent State on Aug. 18. It also marks her third goal in her last 11 games played. Van Sice scored a pair of goals with three assists in just 10 games played in 2023.
Berry is Terry-ific
Junior Taylor Berry notched her eighth career goal with her first score of the 2024 campaign against Kent State on Aug. 18. Berry, whose goal tied the match against the Golden Flashes, needs just two more goals to reach the top 10 in program history.
Impressive Debut for Naimoli
Redshirt freshman Maya Naimoli turned in an impressive debut in the net for the Penguins soccer program. Naimoli faced 20 shots, including eight on goal, against Kent State on Aug. 18. She posted a career-high six saves in the tie.
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. 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-plus years with the Penguins, Berry has scored eightn goals with four assists for a total of 20 career points.
Berdiner All-Freshman
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.
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.
Returning Scorers
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.
