Opening Kick
The Youngstown State women's soccer team (1-0-1) is geared up for its first road contest of the 2024 season when it visits Eastern Michigan, Sunday, Aug. 25. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at in Ypsilanti, Mich. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The Series
This is the seventh meeting between Youngstown State and Eastern Michigan in a series that dates back to 1996. This is also the first meeting between the schools since 2019. The Eagles have never lost to the Penguins and own a 5-0-1 advantage in the all-time series. The teams battled to a 0-0 double-overtime draw at Farmers National Bank Field in 2019.
About The Eagles
Eastern Michigan enters the match with a 2-0 record after defeating Horizon League member Oakland, 1-0, on Aug. 15 and UIC, 3-2, on Aug. 22. Olivia Sipsock leads the Eagles with a goal and an assist while Maddie O'Farrell, Cameryn Susey and Sarah Van Euwan have a goal apiece. Goalkeeper Ella Holland owns a record of 2-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .778 save percentage.
Up Next
The Penguins stay on the road to take on Canisius, Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. in Buffalo, N.Y.
Berry Nearing Charts
Junior Taylor Berry is quickly nearing the YSU all-time goals scored top 10 list after scoring her ninth career goal with a score against Saint Franics (Pa.) on Aug. 22. She needs one more goal to move into a tie for 10th place and two more to move into a tie for eighth. Berry has also scored a total of 22 career points and needs just four more to move into a tie for 10th on the career points chart.
Holy Naimoli!
Redshirt freshman Maya Naimoli picked up a pair of collegiate firsts after the Penguins' 2-0 victory over Saint Francis (Pa.). The Wayne, Pa., native recorded her first career win and posted the first shutout of her career while collecting five saves against the Red Flash.
Brick Wahle
Freshman Teagan Wahle recorded the first goal of her career and it proved to be her first career game winner. Wahle laced a shot from 23-yards out that found the lower-left corner of the net to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Aug. 22.
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 12 games played. Van Sice scored a pair of goals with three assists in just 10 games played in 2023.
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 years with the Penguins, Berry has scored seven goals with four assists for a total of 18 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 17 wins over a two-plus 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.
Penguins Tabbed Fifth in League Preseason Poll
2024 Under Armour #HLWSOC Preseason Poll
Place. Team (First Place Votes) – Points
1. Milwaukee (10) – 120
2. IU Indianapolis – 103
3. Northern Kentucky – 100
4. Wright State – 71
5. Youngstown State (1) – 65
6. RMU – 60
7. Oakland – 59
8. Detroit Mercy – 54
9. Purdue Fort Wayne – 44
10. Cleveland State – 32
11. Green Bay – 18
