Concord Starts Season Against Regional Contenders Gannon, Kutztown

2022 Concord Stats - 2022 Gannon Stats - 2022 Kutztown Stats - Live Stats - Live Video

ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University women's soccer team faces two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference teams to begin the season as it squares off with Gannon on the road 6:00 p.m. Thursday before opposing Kutztown in a neutral site game in Erie, Pennsylvania 3:00 p.m. Saturday.

LIVE COVERAGE
The Gannon Sports Information Department will provide live streaming video and live statistics for both games involving the Mountain Lions.

Live Stats
Live Video

SERIES HISTORY vs. Gannon: Concord leads 3-1
SERIES HISTORY vs. Kutztown: Kutztown leads 3-0

ALL-TIME MEETINGS AGAINST GANNON
August 25, 2022: Concord 3 – Gannon 2 (Beckley, W.Va.)
2006: Gannon 2- Concord 0 (Erie, Pa.)
2005: Concord 1 – Gannon 0 (Athens, W.Va.)
2002: Concord 3 – Gannon 0 (Athens, W.Va.)

ALL-TIME MEETINGS AGAINST KUTZTOWN
September 2, 2012: Kutztown 2 – Concord 1 (Athens, W.Va.)
September 3, 2011: Kutztown 6 – Concord 0 (Kutztown, Pa.)
September 3, 2010: Kutztown 7 – Concord 0 (East Stroudsburg, Pa.)

CONCORD AT A GLANCE
2022 Overall Record: 12-5-2
2022 MEC Record: 10-4-2
2022 Home Record 5-4-1
2022 Away Record: 7-1-1

LATE DRAMA LEAH
The Mountain Lions were able to slip past Gannon last year in a matchup of two teams that made the NCAA Tournament in 2021 as junior midfielder Leah Fleming scored in the 85^th minute at home to give CU a 3-2 victory in the season opener. Three of the game's five goals were scored in the first 11 minutes before Gannon tied the contest at 2-2 in the 81^st minute. Graduate midfielder Michelle Brogden got Concord off to a fast start with a score in the fourth minute. Brogden took a team-best four shots versus the Golden Knights last season.

LEADERS OF THE PACK
Speaking of Brogden, the North Shields, England native will be counted on to lead an offensive attack that lost nearly 60 percent of its scoring from last season. Brogden bagged seven goals in 14 games. Sophomore midfielder Reeanna Cook scored two of her four goals in the final four games of the season on her way to All-MEC Second Team in 2022. Graduate forward Alexa Todd tallied eight goals at Lees-McRae last season as she will play her final season in the Maroon and Gray. The final line of defending will be led by three-time All-MEC selection Olivia Bekeleski who has never missed a game over 38 career appearances and has only missed one start since the spring 2021 season.

FACING THE BEST
Concord, a perennial MEC contender under head coach Luke Duffy, and 2021 Atlantic Regional Champion, will take on two teams that have had recent postseason success as well. Gannon played for the PSAC Championship last season, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Second Round where it was knocked out by Kutztown. Under veteran head coach Colin Peterson, now in his 24^th year at GU, the Golden Knights have made six trips to the national tournaments. As for Kutztown, the Bears start the season ranked 19^th nationally after making the Sweet 16 in 2022. Concord and KU were on a collision course to meet in the Sweet 16 in 2021 as the region's top two seeds before Kutztown was upset in the second round. KU has made five of the last six NCAA Tournaments, and advanced to the Final Four in 2016.

GANNON AT A GLANCE
2022 Overall Record: 15-4-4
2022 PSAC Record: 11-1-4
2022 Home Record: 10-2-1
2022 Away Record: 5-2-3

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
The Golden Knights did lose top scorer Sarah Fails from last season, but do return Ella Fadale who is coming off an All-PSAC West First Team campaign where she scored eight goals. Gabby Boden dished out a team-best 10 assists and was named All-PSAC West Second Team. One of the two losses at home last season for GU was to eventual national runner-up West Chester in the PSAC Championship.

KUTZTOWN AT A GLANCE
2022 Overall Record: 11-6-4
2022 PSAC Record: 8-4-4
2022 Home Record: 4-2-2
2022 Away Record: 6-3-2
Neutral Record: 1-1

SCOUTING THE BEARS
KU went into the NCAA Tournament with just nine wins last year as a strong strength of schedule propelled the Bears into the postseason where they won two games before being knocked out by West Chester. Isabella Rossetti earned All-PSAC East First Team after scoring seven times last fall. Emme Wolfel posted eight shutouts in goal and saved more than 80 percent of shots that came her way. The Bears face MEC foe Charleston Thursday at Gannon.