ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University women's soccer team has been pegged to finish third in the Mountain East Conference South Division in the Preseason Coaches Poll that was unveiled Wednesday afternoon by the league office.
THE POLL
| Place |
Team (First-Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
Charleston (6) |
56 |
| 2. |
West Virginia State (2) |
49 |
| 3. |
Concord (3) |
48 |
| 4. |
Glenville State |
30 |
| 5. |
West Virginia Wesleyan |
26 |
| 6. |
Davis & Elkins |
16 |
MEC North Poll: Frostburg State (9) 49, Fairmont State (2) 42, West Liberty 28, Point Park 23, Wheeling 18
2024 REVIEW
For the seventh straight year, CU finished with 10 or more wins in a season as the Maroon and Gray was 11-7-1 in 2024. Concord was nearly +40 in goal difference as it outscored the opposition 65-27 in 19 games. The Mountain Lions recorded seven shutouts, and offensively scored five or more goals in eight games. The best stretch of the season for Concord came in October as it sported a record of 8-2 from September 29-October 30, rattling off a five-game winning streak at the end of that particular stretch.
2025 SCHEDULE
The 10
th season on the Concord sidelines for head coach
Luke Duffy begins with back-to-back tough tests against perennial NCAA Tournament team Kutztown and nationally-ranked, 10
th-rated Gannon, both games at home, September 4 and 6. In fact, CU's first four games are at home as the Mountain Lions welcome West Virginia Wesleyan (September 13) and Glenville State (September 17) for the start of MEC play. The first road game for the Mountain Lions is at Davis & Elkins September 21. Concord has a rugged stretch of games to finish September and begin October—at Charleston (September 24), vs. West Virginia State (September 28) and vs. Fairmont State (October 1). The Mountain Lions have a total of five home games in October before the season concludes with consecutive road games at West Virginia Wesleyan and Glenville State November 2 and 5.
THE RETURNERS
Concord is forced to replace All-American
Sydney Tucker who netted 16 goals last season. Leading the returners for the Mountain Lions will be sophomore midfielders
Tiana Campbell and
Marika Svensson. Svensson was an all-region performer last year as she finished the season with 10 goals and three assists. Campbell made All-MEC Second Team after finding the back of the net nine times. Senior forward
Caitlin Webster tallied six goals and seven assists on her way to joining Campbell on the All-MEC Second Team. Sophomore defender
Ella Rowell anchors the back line for CU. As a freshman, Rowell started all 19 games and earned All-MEC Honorable Mention. In goal, sophomores
Gabby Griffith and
Maddie Loughborough split time last season. Loughborough appeared in 14 games while Griffith saw action in nine. Sophomore forward
Ailsa Swinburne netted six goals last season, and the most-tenured Concord player senior midfielder
Jessica Neville has appeared in 49 career games, but was reduced to 12 games last season.
THE NEWCOMERS
Concord welcomes 20 new players to this year's roster. Duffy brought in three transfers: senior defender
Audrey Garland (Watertown, Mass./Shaw University), sophomore goalkeeper
Isabelle Melton (St. Albans, W.Va./Alabama A&M) and sophomore midfielder
Stephanie Tovar (Hartville, Ohio/Malone University). Among the top freshmen for the Mountain Lions are midfielders
Daisy Cook,
Mia Cook and
Molly Watters as well as defender
Cecilie Skelde.
Â
