Syracuse kicks off its 31st women鈥檚 soccer season against Villanova on Thursday, August 13, at 7:00 p.m. at SU Soccer Stadium. The Orange face a team historically dominant in their matchups, with Villanova leading the all-time series at 6-2-1. Syracuse seeks to rebound from a challenging previous season, relying on new talent in the absence of key players and aiming for a strong start reminiscent of last year's record.

By the Numbers
  • Villanova holds a 6-2-1 edge in the series against Syracuse.
  • Syracuse finished last season with a record of 5-9-4.
  • Syracuse won both exhibition games this month, scoring a total of 9 goals while conceding none.
Yes, But

Syracuse lost its top three goal scorers from the previous season, which raises uncertainty about its offensive capabilities despite a solid exhibition performance.

State of Play
  • The Syracuse team features new players, including junior transfer Farrah Stephens-Martin and freshman Lauren Christy.
  • Junior Maya Naimoli, a transfer from Youngstown State, replaces long-time goalkeeper Shea Vanderbosch.
  • Villanova's coach, Samar Azem, enters her fifth season with a squad that achieved a 9-8-1 record last year.
What's Next

As the season unfolds, Syracuse will seek to build momentum from this match against Villanova to improve its overall performance and integrate new players successfully into the roster.

Bottom Line

The opening match is crucial for Syracuse to establish a strong start and test its revamped roster against a familiar rival, while Villanova aims to leverage its historical success to gain early season traction.