Cougars Close Out Charleston Classic Against FIU

Sunday, September 2

Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

1:00 PM

College of Charleston

Florida International

Tickets

9/1/2018 9:52:00 AM | Women's Soccer

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (2-3-0) vs. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL (0-4-0)
Game #6 • Sunday Sept. 2, 2018 • 1:00 p.m. ET
Charleston, S.C. • Patriots Point Soccer Complex
Series: Charleston trail series 2-4-0 overall
Last: Sept. 11, 2005; Charleston won 2-0

Video: Charleston Sports Network (CofCSports.com)
Stats: CofCStats.com
Twitter: @CofCWSOC

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The College of Charleston women's soccer team welcome Florida International to Patriots Point on Sunday afternoon to close out the Charleston Classic. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. with tickets $6 for adults and $3 for youth (18 & under).

Scouting Florida International
The Panthers make the short drive over from Charleston Southern, dropping their game against the Buccaneers 1-0 on Friday afternoon. FIU are yet to register a victory this season (0-4-0) and have found the back of the net just once in four games. The Panthers have also conceded 12 goals since the beginning of the season.

Series History
This will be the seventh meeting in history between the two programs and the first for head coach Christian Michner. The teams have played three games in both Charleston and in Miami with the Panthers holding a 2-1 edge at home and on the road (4-2 overall).

Last Meeting with the Panthers
The teams last met back in 2005 at Patriots Point under head coach Kevin Dempsey. Kristin Rhyne and Lou Hudson scored a goal in each half in the 2-0 win.

On the Air
Sunday's 1 p.m. matchup will be live on the Charleston Sports Network (CofCSports.com) with soccer alumni Donnie Exelbierd on the play-by-play call.

Quotable – Head Coach Christian Michner
"After a tough game on Friday night against Ball State we've got to rebound quickly and be ready to compete again on Sunday. FIU is a solid team and they've got a great coach in Sharolta Nonen. They've struggled just a bit out of the gate this fall, but I know they have a lot of quality in their side. We had some very good moments in our match against the Cardinals and we will have to get back to that type of play on Sunday to be successful. If we are able to play our high tempo game for 90 minutes we are a very good team. I'm looking forward to seeing my team get back out there on Sunday afternoon."

Notables
• Meredith Tunney is the lone Charleston student-athlete to play every minute so far this season (461 minutes)
• Kacey Smekrud scored her first collegiate goal on the road against Wake Forest
• Preseason All-CAA selection, Maddy Brill-Edwards, got her first assist of the season against Coastal Carolina
• Laura Ortega leads the team in shots [12] and shots on target [5]
• In her debut for CofC, freshman Hannah Farmer got her first career assist by setting up Laura Ortega in the 2-0 win over North Florida
• Ortega is six goals from tying the career program record and six points from the most in program history
• Genevieve Henderson continues to climb the goalkeeper career record books in minutes played, save percentage and goals against average
• Senior forward Laura Ortega was named CAA Preseason Co-Player of the Year
• Ortega and senior defender Maddy Brill-Edwards were named CAA Preseason All-CAA selections

Last Time Out
The College fell to Ball State in the opening game of the Charleston Classic despite outshooting the Cardinals. Charleston dominated the opening stages without finding a breakthrough, finishing the half with a 9-3 shot advantage. Ball State took advantage in the second half with two headed goals and a third via the penalty spot to confirm the Charleston loss.

Hunting Records
CAA Preseason Co-Player of the Year Laura Ortega continues to edge closer to program history. Ortega is six goals from tying the career record of 24 set by Kristin Rhyne (2003-05) and just six points from tying the points record (59, also set by Rhyne). Ortega is currently third in career points with 52, tied sixth in goals with 18 and is tied-third all-time in assists with 17 (five from the career record). Genevieve Henderson continues to climb the goalkeeping record books. Now in her fifth season with the Cougars, Henderson is 7^th in minutes played and has a top-ten save percentage and goals against average.

Cougars Summary
The College was picked to finish sixth in the Colonial Athletic Association by the league's coaches. Charleston returns 24 letterwinners, including nine starters, while adding 11 newcomers to the roster. The 2018 squad will be led by 2017 All-CAA selection Laura Ortega who led the offense last season with eight goals and five assists; good for 21 points. Senior defender Maddy Brill-Edwards is a Preseason All-CAA selection alongside Ortega.