EASTON, Mass. (July 12, 2023)- Stonehill College women's soccer has announced the program's 2023 schedule, highlighted by Northeast Conference home matches against Saint Francis University, Wagner College, Delaware State, Merrimack College, and Central Connecticut State along with four non-conference home contests against members of the America East and West Coast Conference.
"We faced a variety of opponents in 2022 and 2023 will be no different," said Stonehill women's soccer head coach, Alex Wilson. "From our familiar NEC rivals to a West Coast Conference power in Portland, our team will once again embrace the challenge of this Division One rise. It's exciting to be able to compete for a conference post-season bid this season and there's no doubt our non-conference schedule will enhance our growth, develop our preparations, and allow the student-athletes to experience all aspects of this beautiful game."
Stonehill opens the season on the road against last year's America East champion, the University of New Hampshire on Thursday, August 17. The matchup marks just the second time the schools will face each other with the last matchup coming back in 1985 where the Wildcats topped the Skyhawks, 5-0. On the following Thursday (Aug. 24), Stonehill heads to Fordham University for the first time in program history but overall, it is the second time each side will meet up as the last time these two met was in 1994 when the Skyhawks hosted the Rams and came out on top, 4-0.
The squad then returns home for an opening homestand hosting America East members, University of Maine (Aug. 27), and UMass Lowell (Aug. 31). Sunday's contest against Maine will mark the first time both squads face each other.
The Skyhawks continue their run of non-conference matchups starting the month of September on the road at MAAC Conference champion, Quinnipiac on Monday, September 4 for the 14th time overall. The last time each side faced each other was in 1997 when Quinnipiac won 3-2 but Stonehill holds the overall series lead, 5-4-5. After a quick return home against Bryant University on Thursday, Sept. 7, the Skyhawks head back on the road for their next two contests against the University of Vermont on Sunday, Sept. 10, and then the NEC opener at Long Island University on Thursday, Sept. 14.
Stonehill returns home to host West Coast Conference member, University of Portland on Sunday, September 17 for the first time in program history. Last season, the Pilots finished with a 12-5-4 record and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament where they beat Arizona State, 3-0 before falling to No.4 nationally-ranked, University of Alabama, 2-1.
The Purple and White conclude September with two of their three matchups on the road which include Le Moyne on Thursday, Sept. 21, and Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday, Sept. 28. In the middle of those two contests is a home match versus Saint Francis University on Sunday, September 24.
Starting off October, the Skyhawks head to Howard University on Sunday, Oct. 1, and then return home again for a quick one-game homestand versus Wagner University on Sunday, October 8. After finishing up their road slate on Thursday, Oct. 12 at Sacred Heart, the Skyhawks finish October with three-straight at home led by Delaware State on Sunday, Oct. 15, Merrimack on Thursday, Oct. 19, and then finish the 2023 season against Central Connecticut on Sunday, Oct. 22.
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