Women's Soccer Opens 2014 Season at Husky/Nike Invite

9/3/2014 11:28:00 AM | Women's Soccer

By: Dartmouth

DARTMOUTH WOMEN'S SOCCER WEEKLY NOTES

Dartmouth vs. WashingtonHusky/Nike Invitational

Dartmouth vs. Portland
Date: September 5, 2014 | Time: 3:00 p.m. PT / 6:00 p.m. ET | Venue: Husky Soccer Stadium (2,200) | Location: Seatle, Wash.

Date: September 7, 2014 | Time: 4:00 p.m. PT / 7:00 p.m. ET | Venue: Husky Soccer Stadium (2,200) | Location: Seatle, Wash.

Live Stats: Dartmouthsports.com | Live Video (Washington game): Pac-12 Network | Ron Rainey Report: Season Preview: ILDN

QUICK NOTES

•The Big Green enter the 2014 season looking to snap a nine-year NCAA Tournament hiatus. On April 15, Ron Rainey was named the 11th head coach in Big Green history. Rainey comes to Dartmouth after spending the past eight seasons at Iowa, where he reached the NCAA Tournament for the first-time in his 18 years as a collegiate head coach in 2013.

• Portland makes the two and a half hour trip up I-5 and will open the Husky/Nike Invitational against the Big Green in their first-ever meeting. The Pilots opened up the season with a 1-0 loss at Florida State, before picking up a win at North Carolina State, 2-1. In their previous meeting, the No. 14 Pilots lost to No. 5 Stanford, 1-0. Danica Evans has scored both goals for Portland this season.

•Washington will meet Wisconsin on Friday before taking on the Big Green on Sunday. The Huskies enter the weekend, 2-0, after a pair of wins in the state of Pennsylvania, defeating La Salle and Pittsburgh, 1-0, in both contests. Kimberly Keevers and Jaclyn Softli scored in the Keystone State meetings.

• Dartmouth returns 14 players from last season's roster and welcomes nine new members in the Class of 2018. Senior Laura Thurber missed all of 2013 with an injury and returns for her final season with the Big Green.

GIRL MEETS WORLD

Junior Corey Delaney returns as the top scorer from last season netting five goals and adding five assists for 15 points. Delaney trailed Emma Brush '15 by two points. As a freshman, Delaney was tabbed the Ivy League Rookie of the Year and is a two-time First-Team All-Ivy recipient. The Chatham, New Jersey product was also named to the College Sports Madness All-Ivy First Team and was the Freshman of the Year. In 34 career games, all starts, Delaney has seven goals and 10 assists for 24 points.

I LOVE LUCY

Junior Lucielle Kozlov will be asked to step up this season after scoring three times on 21 shots as a sophomore. Kozlov's eight points last season ranked her second among returners. For her efforts, Kozlov was named All-Ivy Honorable Mention. The Vancouver forward has 14 points during her underclass years and has taken the pitch on 33 games.

NURSE JACKIE

With two seasons under her belt and 34 games played, junior defender Jackie Friedman will be called upon to lead the Dartmouth defensive unit. In her first two seasons, Friedman was named All-Ivy Honorable Mention as a freshman and then an All-Ivy Second Team member as a sophomore. Still looking for her first collegiate goal, Friedman was credited with three assist and 20 shots. The three helpers tied her for third on the team in assist.

TWISTED SISTER

Sophomore Hayley Snyder started in all but one game last season, making an impact as a defensive midfielder. Snyder picked up her only assist against a Columbia on Oct. 26. The former Montclair High School MVP is still developing her game and with the loss of Holly Patterson for the year, Snyder will be asked to step up for the Big Green.

NOT THE BABY KARDASHIAN

Senior Kendall Kraus finds herself in a bigger role this season, as she was named a co-captain for her final year in the Upper Valley. Used primarily as a reserve her first two seasons, Kraus made seven starts in 2013. The San Diego midfielder had her best offensive production as a sophomore when she scored two goals for five points.

SEATTLE 'TATIANA' SAUNDERS

A mainstay in the Dartmouth net for the past three seasons senior Tatiana Saunders will look to guide the Big Green to its first NCAA Tournament since 2005. Saunders finished the 2013 season with a 6-6-3 record, but her 1.00 goals against average ranked her fifth in the Ivy League. In 43 games, Saunders posts a 20-19-3 record and a 1.14 goals against average with 12 shutouts.

ULTIMATE GOLD

While most students are resting or preparing for the upcoming season, sophomore Piper Curtis was hanging out in Italy representing the United States in the upstart sport of Ultimate. Known to many as Ultimate Frisbee, Curtis and her teammates on the USA U19 team won the a gold medal at the World Juniors Ultimate Championship.

NOTHING LIKE HOME COOKING

In 2013, the Big Green finished a near perfect 7-0-1 at Burnham Field, but struggled on the road and finished 1-6-2 away from the Upper Valley. In the past three seasons, the Big Green has amassed an 18-4-1 record on the natural grass pitch.

RAINEY QUOTES

~ On his first season with the Big Green -

“I am excited for my first fall at Dartmouth,” said Rainey. “The coaching staff and I are focused on the process of getting better each practice and each game. Those are things we can control. We have an eager group who wants to compete against all opponents on our schedule and it will make for a fun 2014 season.”

~ On the Ivy League and its opponents -

“I am especially excited to see Ivy League opponents in person for the conference season. It is an even, competitive group, and we will need to be at our best to get results in the league.”

~ On naming Laura Thurber and Kendall Kraus co-captains -

“Laura and Kendall bring a very positive attitude to training every day,” said Rainey. “We are excited to see them develop into leaders for the Big Green this fall.”

~ On Playing at the Husky/Nike Invitational -

“We are excited to get the season underway and look forward to playing two of the top teams in the country! A great way for us to start the season and show us where we are doing well and things we need to work on.”