Elon
CSU Soccer Preview: Bucs host Phoenix in season opener at 4 p.m.
8/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Friday afternoon opens the start of the 2015 soccer season as the Charleston Southern welcomes Elon to the CSU Soccer Field for the season opener for both squads. Kickoff between the Bucs and the Phoenix is set for 4 p.m.
John Peters returns to call the action as the contest will be streamed live via the Big South Network. Live stats will be provided on CSUSports.com. To follow along with in-game updates, follow the new CSU Game Day Twitter account @CSUGameDay.
Scouting the Opposition
Charleston Southern hasn't faced off against Elon since 2002 and the Buccaneers and the Phoenix are tied 3-3 in all-time meetings between each other. The Bucs and Elon first met on the pitch back in 1997 and played each other for six straight seasons before letting the series lapse between the two programs.
The Bucs lost their last matchup against the Phoenix at home in 2001, falling in the only overtime game between the two opponents, 2-1, with Elon's Marissa Venuti scoring in the 103rd minute of play on a rebound off the goalkeeper.
Elon is just in their second season as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association and was picked eighth in the CAA preseason poll by the Colonial head coaching staff. The Elon women's soccer program returns 22 letterwinners to this year's squad, including team captains Mel Insley, Taylor Glenn, Samantha Burch and Alexis de Groot.
Charleston Southern in Home Openers
The first home opener in Charleston Southern history came in 2000 against UNC Wilmington with the Buccaneers falling in overtime to the Seahawks, 2-1. All-time, the Bucs have opened the season at home on the CSU Soccer Field five times, winning their past three home openers.
The Bucs hosted at home three straight seasons from 2007-2009, topping Newberry (3-1), Francis Marion (3-2 OT), and Georgia Southern (2-1). Since the 2009 season, the Bucs have been on the road over the past five years, posting a 3-2 record in their season opener, including last year's 3-1 win over Savannah College of Art & Design.
CSU's other home opener came in 2004, a 3-2 loss to Appalachian State.
Charleston Southern in Season Openers
CSU is 9-12-1 in season openers historically, dating back to the advent of the program in the 1993 season. The Bucs have split their season openers over the past four seasons, falling at College of Charleston twice in 2011 (3-1) and 2013 (2-1), while winning at USC Upstate in 2012 (2-1) and Savannah College of Art and Design in 2014 (3-1).
The Bucs met Elon in the season opener for both programs back in the 1997 season at the Furman Invitational Kickoff hosted in Greenville, S.C. CSU proved victorious in the match, topping the Phoenix 2-1 in the contest.
Overall, against CAA opponents in season openers, the Bucs are 1-3 overall with their lone win coming against Elon in 1997.
Buccaneers in the Big South
Charleston Southern was selected 10th overall in the Big South preseason poll by the Conference Head Coaches. The Bucs return 15 players from last year's team, but only four starters return to the pitch for CSU led by leading goal scorer Anna Sells.
Defending champion Liberty was picked first overall in the poll. High Point, Coastal Carolina, Radford and Campbell complete the top five in the poll. The Bucs will host Radford (Sept. 30), Presbyterian (Oct. 3), Winthrop (Oct. 14), Longwood (Oct. 17) and Gardner-Webb (Oct. 24) at the CSU Soccer Field this season.
