Bucs to open 2021 season at Coastal Carolina - Charleston Southern University

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern women's soccer plays its first match of the 2021 regular season Thursday night when it heads north to take on former Big South foe Coastal Carolina in a 7 p.m. clash. Thursday's match will now take place at the CCU Intramural Field, rather than the CCU Soccer Stadium.

Match Details
Thursday, August 19
Charleston Southern at Coastal Carolina
7 p.m. * Conway, S.C. * CCU Intramural Field * Live Stats

Previewing the Season
The Bucs will play their first traditional fall season under head coach Jose Gomez after shifting to a spring season during the 2020-21 year due to COVID-19. Charleston Southern went 2-6-1 in Gomez' maiden campaign.

Charleston Southern was picked eighth in the 2021 Big South Preseason Poll, earning 46 points. The eighth-place preseason mark matches the Bucs' position in last year's preseason poll.

The Bucs return 21 letterwinners and eight of their 11 starters from last year's team, including 100 percent of CSU's scoring (both goals and assists) from the 2020-21 team.

Returning Leaders
Bri Robinson returns to CSU for her junior season after leading the team in both goals (two) and points (four) during the 2020-21 season. Lauren McDonald and Emma Ryan are the other returning goalscorers from last year's team, while Kayla Reese is also back after leading the Bucs with a pair of assists last season.

Jenna Moran is back for the Bucs after playing every minute between the sticks last season and recording 33 saves with a 1.15 goals against average.

What to Watch For
Thursday's match marks the first meeting between Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina since the 2017 season.

Thursday's match also marks the sixth consecutive season that the Bucs have opened up on the road. The last time Charleston Southern opened its season at home was in 2015, in a match against Elon that was abandoned after the first half due to lightning. Before that, CSU's last time opening a season at home was in 2009.

Charleston Southern was 2-2-0 last season when out-shooting its opponents, compared to a 1-4-1 mark when opponents had the advantage in shots.

CSU allowed just 11 goals in nine games last season. The 11 goals allowed ranked fourth in the Big South, while the Bucs' 1.22 opponent scoring average ranked fifth in the conference.

Scouting Coastal Carolina
Coastal Carolina enters the 2021 season on the heels of a 7-8 record in 2020-21, including a 6-4 mark in Sun Belt Conference play. The Chanticleers finished third in the Sun Belt East Division and reached the quarterfinals of the 2020 Sun Belt Women's Soccer Championship.

The Chanticleers were picked fourth in the 2021 Sun Belt Preseason Poll, earning 81 points. CCU returns seven starters, its top two players in terms of points scored and its top eight players in terms of minutes played.

Series Breakdown
This will be the 21st meeting between the Buccaneers and Chanticleers in a series that dates back to 2000. Most of those meetings took place while Coastal Carolina was still a member of the Big South,

Overall, the series between Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina is deadlocked at 8-8-4. Coastal Carolina has a 6-3-1 advantage in games played in Conway and has won each of the last five matches in the all-time series.

Coming Up on the Schedule
Charleston Southern doesn't play again until August 29, when the Bucs welcome Georgia Southern to the CSU Soccer Field for their home opener.

Next Five Matches

August 29 vs. Georgia Southern
September 2 vs. Stetson
September 10 at North Florida
September 12 at Jacksonville
September 18 vs. USC Upstate

Follow the Bucs on Social Media
For more information and news, stay up-to-date with Buccaneer Women's Soccer via Twitter, Instagram and CSUSports.com.

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Players Mentioned

Lauren McDonald

Jenna Moran

Kayla Reese

Bri Robinson

Emma Ryan

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