Story Links
ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Golden Grizzlies Women’s Soccer Team prepares for their 2024 season opener as they head to Ypsilanti, Mich. to take on the Eastern Michigan University Eagles.
Oakland is 7-4-2 all-time against the Eagles, including a 1-0 victory in August of 2023. In the game Oakland’s Anuhea Aluli scored the match’s only goal in the fourth minute, as the Golden Grizzlies earned a near wire-to-wire win.
While the team is likely to be without Aluli in this game due to injury, they are still looking to start the season off on a positive note, as they very often do. Oakland has won four of their last five season openers, with the only loss coming in 2023 in a 1-2 game against Kent State.
As the team moves into their first season with a new system and coaching staff, the squad hopes to set the tone for what the future of the program wants to be, as well as release whatever pressure and questions may loom before the season. In an offseason full of change and new things, it will be a sigh of relief for the Golden Grizzlies to step onto the pitch and set all the questions aside and speak through their play.
In their exhibition against Valparaiso, Oakland’s only competition thus far in 2024, the Golden Grizzlies saw many bright flashes, including dynamic play from junior forward Frankie Mudd, strong defensive plays from transfer defender Mia Tuka, and some impressive saves from sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Perry, just to name a few key contributions. Senior Putri Sazali has also been named team captain, having shown great improvement and skill after her All-League Second Team nod in 2023.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Eastern Michigan hopes to start their season on a positive note after a rough 2023 where they only won a single game, going 1-12-6, including a 0-4-4 home record and finishing the season on a seven game losing streak.
The team does return their top two goal scorers from 2023 in sophomore forward Olivia Sipcock and senior Meagan Lukowski, who both scored five goals last season.
Catch this in-state matchup to kick off the season on Thursday, Aug. 15 at 4:30 p.m. at Scicluna Field.
Source link : https://goldengrizzlies.com/news/2024/8/14/womens-soccer-prepares-for-season-opener-against-eastern-michigan.aspx
Author :
Publish date : 2024-08-14 20:25:01
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
