ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend women's soccer team will open the 2021 season by welcoming Allegheny on Wednesday for a non-conference matchup. Game time is 7 p.m.
Coverage:
Behrend News & Notes:
* Head Coach Patrick O'Driscoll begins his 16th year with the Lions
* O'Driscoll enters the season with a 197-93-18 record and needs three wins to reach 200 for his career
* The Lions were picked to finish first in the AMCC in the annual preseason coaches' poll
* Senior defender Ava Michael (State College, PA/State College) was named the AMCC Preseason Defender of the Year
* In addition to Michael, Behrend returns three All-Conference performers in senior forward Brenna McGuire (McDonald, PA/South Fayette), senior goalkeeper Madi Jones (Clearfield, PA/Clearfield) and junior midfielder Bella Sestito (Jefferson Hills, PA/Thomas Jefferson)
* The Lions are seeking their 15th overall AMCC Championship this season, last winning the title in 2018
* Behrend finished 2019 with a 10-8-2 overall record and a bid to the ECAC Tournament
Allegheny News & Notes:
* In 2019, Allegheny finished the season with a 6-6-4 overall record and a 3-5 NCAC mark
* The Gators will be guided by first-year head coach Lacey Phillips
* Phillips spent the last two seasons assistant coaching at Division I Loyola
* The 2021 roster features 25 players reaching 11 different states. Allegheny has six seniors, seven juniors, six sophomores and six freshmen
* Senior Emily Orr returns after ranking second on the team with five goals in 2019
* The Gators announced this is their last season in the North Coast Athletic Conference and next year they will re-enter the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC)
Series History:
* The Lions are behind the Gators 3-12-3 in the series record that dates back to 1994
* Last time they met, Behrend tied Allegheny 1-1 on the road on Sept. 24, 2019
* The Lions last victory was in 2000 by a 1-0 decision
