Behrend Women's Soccer Opens Season With HLM Tournament

ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend women's soccer team will host the annual Herb Lauffer Memorial Soccer Tournament this weekend at the soccer complex on Saturday and Sunday, August 31 – September 1 in conjunction with the men's soccer team.

Weekend Schedule/Live Coverage:

Saturday
August 31: Behrend vs. Franciscan, 5 p.m. (Video | Live Stats)
August 31: Fredonia vs. John Carroll, 7:30 p.m. (Video | Live Stats)

Sunday
September 1: Franciscan vs. Fredonia, 5 p.m.  (Video | Live Stats)
September 1: Behrend vs. John Carroll, 7:30 p.m. (Video | Live Stats)

Behrend News & Notes:

* The Lions were voted to finish first in the annual AMCC Coaches Preseason Poll
* Behrend won its 16^th AMCC Championship last year, winning 3-0 in penalty kicks against Pitt-Greensburg
* Behrend had a 12-game stretch without a loss heading into the NCAA Tournament, falling 2-1 to No. 6 Rochester
* The Lions finished the 2023 season with a 13-5-2 overall record
* Senior Nicole Croushore (Smithton, PA/Yough) was selected AMCC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
* Croushore was an All-AMCC First Team selection last season, leading the defense that allowed two goals for a 0.22 goals-against average while helping Behrend post seven shutouts in conference play 
* Other returning All-Conference players include junior goalkeeper Riley Morningstar (North Huntingdon, PA/Norwin), senior forward Trinity Prestash (Phillipsburg, PA/West Branch), senior defender Audra Kuzma (Center, PA/Central Valley), sophomore forward Rachel Sickeri (DuBois, PA/DuBois), junior forward Lizzie Hoff (Moon, PA/Moon Area) and sophomore midfielder Marlene Andrade (Walnut Creek, CA/Clayton Valley Charter)
* Head coach Patrick O'Driscoll begins his 19^th year with the Lions, while assistant coach Kodie Johnson enters her second season on the sidelines
* Behrend and Franciscan are meeting for the 16^th time in program history. The Lions are 15-1 all-time against the Barons, posting a 4-1 win in the HLM Tournament back in 2022
* John Carroll and the Lions will face off for the ninth time since the all-time series began in 1997
* Behrend and the Blue Streaks have split the last two meetings

Meet the Opposition:

* Fredonia opens the season against John Carroll on Saturday night at Behrend
* The Blue Devils return 21 letterwinners and welcome three new faces to the 2024 roster
* Fredonia finished last season with a 6-8-2 overall record 

* The Barons tallied an 8-8-2 record a year ago
* Franciscan fell in the PAC Championship game to Grove City 4-2 last season
* The Yellow Jackets return 15 letterwinners and have 11 newcomers on the roster

* John Carroll was the 2023 OAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions
* The Blue Streaks finished 16-2-5, advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals
* John Carroll fell to No. 5 Messiah, 1-0, in the Elite 8