BUIES CREEK, N.C. – After opening the season with a decisive home win, Campbell will make its 2023 road debut at nearly East Carolina on Wednesday, February 22. The game is set for 3:00 p.m. at Johnson Stadium in Greenville, N.C.
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Campbell is 1-0 on the season following its
18-7 win over Stetson on February 11.
Sam Bischoff posted a career-high 10 points, collecting eight goals and two assists, one goal and one point away from CU single-game records (Loren Day, nine goals 4/2/16; Kayla Reilly, 11 points 4/28/18). The junior added eight draw controls, four ground balls and a caused turnover in the win, scoring her career high on just 15 shots.
Kyla Azzato added four points on three goals and an assist, with
Rasa Welsh registering three assists and
Joslin Hanbury collecting a goal and two helpers with three ground balls.
Ally Heath and
Olivia Ohlmann also scored twice for the Camels.
Shae Fitzgerald anchored the CU defense with three caused turnovers and four ground balls, adding six draw controls, while
Delaney Nicolaus picked up three ground balls with a goal and a caused turnover.
Emma Strickland, one of three goalies to see time in the win, tacked on six first half saves with two ground balls and a caused turnover.
After the win, Camels took
all three Big South player of the week awards. Bischoff was named offensive player of the week, while Fitzgerald took defensive and Nicolaus earned top freshman honors.
ECU is 2-1 on the year, coming off a 14-2 win over George Mason on Saturday. The Pirates also defeated Radford 15-5 to start the season, suffering their first loss of 2023 15-14 against Navy.
Frances Kimel leads the Pirates with 16 points on eight goals and eight assists, while Leah Bestany and Sophia Locicero added eight points apiece. Sydney Frank, meanwhile, tacks on nine ground balls with three caused turnovers.
Campbell is coming off its third double figure win season, all under 10th year head coach
Dawn Easley, setting a school record for Big South wins in a single year in 2022 with seven. CU also set another program with seven consecutive wins during the memorable 2022 campaign.
CU ranked among the nation's top-10 in caused turnovers (seventh, 11.29), ground balls (third, 20.94), shots per game (fifth, 34.94) and shots on goal per game (fourth, 26.53). CU also rated among the NCAA Division I leaders in draw controls per game (12th, 16.82), points per game (17th, 22.00), scoring offense (16th, 15.18) and assists per game (19th, 6.82).
Bischoff, a junior, and Taylor, a senior, were named preseason conference players of the year, while the Camels were picked third in the 2023 Big South preseason poll. Bischoff was named the 2023 Big South Conference Preseason Midfielder of the Year, while Taylor picked up Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Bischoff and Taylor were among four Camels to earn All-Big South honors in 2022, including senior defender
Chandler Stewart, who picked up an honorable mention nod.
The Camels return eight total starters and 26 letterwinners from last season.
The Camels and Pirates have met in each of the last five seasons, with ECU taking the last three matchups, including last year's 13-10 decision in Buies Creek.
Next up, Campbell will travel to future CAA foe William & Mary on Saturday, February 25. Following a trap to George Mason on March 1, the Camels will return home, hosting Old Dominion on March 4.
The Camels 2023 season will be their final as a Big South member before moving to the Colonial Athletic Association. Big South play kicks off on March 29 with the Camels hosting Radford.
