BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell women's soccer has two chances to get back in the win column this week, heading to Charlotte to face the 49ers before returning home for a Sunday match against former Big South foe Gardner-Webb.
Campbell (1-2-3) looks to rebound after a draw and a loss last week versus Charleston Southern and Clemson, respectively. Charlotte (0-5-1) and Gardner-Webb (1-3-1) are fighting to start positive momentum before league play begins.
GAME INFORMATION at CHARLOTTE
When: Thursday, Sept. 5 | 7:00 p.m.
Where: Transamerica Field | Charlotte, N.C.
Watch Live: ESPN+
Live Stats
Series History: The Camels and 49ers are facing off for the fourth time in series history. Charlotte has won two of the previous three matchups, but Campbell was victorious in the most recent matchup in 2021, winning 2-0 at Eakes Athletics Complex.
Scouting the Opponent: Charlotte has yet to find itself in the win column, starting the year 0-5-1. They've lost their last two games, 1-0 against UNCG and 3-1 against NC State. Macey Bader has two of Charlotte's three goals, and she leads the team with 17 shots and seven shots on goal. Payton Patrick has recorded the only assist on the season. Emma Wakeman has been the only player in goal for the 49ers. She's conceded 12 goals while making 21 saves, all having faced 90 shots in the first six games of the year. Bader, Patrick and Wakeman were named to the preseason AAC Players to Watch List, and the team was picked by the coaches to finish fourth. Brandi Fontaine is in her third season as the 49ers' head coach. Prior to Charlotte, Fontaine spent 13 years at High Point University, with the last four serving as the head coach.
GAME INFORMATION vs GARDNER-WEBB
Senior Day
When: Sunday, Sept. 8 | 4:00 p.m.
Where: Eakes Athletics Complex | Buies Creek, N.C.
Watch Live: FloSports
Live Stats
Using this specific Campbell link, any Fighting Camels fan can sign up for a FloSports subscription with a discounted annual rate of $8.99 a month ($108 for the year). Campbell faculty, staff, and students with a campbell.edu email address can use the same link for a discounted annual rate of only $5.99 a month ($72 a year). The discounted a-la-carte monthly subscription rate is $9.99 for those with a campbell.edu address and $19.99 per month for non campbell.edu addresses.
Sunday's afternoon game marks Senior Day for the Camels. After the game, the team will recognize four seniors in the program: Kaleigh Backlund, Kendall Lincoln, Rieke Protze and Riley Terrill.
Series History: With this matchup, the Runnin' Bulldogs will become the most frequent opponent in Campbell women's soccer history. The 25 previous games are tied with Radford University for the most against a single opponent. Campbell has been victorious 14 times against their former Big South opponent, but the teams tied, 2-2, in the most recent matchup in 2022.
Scouting the Opponent: The Runnin' Bulldogs are owners of a 1-3-1 record. Their lone win was a 2-0 victory over Converse University on August 25, and they play Western Carolina before coming to Buies Creek on Sunday. GWU is coming off a 4-12-2 season in 2023, recording just one win over UNC Asheville in Big South play. Livi Tanzer leads the team with two of the five total goals this year. The defense has allowed 1.40 goals against per contest, totaling seven goals in the five games. Stephanie Liu has made 21 saves between the pipes. Erik Solberg is in his first season as head coach for the Runnin' Bulldogs. He spent the past four season as the head coach at the University of Arkansas Pine-Bluff. GWU was picked to finish in last place in the Big South preseason coaches' poll.
Last Time Out: The Camels suffered their first home loss of the season in their second-ever matchup against the Tigers, falling 3-1. Clemson scored two goals in the first half, an own goal by Campbell 33rd minute and a rifle from outside the box by Christian Brathwaite in the 40th minute. The Tigers joined Virginia Tech as the second team to score two goals in the first half against Campbell. The Camels scored on a set piece in the 51st minute. Meghan Bernetti sent the ball into the box on the free kick, and Abby Connolly applied the pressure to force an own goal. Clemson added an insurance goal in the 74th minute by way of Kendall Bodak.
Weekly CAA Recognition: Here are this week's CAA weekly award winners. Offensive Player of the Week: Liza Suydam, Monmouth: Defensive Player of the Week: Savannah Barron, Charleston; Co-Rookie of the Week: Malin Bernt Schöps, Towson; Co-Rookie of the Week: Peyton Costello, William & Mary.
Defensive Force: Goalkeeper Sierra Vance was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Week on August 26. She totaled eight saves in the win over NC State and the draw against ECU. Vance is the first Campbell player to be named conference defensive player of the week since 2022, and the first goalkeeper to win the award since 2019.
Historic Victory: On Thursday, August 22, Campbell defeated NC State for the first time in program history. Goals from Kaleigh Backlund and Alyssa Tucker propelled the Camels to a 2-1 victory that moved the all-time series record to 1-15-2. Backlund's goal in the 13th minute gave Campbell their first lead over the Wolfpack since 2004, and Tucker's conversion from the penalty spot in the 60th proved to be the difference-maker. Campbell's defense held strong, withstanding a 23-6 shot advantage by State, including 13 corner kicks. The win marks the first victory over one of the state's Big 4 schools (NC State, UNC, Duke, Wake Forest).
Returning Talent: Campbell's top point scorer from last season returns in Alyssa Tucker. Kaleigh Backlund also returns after scoring four goals. Defenders Meghan Bernetti and Riley Terrill bring consistency to the back line. The two led the Camels in total minutes for the 2023 campaign.
Newcomers in the Creek: Campbell welcomes 13 newcomers for the 2024 season. The group includes three transfers and 10 incoming freshmen.
Freshman Accolades: Plenty of freshman made their marks at the high school level during their senior seasons. Ava Kanaar led the entire country during the 2023-24 winter season with 70 goals, totaling 183 over her high school career. Gillian Garrison scored 67 goals as a senior, ninth most in the country for the spring 2024 season. Abby Connolly racked up 78 goals during the spring 2024 season, second most in the country. Tyler Baughan set a school record with 43 goals in her senior season and was named all-state for her junior and senior years. Caitlyn Boucher completed a 17-0 3A state championship season in Maryland as a team captain.
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