SETTING THE SCENE
UMSL opens its 34th season of intercollegiate play by hosting NAIA member Waldorf College on Friday at 5 p.m. The Tritons then continue a four-game homestand which opens the season on Sunday, hosting crosstown rival Lindenwood. The Tritons are opening the season at home for the first time since 2012 and have back-to-back home games to start the season for the first time since 2007.
 
SERIES HISTORY
UMSL and Waldorf have never met, while the Tritons are looking to make it two straight against the Lions after defeating Lindenwood 2-0 last season in St. Charles. This is the fourth straight year that UMSL and Lindenwood will square off in the opening weekend.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Waldorf enters the game 1-2, with its victory coming over Mount Mercy. The Warriors, who will stay in St. Louis to play at Maryville on Saturday, are led by Brittany Thornton, who has scored one goal in each of Waldorf's games this season.
 
Lindenwood will open its season tonight (Thursday), hosting Maryville. The Lions are coming off an 8-10-1 record last season and return their top three point scorers in Kat Roe (16 points – 7 goals, 2 assists), Danielle Torry (12 points – 5 goals, 2 assists) and Kirsten Crabtree (nine points – 3 goals, 3 assists).
 
NEW ERA OF UMSL WOMEN'S SOCCER
Friday's game will mark the debut of first-year head coach Wendy Dillinger. She previously spent six years at Iowa State and was the head coach at Washington University in St. Louis for six seasons.
 
SIZING UP THE TRITONS
UMSL returns 12 letterwinners from last season and welcomes 10 newcomers. The roster features just three seniors, including veterans Brooke Barczewski and Mary Kopsky and newcomer Ericka Bogolin. Juniors Hunter Wagoner and Sidney Allen each scored a team-best 10 points last season. Wagoner paced the squad with four goals, while Allen recorded a team-best six assists.
 
UP NEXT
UMSL opens Great Lakes Valley Conference play next Friday, hosting Bellarmine. The Tritons then close out their four-game season-opening homestand next Sunday, hosting McKendree.