ST. LOUIS – The University of Missouri-St. Louis women's soccer team opens its 2023 season this weekend hosting Northwest Missouri State on Friday evening and Washburn on Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. Both games will be played at Don Dallas Field.
UMSL is coming off a 6-7-5 season a year ago and its second straight appearance in the GLVC Tournament semifinals. The Tritons return 13 players from that team including third team All-GLVC selection
Candice Parziani. Parziani is the team's top returning scorer with three goals and four assists for a total of 10 points a season ago.
Mary Kate Neal recorded 20 saves in eight matches played last season.
UMSL went 1-1-1 in its preseason drawing at Southeast Missouri State 1-1.
Jaycee Cotton scored for the Tritons in that contest. UMSL then lost to Columbia College 2-0 and defeated Washington University in St. Louis 1-0 with a goal from Parziani in its final tuneup.
The Tritons have 14 new faces on this year's roster with 11 freshmen and three transfers.
UMSL was picked to finish eighth this season in the GLVC Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Tritons begin the season with four straight home contests.
Scouting the Competition
Northwest Missouri State enters the 2023 season coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2021 and 2022. In the last two seasons, the Bearcats have posted an overall record of 26-12-4. Northwest has posted a mark of 16-5-1 in MIAA matches over the past two years.
The Bearcats were tabbed to finish third behind Central Missouri and Emporia State in the 2023 MIAA preseason poll. Northwest returns Lily Ellis in goal who was the MIAA Goalkeeper of the Year and was a First Team All-MIAA, First Team United Soccer Coaches and First Team D2CCA All-Central selection. She was tied for third in the nation, and second in the region with 13 shutouts. Ellis tied the Bearcat single season record for goalkeeper wins with 11.
Washburn begins the 2023 season against Drury on Friday evening at 5 p.m. at the Lou Fusz Soccer Complex in Maryland Heights. The Ichabods went 11-6-2 in 2022 and finished sixth in the MIAA. Washburn returns 19 players from last seasons roster while adding two transfers and seven freshmen.
Khloe Shuckman, a First Team All-MIAA selection in 2022, led the Bods with 19 points on eight goals and three assists while logging 1,429 minutes. Fifth-year senior Raegan Wells returns in goal. She earned All-MIAA honorable mention honors last season as she started all 19 games and played every minute in goal recording 68 saves with a 77.3 save percentage.
Series History
UMSL and Northwest Missouri will meet for the second time in program history on Friday evening. The Bearcats won last year's contest 3-1 in Maryville, Mo.
The Tritons and Ichabods meet for the second time in three years on Sunday afternoon. The Bods defeated UMSL 2-1 on Sep. 9, 2021 at Don Dallas Field.
