SPORTS

DAVIDSON, N.C. — Carrying a three-game win streak, the Davidson women’s soccer looks to keep the momentum going with the start of a four-game homestand starting this week with games against VMI and a conference opener vs. Saint Joseph’s at Alumni Stadium

The Matchup …
Davidson (5-3, 0-0 A-10) closes out non-conference play Thursday night at 7 p.m. against VMI (1-6) before starting Atlantic 10 play Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. by hosting Saint Joseph’s (3-4-1).

Coach Denton’s Thoughts on the Upcoming Game …
“Looking forward to another great week for the players. This week is great to have two home games and in the same week we are ending with our non-conference games and then starting with our A-10 competition.”

“On Thursday we play VMI, who will be another tough test to close out our non-conference schedule. It is great to be back at Alumni stadium and Thursday’s game will be the start of four games at home for us. We have to start strong and make the most of our home games.”

“Sunday, we open up against a very tough St Joe’s team. Over the last four or five season, St Joseph’s has finished in the top-four of the A-10 conference standings and I’m sure they will be looking to be there again this year. It is going to be a tough test, but all the games in the A-10 are going to be tough. The players will be excited and ready for the challenges ahead as we get things started in the A-10.”

Scouting the Wildcats …
•Davidson is coming off shutout wins of 3-0 and 2-0 last week on the road at UNCG and UNC Asheville.
•Cameron France and Michele Manceaux tallied a pair of goals last week in the wins. France had the game-winners in each game.
•Michele Manceaux paces the team with three goals and six points on the season to give her 10 goals and 21 points for her career.
•France is tied with Sabine Chandler and Sophia Caruso with five points on two goals and an assist for each player.
•Chandler was named the A-10 Player of the Week, Aug. 26 after a five-point week.
•The Wildcats’ three-game winning streak is its longest since a three-game streak in the early goings of the 2016 season.
•Davidson as a team has 13 goals and 13 assists through the first six games.
•Michele Manceaux (18) and Cameron France (14) are first and second, respectively, on the team in shots.
•Senior keeper Sarah L’Hommedieu has started all eight games this year, and is 5-3 with four shutouts and 29 saves.
•L’Hommedieu had a combined eight saves last week in the shutout wins vs. UNCG and UNCA.
•The senior keeper earned her first A-10 weekly award by getting defender of the week, Aug. 26.
•Head coach Adam Denton enters his third year at the helm of the program.
•26 letterwinners return from last season, including seven starters.
•10 newcomers join the team this year.
•This year’s captains are seniors Manceaux and Alexis Pheng along with junior Gretchen Pearson.

Scouting the Keydets …
•VMI has just one win on the season, a 4-0 decision at Delaware State.
•Its latest decision was a 1-0 setback at Howard last Sunday.
•Kiley Cooper has a goal and an assist to lead the team with three points.
•The Keydets went 7-9-2 overall last year with an 0-8-1 Big South mark.
•Head coach Chris Haught-Thompson is in his first season after running the Knox College program the past two seasons.

Scouting the Hawks …
•Saint Joseph’s is on its bye week and off until taking on the Wildcats Sunday.
•It recently faced Lehigh on the road last Sunday and dropped a 2-0 decision.
•Gabrielle Vagnozzi has team bests of two goals and four points.
•SJU has scored just six goals on the season, while allowing nine.
•Last year saw the Hawks go 14-5-2 overall and 8-2 in A-10 play.
•They were picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll.
•Vagnozzi, Dakota Mills and Mackenzie Ehresman were all voted onto the All-Preseason A-10 Team.
•Head coach Jess Mannella is in her 19th season at the helm.

Atlantic 10 Openers …
Davidson is 1-4 in league openers since joining the A-10 in 2014. Last year the Wildcats hung tough in their opener at home against La Salle, going to double-overtime before falling 1-0. Their first year in the league in 2014 saw the ‘Cats defeat St. Bonaventure on the road by the count of 2-0.

The All-Time Series/Last Meetings …
Davidson and VMI will be facing each other for the first time Thursday night.

The series vs. the Hawks is just two games old and both teams have not faced each other since 2016. Saint Joseph’s has a 2-0 advantage, including earning a 4-0 decision over the Wildcats back in 2016.

Next on the Schedule …
The Wildcats continue on with their four-game homestand, hosting Duquesne and St. Bonaventure, Sept. 26 & 29.