Olivia Fuller, SID graphics intern
Fredonia State senior women's soccer pictured are, from left to right, Carissa Shanahan, Hannah Retzer. Haley Drinon, Makayla Stainbrook, Abby Szymkowiak, Gabby Irwin, Annie Gondek, Alyssa Sabato, and Jordan Niccola.
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Fredonia State women's soccer earned a SUNYAC Tournament home game each of the last two seasons. They will look to extend that streak this season via a new tournament format. With three new teams joining the conference, SUNYAC is breaking off into East and West divisions. Also new is an eight-team tournament format with a pre-quarterfinal round, and double byes for each of the top two seeds.
The build-up to the conference season consists of two scrimmages -- one at home and one on the road -- and eight non-conference games. The first of those is Sept. 4 at Nazareth to open the regular season. The home opener is set for Sept. 11 vs. Utica as part of the traditional Blue Devil Classic. The Blue Devils' other Classic foe is Alfred. RIT and John Carroll will also be visiting University Stadium in September.
Fredonia State's eight-game SUNYAC regular season begins with a home date Sept. 30 vs. Oswego. Other SUNYAC home opponents are Morrisville on Oct. 7, Oneonta on Oct. 10, and Buffalo State on Oct. 21. Conference road trips take the Blue Devils to Alfred State, Cortland, Delhi, and Cobleskill. It's the first time in the 24-year head coaching tenue of
Chris Case that the Blue Devils won't face every SUNYAC team during the regular season.
"We will get the opportunity," he said, "to play some newcomers to the conference in Alfred State, SUNY Delhi and SUNY Cobbleskill -- all schools I have yet to coach against. We will look forward to our battles with these new conference foes."
Case said adding strong non-conference opponents was a strategic move.
"We did add some tough non conference opponents that will help us navigate the conference portion," he said. "Adding Wooster, John Carroll, RIT and Houghton mixed with our other non-conference teams will make for a difficult schedule. I believe the team is up for the challenge as we navigate a schedule that has six teams from two different regions ranked in their respective regions top six, so we will have our work cut out for us."
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