Denver had Isabella Chidiac’s sumptuous assist to thank for the game-winning goal in their win over Air Force, and the senior will look to add to her season stats once again this week as the Pioneers head to Missoula, Montana to play Baylor and Seattle. Baylor were picked to finish mid-pack in the Big 12, and drew against SEC side Texas A&M in their season opener. The Bears should provide Denver a sterner test than they faced in the opening week, as the first of five power conference teams that the Pioneers will face in non-conference play this season. Ironically, the Pioneers will also face Texas A&M this week, so their performance in this game will also provide a barometer for next week. Seattle are perhaps not as well-credentialed as Baylor, or indeed Denver themselves, but the newest member of the West Coast Conference will be eager to make an impact in their first season since making the jump from the WAC. They also feature preseason all-conference team member Caroline Penner, who finished with six shots in an hour of play in the Redhawks’ season-opening win over Eastern Washington. Following her outstanding opening weekend, fully expect to see Isabella Chidiac once again controlling things in midfield for Denver, and hopefully combining with the forward line or maybe even finding the back of the net herself.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch, Canisius goalkeeper Chloe Tseros will be hoping that she can lead the Golden Griffins to a result against Syracuse, and last week’s results give an indication that they might just be able to. Conference mates Niagara, based just 20 miles from Canisius, knocked off the Orange in Syracuse last week, and Canisius are considered by those around the MAAC to be a superior team. Tseros came up with nine saves in Canisius’ loss to Buffalo last week, proving herself between the sticks despite the result. Hopefully, the Sydneysider won’t be called upon quite as often this week, but the Golden Griffins know they have an extra layer of defence should the shots begin to rain down.
Potentially one of the most intriguing players to watch in 2025 commences her season this week as Erin Gordon and Harvard take on Massachusetts in their season opener. Gordon burst onto the scene last year, slotting straight into the Crimson’s backline and establishing herself as one of the first names on the team sheet. Following the loss of some established stars, including Canadian national team member Jade Rose, Gordon already shapes to be one of the leaders of a Harvard side looking to return to its usual lofty heights after slipping back slightly in 2024. It won’t be an easy start as they take on in-state rival UMass, who opened the season with a 1-0 win over St. John’s despite the notable handicap of no longer having Hannah Peric on the roster. The Minutewomen are looking to get off to a good start before they commence their first campaign in the Mid-American Conference following their move from the Atlantic 10, which combined with the in-state rivalry, should make for an intense matchup.
Meanwhile, there are a few Aussie v Aussie matchups this weekend. Viktorija Calusic will be hoping to make her debut for Charleston as the Cougars take on Montana-Rose Currey and High Point, with both teams looking to pick up a first win of 2025 after finding themselves in tough matchups last week. Currey started one of the Panthers’ two games last week and saw plenty of playing time in each game, and already looks to have made an inspired choice of school following her stint in junior college.
Further north, Wilma Thodhlana will lead Saint Peter’s into battle on Monday as they head across the state line and across the NYC Metro Area to face Izzy Stein and Long Island. Each of these teams managed a draw last week, but neither was able to secure a win. Saint Peter’s will also have an opportunity earlier in the weekend against Temple, but for Stein and LIU, this will be their only game of the weekend.
Speaking of New Jersey-based teams, both Rider and Seton Hall feature two Aussies, and hopefully we see an increase in playing time for all four as the two sides face off on Monday. Neither CJ Harris nor Eloise Jones featured for Rider last week, with Harris seeking a debut this week after missing out in the loss to Wagner. For the Pirates, Sarah Mitchell came off the bench to play 11 minutes in a 3-1 win over another New Jersey school in Monmouth, but hopefully we can see both Sarah and twin sister Grace on the pitch together again, if not in this one, very soon.
Full Schedule
Bellarmine (1-0) (Teagan Douglas)
This week: @ Asbury – 9:00am, Sunday 24 August
Cal State Bakersfield (0-2) (Georgia Martell)
This week: @ Weber St. – 11:00am, Friday 22 August; @ Idaho St. – 5:00am, Monday 25 August
Canisius (0-1) (Chloe Tseros)
This week: @ Syracuse – 5:00am, Friday 22 August; v Colorado Col. – 2:00am, Monday 25 August
Central Michigan (0-2) (Alyssa Di Campli)
This week: @ Wisconsin – 8:00am, Friday 22 August
Charleston (0-1) (Viktorija Calusic)
This week: @ High Point – 3:00am, Monday 25 August
Charleston Southern (0-1-1) (Eve Tiktikakis)
This week: @ Furman – 4:00am, Monday 25 August
Chicago State (1-1-1) (Jacquelline Kambere)
This week: @ UIC – 7:00am, Monday 25 August
Cleveland State (1-1) (Sophie Abbott)
This week: @ Bowling Green – 6:00am, Friday 22 August
Dartmouth (0-0) (Kate Ryan)
This week: v Merrimack – 7:00am, Saturday 23 August
Denver (1-0-1) (Isabella Chidiac)
This week: v Baylor – 7:00am, Friday 22 August; v Seattle U – 2:30am, Monday 25 August
Detroit Mercy (1-1) (Chantelle Symes)
This week: @ Louisville – 9:30am, Friday 22 August; @ Kentucky – 3:00am, Monday 25 August
East Carolina (0-1-1) (Jenny Hill)
This week: @ Richmond – 7:00am, Friday 22 August; @ VCU – 3:00am, Monday 25 August
Fresno State (0-0-1) (Shivani Battaglia)
This week: v Cal Poly – 12:00pm, Friday 22 August
Gardner-Webb (0-1-1) (Sarah Birchall)
This week: @ Elon – 9:00am, Monday 25 August
George Mason (0-0-1) (Libby Davy)
This week: v Delaware – 7:00am, Friday 22 August; v James Madison – 9:00am, Monday 25 August
George Washington (Jasmine Black)
This week: No games.
Hampton (0-1) (Morgan Stanton)
This week: @ Grambling – 8:30am, Monday 25 August
Harvard (0-0) (Erin Gordon)
This week: @ Massachusetts – 3:00am, Monday 25 August
High Point (0-2) (Montana-Rose Currey)
This week: v Col. of Charleston – 3:00am, Monday 25 August
Hofstra (2-0) (Lilly Bailey)
This week: @ Columbia – 4:00am, Saturday 23 August; @ Yale – 6:00am, Monday 25 August
Incarnate Word (1-1) (Montanna Mathews)
This week: @ Rice – 9:00am, Friday 22 August
Jacksonville State (1-0-1) (Lara Aitken)
This week: @ Mississippi St. – 9:30am, Friday 22 August; v UNC Asheville – 4:00am, Monday 25 August
Little Rock (Claudia Hewitt, Candice Kilderry, Serenity Thake)
This week: No games.
Long Island (0-0-1) (Izzy Stein)
This week: v Saint Peter’s – 2:00am, Monday 25 August
Loyola Maryland (1-0-1) (Eva McGorian, Ava Blizzard)
This week: @ William & Mary – 9:00am, Friday 22 August; v Princeton – 8:00am, Monday 25 August
Maine (0-1) (Grace Wilson)
This week: v Boston U. – 2:00am, Monday 25 August
Providence (1-0) (Meg Roden)
This week: @ Northeastern – 8:00am, Monday 25 August
Purdue (2-0) (Margaux Chauvet)
This week: v DePaul – 9:00am, Friday 22 August; v Butler – 3:00am, Monday 25 August
Quinnipiac (0-1) (Stella Tosoni)
This week: @ Stony Brook – 6:00am, Friday 22 August
Rider (0-1) (CJ Harris, Eloise Jones)
This week: @ Seton Hall – 7:00am, Monday 25 August
Saint Peter’s (0-1-1) (Wilma Thodhlana)
This week: v Temple – 6:00am, Friday 22 August; @ LIU – 2:00am, Monday 25 August
Seton Hall (1-0) (Grace Mitchell, Sarah Mitchell)
This week: v Iona – 7:00am, Friday 22 August; v Rider – 7:00am, Monday 25 August
Siena (1-1) (Iona Snape)
This week: v Holy Cross – 7:00am, Friday 22 August; v Bryant – 6:00am, Monday 25 August
Tarleton State (1-1) (Charlie Shanahan, Zoe Daly, Adelaide Wyrzynski, Phoebe Riley)
This week: v Northwestern St. – 10:00am, Friday 22 August; @ Texas Southern – 4:00am, Monday 25 August
UAB (0-1-1) (Abbey Burns)
This week: @ Ole Miss – 9:00am, Friday 22 August; v ULM – 10:00am, Monday 25 August
Youngstown State (0-2) (Aimee Benton)
This week: v St. Bonaventure – 3:00am, Monday 25 August
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