Women’s Soccer Kicks Off 2014 Campaign at Flower City Classic Friday

The Eastern Nazarene women's soccer team travels to the Empire State to compete in the Flower City Classic hosted by the University of Rochester to open the fall season.

The Lions will battle Union (N.Y.) in the first match of the season August 29 before closing out the tournament against the host Yellowjackets August 30.

This weekend's contests will mark the first meeting in program history between Eastern Nazarene and its two opponents.

The Lions finished off last fall with an 11-8-1 overall record to go with a 4-4-1 mark in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. Eastern Nazarene reached the Commonwealth Coast Conference playoffs for the third straight season in 2013 while also earning the program's first-ever berth to the ECAC Tournament.

Eastern Nazarene returns four of its top five scorers from a year ago, including the top three point-getters. Hannah Scahill (Quaker Hill, Conn.) paced the squad with 14 goals and four assists to tally 32 points. Jules Speno (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) ranked second on the team with 31 points on 13 goals and five assists. Katherine Lawrence (Marlborough, Conn.) posted 25 points in her rookie season on nine scores and a team-best seven helpers.

The Lions also return goalkeeper Kristen Farley (Westminster, Mass.) who turned in an 8-7-0 record last fall with five shutouts and a goals-against average of 1.24.

Seniors Tina Corey (Canterbury, Conn.), Gabby Humphreys (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.), Lauren Kett (Norwich, England) and Maleesa Santos (Colonie, N.Y.) will all provide leadership to the squad's defensive unit.

Under eighth-year head coach Stephen Hamilton, Eastern Nazarene returned a total of 14 players this season while adding nine newcomers.

The Lions were recently picked to finish sixth in the Commonwealth Coast Conference preseason poll.