CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern kicks off its 29th season of women's soccer Sunday afternoon when it welcomes Georgia Southern to the CSU Soccer Field for a 1 p.m. matinee match.
 
Match Details
Sunday, August 29
Charleston Southern vs. Georgia Southern
1 p.m. * Charleston, S.C. * CSU Soccer Field * Live Stats * Watch
 
Previewing the Season
The Bucs will play their first traditional fall season under head coach Jose Gomez after shifting to a spring season during the 2020-21 year due to COVID-19. Charleston Southern went 2-6-1 in Gomez' maiden campaign.
 
Charleston Southern was picked eighth in the 2021 Big South Preseason Poll, earning 46 points. The eighth-place preseason mark matches the Bucs' position in last year's preseason poll.
 
The Bucs return 21 letterwinners and eight of their 11 starters from last year's team, including 100 percent of CSU's scoring (both goals and assists) from the 2020-21 team.
 
Charleston Southern was originally scheduled to begin its season on August 19 at Coastal Carolina. That match was postponed due to COVID protocols and the schools will look to reschedule that match. CSU will be the last Big South team to open its season when it kicks off Sunday afternoon
 
Returning Leaders
Bri Robinson returns to CSU for her junior season after leading the team in both goals (two) and points (four) during the 2020-21 season. Lauren McDonald and Emma Ryan are the other returning goalscorers from last year's team, while Kayla Reese is also back after leading the Bucs with a pair of assists last season.
 
Jenna Moran is back for the Bucs after playing every minute between the sticks last season and recording 33 saves with a 1.15 goals against average.
 
What to Watch For
Thursday's match marks the first meeting between Charleston Southern and Georgia Southern since the 2013 season.
 
The Bucs will begin the season at home for the first time since 2015 when their season opener against Elon was abandoned due to weather concerns. CSU was originally supposed to open the season on the road, but its season opener at Coastal Carolina was postponed.
 
Charleston Southern was 2-2-0 last season when out-shooting its opponents, compared to a 1-4-1 mark when opponents had the advantage in shots.
 
CSU allowed just 11 goals in nine games last season. The 11 goals allowed ranked fourth in the Big South, while the Bucs' 1.22 opponent scoring average ranked fifth in the conference.
 
Scouting Georgia Southern
Georgia Southern has already played three matches this season under first-year head coach Chris Adams and enters the weekend with a 1-1-1 record. The Eagles took all three points in their last contest with a 3-0 win over Jacksonville and also began their season with a draw at the College of Charleston.
 
Four different Eagles have found the back of the net for the Eagles, led by Vala Kristin Theodorsdottir with two. Karin Winka leads Georgia Southern with a pair of assists, while Michaela English has started all three games in goal for the Eagles and has a 0.93 goals against average.
 
Sunday's match begins a three-match road swing for the Eagles, who will take on The Citadel Tuesday afternoon before heading west to play Jacksonville State next weekend.
 
Georgia Southern was picked to finish ninth out of 11 teams in the Sun Belt Conference this season, earning 31 points in the league's preseason poll. Marcela Montoya was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.
 
Series Breakdown
This will be the 18th meeting between the Buccaneers and Chanticleers in a series that dates back to 1993.
 
Overall, Georgia Southern has a slight 8-7-2 advantage in the series, though each of the last two matches have ended in a draw. Charleston Southern is 3-1-2 in its last five matches against the Eagles.
 
Coming Up on the Schedule
Charleston Southern has a 10-day break before its first home match of the season against Georgia Southern on August 29.
 
Next Five Matches

• September 2 vs. Stetson
• September 10 at North Florida
• September 12 at Jacksonville
• September 18 vs. USC Upstate
• September 25 at High Point

 
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