The women's soccer team will head south this weekend looking to get back into the win column. After two losses last weekend to St. John's University and Fordham, the Lions will take on American University in Washington, D.C., before heading to Annapolis for a Sunday tilt with Navy.
Both teams will come into Friday's night match in similar positions. The Eagles opened the season with four consecutive wins, then dropped back-to-back 2-0 games to North Carolina State and Georgetown last week. American's last goal came three matches and 229 minutes ago in a 1-0 win over East Carolina.
On the other hand, Navy will be looking to continue an impressive hot streak. The Midshipmen opened the season with six consecutive wins and moved up to seventh place in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Mid-Atlantic Regional Poll. Navy didn't give up a goal until the 84th minute of its sixth match, a 5-1 rout of Butler University.
Defense will be a big key for the Lions this weekend, as it has been throughout the season. The Lions allowed just one goal in over five hours of play during their first three matches, winning two and drawing one. Since then, they have allowed three goals in 105 minutes, leading to two defeats. A return to strong defensive play will be especially important against Navy's offense, which has lit up opposing defenses for 18 goals in six matches.
The Lions will also need to produce more shot attempts than last weekend if they expect to win. After peppering Army with 19 shots last week, the Lions combined for just 13 shots in their past two contests and found the net only once.
This weekend's matches will be the Lions' final non-conference tune-up before Cornell visits Baker Field next Friday to open the Ivy League season.
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