Women's Soccer Returns Home for Valley Opener against UIC

Sunday, September 17

Carbondale, IL

1 PM

Southern Illinois University

UIC

Photo by: Sam Bischel

09/16/2023 | 2:00:00 | Women's Soccer

Live Stats

By: Dominic Hoscher, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - For the first time in three weeks, the Southern Illinois University women's soccer team (1-3-3) is heading back home for its Missouri Valley Conference opener against UIC on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Details
Who: University of Illinois at Chicago (1-4-2)
Time: 1 p.m.
Date: Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023
Where: Lew Hartzog Track & Field Complex
Live Stats: Here

Quick Hits

The Salukis enter conference play with an overall record of 1-3-3. At home, SIU is 1-1-1 so far this season.
Southern Illinois last competed on Thursday, Sept. 7, at North Alabama, where it fell, 2-1, to the Lions. McKensey Bunch scored the team's lone goal in the loss.
Some of SIU's notable results from non-conference action include a 2-1 season-opening victory against Jackson State on Aug. 17, and a 1-1 draw at SIUE on Aug. 31. SIUE is the reigning Ohio Valley Conference champions from a season ago.
In 2022, the Salukis had their strongest season yet in the MVC, going 5-2-3 against Valley opposition and hosting the program's first-ever playoff match in late-October.
Bunch is the team's top scorer so far on the year with three goals. DuCharme is second with two, to go along with one assist.
DuCharme now has six goals and five assists in her Saluki career. The graduate student is third all-time in goals at SIU, trailing only Liz Brechtel (10) and Emma Spotak (nine). DuCharme's five assists are the most in program history.
Dana Cruz has also found the back-of-the-net for SIU this season, scoring in the team's 1-1 draw at Lindenwood on Sept. 3. Freshman Ava Pugliese has one of Southern's two assists, along with DuCharme.
Goalkeeper Chantelle Symes has started five matches for Southern Illinois. In those five starts, Symes has made 24 saves, allowed seven goals, and posted a save-percentage of .774.
Defenders Riley Maulick and Kylie McDermott have played all 630 minutes so far this season for the Salukis.

Head Coach Graeme Orr

Graeme Orr is in his first season as head coach of the women's soccer program. Assistant coaches Carley Kandel and Ash Phillips are also in their first year with the Salukis, while Jake Edwards returns for his second season as a graduate assistant on the coaching staff.
Orr comes to SIU after spending the previous 12 seasons as the head coach at Division II West Alabama. He was announced as the Salukis' head coach on May 30, 2023.
The Eaglesham, Scotland native, was the first head coach in West Alabama women's soccer history, starting the program in 2011. During his 12 years with the program, Orr posted an overall record of 115-78-19 and conference record of 79-44-9.
UWA recorded 10-consecutive and had 11-straight postseason appearances under Orr.
Orr was previously an assistant coach at North Alabama before arriving at West Alabama.

Looking at UIC

The Flames hold a record of 1-4-2 so far in 2023.
In its last match, UIC fell to Maine, 2-1, at home on Sunday, Sept. 10. Bella Baker scored the team's only goal in the defeat.
UIC's lone win on the season so far came against Marquette on Aug. 31, when the Flames earned a 3-0 victory.
As a team, the Flames have scored seven goals while also allowing eight.
Baker's two goals lead the team, while Makenna Maloy has scored once and tallied a team-high three assists.
Goalkeeper Sara Sanabria has made six starts for UIC, posting 21 saves and allowing five goals in those appearances.
The Flames are led by head coach David Nikolic, who is in his third season.

Series History

Southern Illinois is 0-1 against UIC all-time, with the one meeting coming on Oct. 23, 2022, in Chicago last season.
The final score from the lone meeting was 1-0, with Megan Bowman scoring the winning-goal for the Flames.

Follow the Salukis
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_Soccer, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiSoccer and on Instagram at @SIU_Soccer. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.