Women's Soccer Begins Lone Star Action

Wednesday, September 14 • San Antonio • Sigma Beta Chi Field
St. Edward's (4-1-1, 0-0) at St. Mary's (6-0, 0-0) •5 p.m

Saturday, September 17 • Wichita Falls, Texas • Stang Park
St. Mary's at Midwestern State (2-2) • 3 p.m.

Best Start Ever: The 6-0 start to the season is the best start in school history and has earned the Rattlers respect in the USCAA National Poll, as they are receiving votes for the first time since 2001. 

Starting League Action: The Rattlers are 2-1 in Lone Star Conference openers, winning each of the last two seasons. In 2020, StMU won 2-0 against Texas A&M International and last year they posted a 2-1 victory over Angelo State. 

Nation's Leaders: St. Mary's ranks in the top five in the nation in total goals (3rd, 21), total assists (3rd, 18), total points (3rd, 60) and assists per game (4th, 3.00). Individually, senior Megan Copeland is tied for nation's lead in penalty kicks with one, while senior Juni Ejere is seventh in both total goals (7) and total points (16).

Series History: The Rattlers trail St. Edward's in the all-time series 22-38-6 after last year's 1-0 overtime loss. St. Mary's is looking to snap a six-match losing skid against the Hilltoppers. Midwestern State has the slight edge, 7-5-2 in the series. Each of the last two meetings have resulted in 1-0 overtime scores, as the Rattlers won in the spring and the Mustangs returned the favor in the fall.

3-for-3: Senior Juni Ejere was named the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week each of the first two weeks of the season, while fellow senior Megan Copeland earned Defensive Player of the Week honors this week. 

It's Been A Minute: St. Mary's has shut out the last three opponents and has not allowed a goal in 342 minutes. Sophomore goalkeepers Rebecca Difronzo (11) and Melida Garza (1) have combined to make 12 saves on the season, including six on the road swing to Colorado -- all by Difronzo. The team has surrendered only two goals in six games, and the 0.33 goals against average is good for second in the Lone Star Conference and 11th in the nation (251 teams).

Goals-a-Plenty: St. Mary's has scored 21 times in the first six games of the season with nine different players finding the back of the net. Senior Juni Ejere leads the team with seven, while Megan Copeland and Eliza Merrion both have three and Barbara Smith and Sydney Varela each has a pair. Copeland also leads the way with four assists, while Merrion has three.

Balanced Attack: St. Mary's has scored 11 of its goals in the first half and 10 in the second half this season, while both goals they've allowed have been in the first stanza. 

Defense Stands Strong: In addition to only surrendering two goals all year, the defense is allowing only 5.2 shots per game and they've held opponents to just four corner kicks. The Rattlers have frustrated the opponents to the tune of nine yellow cards being called, while StMU has not been carded in 2022.