Aug. 19, 2010

ATHENS, Ohio - With its 2010 season right around the corner, Ohio soccer will play host to Northern Kentucky in exhibition action Friday at 4 p.m. at Chessa Field before officially getting the season under way Sunday at 1p.m. at Pittsburgh.

Ohio enjoyed a successful exhibition debut this past weekend, rallying back from a late first-half deficit to top Xavier 2-1 on the road Sunday. Junior Kelsey Pichel (Rochester Hills, Mich.) scored both goals for the `Cats, including a laser to the far post on a direct kick for the winning score early in the second half. Sophomore Paige Howard (Mentor, Ohio) picked up an assist, while the Green and White defense dominated the Musketeers in the second frame.

The `Cats will play their first three games of the slate on the road before returning to Chessa Field Sept. 8 to play host to Marshall in their home opener. Head coach Stacy Strauss, entering her 11th season at the helm of the program, returns 18 letterwinners this season. Included in that group are 12 players that saw significant time as starters on last season's squad that finished 9-8-2 overall and 6-3-2 in Mid-American Conference play.

NKU is the reigning Great Lakes Valley Conference champions and finished with a 19-2-1 mark a season ago. The Norse was ranked No. 9 in the NCAA Division II preseason rankings. Head coach Bob Sheehan is in his 13th year at the helm of the program and returns 21 letterwinners from last year.

Pittsburgh returns 19 letterwinners and nine starters off last season's team that finished 8-5-5 overall and sixth in the American Division of the Big EAST. Sophomore forward Ashley Cuba is the Panthers' leading returning scorer, having tallied team highs of seven goals and four assists last year. Senior midfielder Liz Carroll was an All-Big EAST and Northeast Region selection last year for Sue-Moy Chin, who is entering her ninth season as head coach at Pitt.

Recaps of Ohio's weekend will be available at OhioBobcats.com.