Women's Soccer | 8/17/2016 1:36:00 PM
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Howard University women's soccer team kicks off the 2016 season on Friday, Aug. 19 when it hosts Cleveland State at 6 p.m. in Greene Stadium. The Bison will also take the field on Sunday, Aug. 21 against Radford at 2 p.m.
Howard enters its third season in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and is hoping to continue its dominance after taking home the conference trophy twice. After winning its second consecutive SWAC Championship last season with a 2-1 victory over Alabama State, the Bison made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament and faced No. 1 seed Virginia.
Under the guidance of head coach Brent Leiba, who is entering his eighth year at the helm, the team finished the 2015 season with a 13-8-2 overall mark.
In July, the SWAC released its preseason predictions, which had Howard tabbed to take home its third straight conference title. The Bison also swept the preseason awards and placed a total of eight players on the preseason teams.
Kela Gray was selected as the Offensive Player of the Year, while Kendall Hamilton was named Defensive Player of the Year. Mackenzie Diotte was chosen as Goalkeeper of the Year. Gray, Hamilton and Sara Vaughan were placed on the first team. Whitney White, Anna Mitchell, Zakiya Muhammad and Sandra Bond joined Diotte on the second team.
Cleveland State is coming off an 8-10-1 season in 2015. This will be the first meeting between the Vikings and Bison. Radford wrapped up last season with a 6-11-1 mark and owns a 12-2-1 advantage in the all-time series with Howard.
