Women's Soccer 8/17/2021 2:00:00 PM

Spirit Open Season with Pair in Georgia

After having to push its 2020 season into the spring, the OUAZ women's soccer team will start its second season in a calendar year with a trip across the country. The Spirit will head to Georgia where they will face Georgia Gwinnett and Thomas University on Wednesday and Friday, respectively.

OUAZ won the GSAC East division, giving the program its first ever regular season conference championship. The 8-1-1 regular season also saw the program earn its first top-25 ranking in the NAIA polls. The team was scheduled to face Westmont in the GSAC Championship Game, but the game was ultimately canceled due to COVID-19 protocol.

The coaches in the conference feel highly that the Spirit will have similar success this season, as OUAZ was picked to finish third in the preseason poll. It is the highest preseason poll position in program history, with only (18)Westmont and (RV)The Master's ahead of the Spirit.

The Spirit are returning a large chunk of its roster from last season, including Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Year Saipress Jones. Jones tied for the team lead in goals with seven, and her efforts placed her on the NAIA All-American Honorable Mention list for the second consecutive season.
Haley Howard also had seven goals in her breakout season in the Spring of 2021. Howard tallied a pair of multi-goal games during conference play, and had three of the eight game-winning goals for OUAZ.

Cassidi Calzaretta is brining her offensive balance back to round out the Spirit attack. She contributed four goals and five assists in her second season in Surprise.
The midfield is returning two starters, and seeing a familiar face come back to the lineup. After taking last season off, senior Ki'I Aweau will be forming a very experienced midfield with Paige Murray-Hernandez and Emily Lynch. Aweau scored four goals and added seven assists during the 2019 season, a campaign that ended with a NCCAA National Championship Game appearance for OUAZ.

The back line is returning top starters as well, headed by senior Chandler Schioppi. Defensively, the Spirit held opponents to under a goal per game (0.90), and goalkeepers Cassidy Samuelson and Chloe Gutierrez finished in the top five of the GSAC in goals against average and save percentage.

The Spirit will start the season with a trip to Lawrenceville, Ga. to face Georgia Gwinnet Wednesday night (4pm AZ Time/7PM EST). The Grizzlies finished 8-6-1 last Spring, making its fourth consecutive appearance in the NAIA tournament thanks to a 8-3-1 stretch in the final 12 games.

Friday (9am AZ Time/Noon EST) will see OUAZ make its way toward the Florida-Georgia line to face off with Thomas University. The Nighthawks will make a return to the Sun Conference, as they played as an independent during the Spring 2021 season. Despite the one-year change in conference, the Nighthawks were able to get to the NAIA tournament for the first time since 2004, and were picked to finished fourth in the tough Sun Conference.

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Players Mentioned

#16 Cassidi Calzaretta: F; 5' 7"; Junior

#00 Chloe Gutierrez: GK; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#9 Haley Howard: F; 5' 1"; Junior

#28 Saipress Jones: F; 5' 8"; Junior

#6 Emily Lynch: MF; 5' 7"; Senior

#10 Paige Murray-Hernandez: MF; 5' 1"; Senior

#1 Cassidy Samuelson: GK; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#18 Chandler Schioppi: D; 5' 4"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#16 Cassidi Calzaretta
: 5' 7"; Junior
: F

#00 Chloe Gutierrez
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: GK

#9 Haley Howard
: 5' 1"; Junior
: F

#28 Saipress Jones
: 5' 8"; Junior
: F

#6 Emily Lynch
: 5' 7"; Senior
: MF

#10 Paige Murray-Hernandez
: 5' 1"; Senior
: MF

#1 Cassidy Samuelson
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: GK

#18 Chandler Schioppi
: 5' 4"; Senior
: D