PREVIEW: Women's Soccer Visits SCSU on Friday to Start 2025
Purple Knights begin 17-game slate against familiar CT foe.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – With a 17-day preseason at its conclusion, the University of Bridgeport's women's soccer team is set to play its 2025 opener at Southern Connecticut State on Friday afternoon. UB gears up for a 17-game schedule this fall that includes nine contests at Knights Field.
SCOUTING THE OWLS
This year's UB-SCSU matchup will mark the 12th straight season that the two squads have met in women's soccer. The Purple Knights have fared extremely well during this span, holding a 9-1-1 edge over the last 11 matchups. Last season, it was a scoreless draw between the two squads in a game played at Queens College.
MORE NON-CONFERENCE DETAILS
The opener against SCSU will be the first of five contests against NE10 squads for UB.
Bridgeport will make visits to No. 20 SNHU (Sept. 9) and Assumption (Sept. 13) prior to conference play beginning while home games against No. 6 Franklin Pierce (Sept. 30) and Saint Anselm (Oct. 29) will come later in the year.
The Purple Knights will also play a non-league game versus Molloy at home on Oct. 8.
UB'S 2025 CACC SCHEDULE
The Purple Knights' conference and home opener will take place on Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. against Lincoln University. UB earned a 2-0 win over the Lions last year in Pennsylvania.
Following Lincoln, the Purple Knights will play 10 more CACC games. UB's league slate features home matchups against Georgian Court (Sept. 20), No. 11 Jefferson (Oct.4), Post (Oct. 22), Holy Family (Oct. 25) and Dominican (Nov. 4).
WHAT HAPPENED IN 2024?
The Purple Knights posted a 7-9-3 record a year ago, including a 6-5 mark in the CACC (5th in the standings). UB's season closed with a 2-1 overtime loss at fourth-seeded Georgian Court in the CACC quarterfinals.
Bridgeport's 2024 season was filled with tight decisions as the Purple Knights went 1-7 in games decided by one goal. UB also played a trio of scoreless draws—all against non-conference foes.
The Purple Knights finished last season ranked fifth in the CACC in goals-against average (1.26).
WHO'S BACK?
A total of 16 members from last year's squad are back for UB in 2025. Bridgeport's leading returner in terms of goals is sophomore Luiza Macedo who knocked four in during her freshman season. Chloe Oudin and Lily Rodriguez are also back after recording two goals and two assists apiece in 2024. Macedo was named the CACC's Rookie of the Week after tallying two goals and an assist in her first two starts of the year.
Junior goalkeeper Angelina Griva also returns for the Purple and White. The native of Greece ranked fourth in the CACC in goals-against average (1.29) last season while starting 17 games and playing more than 1,400 minutes.
WHO'S NEW?
Bridgeport's roster will be a split one in terms of experience as 16 newcomers have come to UB this fall. The latest crop of Purple Knights come from eight different countries and five different U.S. states. They also consist of 11 freshmen, four juniors and one graduate student.
WHAT ARE THEY SAYING? (QUOTES)
Tania Armellino – Head Coach, 4th Season
"We have a great core group returning this year that has given everything to developing our program culture. With a wonderfully talented incoming class of both transfers and freshmen, we feel that we have the right mix to compete at a top level within the conference and in the region."
Frantzy Noze – Assistant Coach, 4th Season
"I am truly excited for this upcoming season. Going into my fourth season with the program, we've worked hard to build a positive culture, and we feel we have a tremendous core group returning to lead the way."
Elizabeth Pitts – Senior Captain
"As a senior captain, I am confident that our team has the talent, determination and teamwork to make this season our best yet. We have worked hard during the offseason to cultivate a culture that fosters a winning mindset, and our new freshmen and transfer players are already elevating our style of play. Building on past years' successes, we are committed to working even harder to create our own legacy this season and push ourselves to new heights."
FOLLOW ALONG
For all information regarding Bridgeport Athletics, visit www.UBKnights.com and follow UB Athletics on Facebook (UBPurpleKnights), X (@UBPurpleKnights) and Instagram (@UBPurpleKnights).