Thursday, August 22
Denton
7 p.m.
University of North Texas
vs
Northwestern State
Photo by: JC Ridley/jcridley.com
Mean Green Host Season Opener On Thursday
8/21/2019 2:18:00 AM | Women's Soccer
DENTON — The back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back Conference USA champion North Texas soccer team begins its 25th season on Thursday at 7 p.m. with a home match against Northwestern State.
The game will be aired on CUSA.tv.
Along with it being the program's 25th season, the Mean Green, who haven't lost a home match in nearly two calendar years, open their doors on Thursday to their new soccer facility and stadium. In its previous 11 years while they played at the Mean Green Soccer Complex, UNT posted a 97-15-8 record at home.
North Texas enters its 25th season as 15-time conference champions and coming off a year where they were ranked in the top 25 and C-USA Regular Season and Tournament champions.
"We know we have a target on our back," said UNT head coach John Hedlund who has been the program's only coach. "This is a very deep league. But we know we have talent and experience."
North Texas has never lost to Northwestern State in four previous meetings. Thursday will be the first time since 2007 the two have met. UNT is 48-2-0 all-time versus the Southland Conference. They beat Houston Baptist and Southeastern Louisiana last year by a combined score of 6-0.
GIVE AWAY
North Texas cooling scarves and hand fans will be given away on Thursday and at Sunday's game versus Texas Southern.
NEW HOME
The Mean Green have always been a dominate team in Denton no matter if it was at the Mean Green Soccer Complex or Peterbilt Fields. They currently are on a NCAA Soccer record 49 consecutive home conference match unbeaten streak and haven't lost a home conference match since Oct. 31, 2008.
They're currently on a seven match home winning streak. The program record is 17.
They are 15-0-3 in their last 18 home matches. The longest UNT has ever gone without a home loss is 24 straight from 1999-02.
SEASON OPENER
The Mean Green haven't lost a season opener since 2005.
TOP 25
UNT received one vote in the United Soccer Coaches Poll Preseason Top 25.
MAC HERMANN TROPHY WATCH LIST
Senior Dominique James was named to the 2019 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, which is awarded to the nation's top player at the end of the year. James was just one of 13 defenders on the 61-woman watch list and she is the first in the program's history to ever be named to the watch list.
BERKLEE PETERS
North Texas' offense with likely feature new faces this year after Aaliyah Nolan and Taylor Torres graduated last year. Junior forward Berklee Peters finished third in scoring last year with six goals and is the program's leading returning goal scorer. She is also UNT's active leading goal scorer with 11 career goals.
NEW CENTERBACK
The key to the Mean Green dynasty has been their defense. In 2018 North Texas allowed just 13 goals all year, the second fewest they've allowed in a single season in program history.
For the previous two seasons Dominique James and Carissa Sanders started every match together for the Mean Green in the center of their backline — 43 consecutive matches. Sanders graduated this past May. James, a 2018 all-American will now line up with a new defensive partner.
15 NEWCOMERS
The Mean Green added 15 newcomers to their 2019 roster — 11 freshmen and four transfers. It's Hedlund's largest incoming class since its initial class in 1995.
North Texas will likely feature a couple newcomers in its lineup when they take the field on Thursday.
ALL-CONFERENCE RETURNERS
Senior defender Dominique James, goalkeeper Kelsey Brann and forward Berklee Peters are the Mean Green's returning all-conference honorees. Senior Madeline Guderian was not a psotseason all-conference honoree but was named to the C-USA All-Tournament Team last year.
The game will be aired on CUSA.tv.
Along with it being the program's 25th season, the Mean Green, who haven't lost a home match in nearly two calendar years, open their doors on Thursday to their new soccer facility and stadium. In its previous 11 years while they played at the Mean Green Soccer Complex, UNT posted a 97-15-8 record at home.
North Texas enters its 25th season as 15-time conference champions and coming off a year where they were ranked in the top 25 and C-USA Regular Season and Tournament champions.
"We know we have a target on our back," said UNT head coach John Hedlund who has been the program's only coach. "This is a very deep league. But we know we have talent and experience."
North Texas has never lost to Northwestern State in four previous meetings. Thursday will be the first time since 2007 the two have met. UNT is 48-2-0 all-time versus the Southland Conference. They beat Houston Baptist and Southeastern Louisiana last year by a combined score of 6-0.
GIVE AWAY
North Texas cooling scarves and hand fans will be given away on Thursday and at Sunday's game versus Texas Southern.
NEW HOME
The Mean Green have always been a dominate team in Denton no matter if it was at the Mean Green Soccer Complex or Peterbilt Fields. They currently are on a NCAA Soccer record 49 consecutive home conference match unbeaten streak and haven't lost a home conference match since Oct. 31, 2008.
They're currently on a seven match home winning streak. The program record is 17.
They are 15-0-3 in their last 18 home matches. The longest UNT has ever gone without a home loss is 24 straight from 1999-02.
SEASON OPENER
The Mean Green haven't lost a season opener since 2005.
TOP 25
UNT received one vote in the United Soccer Coaches Poll Preseason Top 25.
MAC HERMANN TROPHY WATCH LIST
Senior Dominique James was named to the 2019 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, which is awarded to the nation's top player at the end of the year. James was just one of 13 defenders on the 61-woman watch list and she is the first in the program's history to ever be named to the watch list.
BERKLEE PETERS
North Texas' offense with likely feature new faces this year after Aaliyah Nolan and Taylor Torres graduated last year. Junior forward Berklee Peters finished third in scoring last year with six goals and is the program's leading returning goal scorer. She is also UNT's active leading goal scorer with 11 career goals.
NEW CENTERBACK
The key to the Mean Green dynasty has been their defense. In 2018 North Texas allowed just 13 goals all year, the second fewest they've allowed in a single season in program history.
For the previous two seasons Dominique James and Carissa Sanders started every match together for the Mean Green in the center of their backline — 43 consecutive matches. Sanders graduated this past May. James, a 2018 all-American will now line up with a new defensive partner.
15 NEWCOMERS
The Mean Green added 15 newcomers to their 2019 roster — 11 freshmen and four transfers. It's Hedlund's largest incoming class since its initial class in 1995.
North Texas will likely feature a couple newcomers in its lineup when they take the field on Thursday.
ALL-CONFERENCE RETURNERS
Senior defender Dominique James, goalkeeper Kelsey Brann and forward Berklee Peters are the Mean Green's returning all-conference honorees. Senior Madeline Guderian was not a psotseason all-conference honoree but was named to the C-USA All-Tournament Team last year.
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Defense
/ Women's Soccer
Defense
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Defense
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
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