The USCB women's soccer team ends a long layoff following Hurricane Matthew when the Sand Sharks travel to North Miami, Fla., for a Sun Conference matchup with Johnson & Wales on Saturday. 

The Sand Sharks had put together a three-game winning streak before the storm put things on hold and rearranged their schedule, and they enter the weekend in fourth place in the Sun Conference standings. The contest will be the first for USCB since a 3-0 win over Florida Memorial on Oct. 2.

"This will be a challenging week for us after coming back from an unplanned break," USCB coach Ed Heberling said. "I know we are excited to play and need to get back to our rhythm to find success. I feel the team is prepared to bounce back after Matthew and pick up where we left off."

The Wildcats are in the same situation, having been out of action since a 3-0 loss to Southeastern on Oct. 1. Johnson & Wales has scored only two goals in three conference games but has allowed only five. The Wildcats have played three double-overtime games, including two in Sun Conference play. 

"JWU always plays us tough, and this year will be no different on their Senior Day," Heberling said. "We will need to possess and move the ball well and finish our chances as JWU will be very organized." 
 

FIN FACTS

• Junior F Hayley Pina is now USCB's career leader for points (50), goals (19) and assists (12). Pina leads the team in goals (7) and points (17) this season.

• USCB won its first two road games to start a season and is 4-2 away from home after winning at Ave Maria on Sept. 24, tying the school record for road wins in a season set in 2012 and matched in 2013.

• The Sand Sharks have outshot the opposition in 10 of their 12 games this season and have held a double-digit edge in eight of those matches. USCB has allowed five or fewer shots on goal six times and has permitted five or fewer total shots four times.

• Thirteen different players have scored goals and two more have registered assists for the Sand Sharks. Pina (7), freshman F Felicia Alpenmyr (3), freshman F Anna Gignilliat (3), sophomore MF Brittney Neser (2), senior F Taylor Superior (2) and senior MF Sam Satterlee (2) each have scored multiple goals. 

• USCB opened the season with back-to-back shutouts – the first consecutive clean sheets  since the Sand Sharks recorded consecutive 1-0 wins over St. Andrews and Southeastern in October 2013. The Sand Sharks have four shutouts on the season, their most since recording five in 2013.
 

RELATED LINKS

USCB Schedule and Results

USCB 2016 Statistics

Sun Conference Women's Soccer Standings

USCB Sand Sharks on Facebook

USCB Athletics on Twitter