MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (September 12, 2023) -- The St. Thomas University (STU) Women's Soccer Team opens Sun Conference play this week with matchups against Webber International University and Warner University. The Bobcats are looking to keep their undefeated streak alive as they enter conference play with a 3-0 record.

After a big win against #9 Embry-Riddle (Ariz.), the Bobcats are on a hot streak, receiving 59 votes in the September 6th NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll. STU is going to bring this fire to their match against Webber International who finished the 2022 season with an overall record of 8-4-3 and a conference record of 2-3-3. In their last meeting in 2022, the Bobcats took the match against the Warriors 4-0 at home. This season they meet again at AutoNation Field on Wednesday, September 13 at 7 p.m. The Bobcats will then hit the road to face the Warriors on Saturday, October 14th at 7 p.m. in Babson Park, Fla.

On Saturday, STU will face Warner on the road in Lake Wales, Fla. The Bobcats defeated the Royals on the road in the 2022 season, 4-1. Warner is currently undefeated as they enter conference play. The match will take place on Saturday, September 16th at 7 p.m. at Warner. The Bobcats will host a second meeting against the Royals on Saturday, October 21st.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

· Forward Gabrielle Cimino is leading the Bobcats with two goals in three games, scoring in each of the road matches in Arizona. Cimino has been keeping the heat as conference play arrives, recording four shots on goal against Florida National University.

· Leading the team with two assists is Forward Miranda Ferradaz who recorded both in the season opener against Benedictine (Mesa). Ferradaz is also second in shots this season with nine.

· The Bobcats' Defense has been solid in the last three matches, only letting two goals in and an average of 8.7 shots per game compared to the Offense's average of 19 shots per game.

A LOOK AHEAD

Next week, St. Thomas will face #11 Southeastern University on the road. The Fire took 11th in the September 6th NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Top 25, finishing last season with an overall record of 14-4-2. Southeastern is 0-2 entering Sun Conference play, with their first conference match against Ave Maria this Wednesday. The Bobcats will go up against Southeastern on Wednesday, September 20th in Lakeland, Fla. at 7 p.m.

Following Southeastern, the STU Women's Soccer Team will face Florida Memorial University on Saturday, September 23rd at AutoNation Field at 7 p.m for the Battle of Miami Gardens. The Lions are having their best start in a decade, currently with a record of 2-0-2. The Bobcats will head down the road to Dr. Lester Brown Park to play FMU again on Saturday, October 7th at 11 a.m.

The Bobcats will match up against #14 SCAD-Savannah on Thursday, September 28th at AutoNation Field at 7 p.m. Under Head Coach Rebecca Gunn, SCAD took 14th in last week's NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 and will enter Sun Conference Play with a record of 4-0. Gunn was named Sun Conference Coach of the Year last season after leading the Bees to a strong season with a conference record of 5-2-1 and an undefeated streak of 9-0 at home. STU will travel to Georgia on Saturday, October 18th for a 7 p.m. game against the Bees.

At the end of September, the STU Women's Soccer Team will match up against the #5 Keiser University Seahawks. After a Sun Conference Championship and a successful NAIA Tournament run, Keiser ranked fifth in the NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Top 25. The Seahawks finished the 2022 season with an overall record of 22-1-1 and will enter 2023 conference play with an overall record of 2-1-1. The Bobcats will face Keiser on the road in West Palm Beach, Fla. on Saturday, September 30th at 11 a.m. They will meet again at AutoNation Field to close out the regular season on Saturday, October 28th at 6 p.m.

In the first week of October, the Bobcats will match up against Ave Maria University who are currently unbeaten in non-conference play. STU will face the Gyrenes on Wednesday, October 4th at 7 p.m. at AutoNation Field and again on Wednesday, October 25th at 7 p.m. on the road in Ave Maria, Fla.

-STU-