Clarion Classic includes opening festivities
Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136
CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Soccer
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The Clarion Hotel Soccer Classic marks the start of the home men’s and women’s soccer season this weekend, and it will not be marked without fanfare.
In addition to the dedication of Phase II of University Stadium, a t-shirt giveway and a contest to win a portable music player will be held.
On the field, the Blue Devil women will meet St. Lawrence at 5 p.m. Friday and Penn State Behrend at 7 p.m. Saturday. The men will play the 7 p.m. game Friday against St. Joseph’s College, and will square off against Penn State Behrend at 5 p.m. Saturday.
All Fredonia State games will be played on the grass field, as will two other games at 2:30 p.m. each day – Penn State Behrend vs. Buffalo State men on Friday, and Rochester vs. St. Lawrence women on Saturday.
Two games will be played in the artificial-grass field, 3 p.m. each day – the Behrend and Rochester women on Friday, and the St. Joseph’s and Buffalo State men on Saturday.
The Blue Devil women enter the weekend with a 3-1 record, their most recent victory Tuesday at St. John Fisher, 3-1. Senior forward Lauren Heilweil (Binghamton/Chenango Forks) continued to move up three all-time career school lists. She had one goal and one assist vs. Fisher to increase her career totals to 27 goals, 11 assists, and 65 points. She is No. 2 in program history in points and goals, behind Jessica Weiser (30 goals, 74 points) on both lists. Heilweil is also tied for seventh in career assists.
Meanwhile, the Blue Devil men are still looking for their first goal this season, yet are coming off an encouraging performance last Saturday night. Playing before a mostly partisan crowd of 1,900 at Grantham, Pa., the Blue Devils battled No. 1 ranked and defending national champ Messiah before dropping a 3-0 decision.
The first 500 students with Fredonia State IDs will receive a commemorative t-shirt prior to entering University Stadium for the Friday night doubleheader (shirt distribution to begin at 6:15 p.m.). Each student will also be eligible to enter a mini-soccer ball toss – similar to the chuck-a-puck at home hockey games – which will be held at halftime of the men’s game. The thrower of the ball closest to an on-field target will win an iPod Shuffle.