Quick Kicks

• The Loyola University Maryland women's soccer team is 1-1-2 in its first four games of the 2012 season and is unbeaten in its last two games.
• The Greyhounds return nine starters from last year's squad, including 2011 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, Nichole Schiro.

Scouting the Blue Hens

• Delaware is coming off a 1-0 win over Siena on Sept. 2, the team's first victory of the season.
• Head coach Scott Grzenda enters his 23rd season at the helm of the Blue Hens and is the only coach in Delaware women's soccer history.
• The team returned 16 letterwinners from a squad that went 10-7-4 in 2011 and advanced to the CAA semifinals for the first time since 2005.

Scouting the Eagles

• The Eagles are 1-4-1 to start the 2012 season and are coming off a loss to Virginia Tech in their last match.
• The Eagles returned eight starters and 22 letterwinners from last year's team, including All-Patriot League performers Michelle Montilioand Jasmine Mohandesi.
• The Eagles host Virginia Commonwealth on Friday before battling the Greyhounds Sunday afternoon.

Series with Delaware

• This is the seventh meeting between the Greyhounds and the Blue Hens, which each team recording three wins apiece.
• It is the first meeting in the series since Sept. 30, 1998 when Loyola defeated Delaware, 1-0.

Series with American

• The Eagles and Greyhounds will meet for the 10th time on Sunday, with Loyola holiding a 5-2-2 advantage in the all-time series.
• Loyola won the last meeting between the schools, 1-0, at Ridley Athletic Complex on Sept. 21, 2011.
• Katelyn McFadden scored the goal for Loyola, while Didi Haracic had the shutout in goal.

Last Time Out

• Nichole Schiro scored a goal in the 87th minute of play to help the Greyhounds earn a 1-1 tie against local rival Towson on Friday, Aug. 31 at Ridley Athletic Complex.
• Schiro tipped home her 39th career goal off assists from Brittany Yancey and Tessa McClenahan.

Patriot League Bound

• On Wednesday, Aug. 29, Loyola University Maryland announced that it had accepted an invitation to become the 10th member of the Patriot League beginning in the 2013-14 academic year for all sports.
• Loyola will join American, Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh, Navy, Army and fellow recent addition Boston University.

Career Firsts

• Loyola saw contributions from many different players while playing three games in five days, with three Greyhounds notching career firsts.
• Jessica Van Dyke scored her first career goal at Oakland, while Rosy Hayes and Julia Hajjar had their first career assists.

Road Warriors

• Loyola's, 2-1, win at Oakland on Sunday, Aug. 26, was the team's first road non-conference win since Sept. 18, 2009, when the Greyhounds beat American, 2-0.

Scoring Early

• Four of Loyola's five goals this season have come in the first half.
• Schiro's goal in the 87th minute vs. Towson was the team's first second-half goal this year.

Scintillating Schiro

• With two goals in the first give games, Nichole Schiro has added on to her program record with 39 career goals.
• Schiro also has 89 career points, just tying her with Carolyn Kennington for first all-time.
• She ranked second in the MAAC overall with 13 goals and first in league play with nine in 2011.

'Hounds Picked Third, Three Greyhounds Earn Preseason Honors

• The Greyhounds were picked to finish third in the MAAC Preseason Coaches poll, coming in just behind Marist and Fairfield.
• In addition, three Greyhounds were named to the Preseason All-MAAC team including senior forward Nichole Schiro, senior defender Kelsey Rene and junior goalkeeper Didi Haracic.
• Schiro also was named MAAC Preseason Player of the Year after earning 2011 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year accolades last season.

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

• Sophomore keeper Didi Haracic started 2012 right where she finished in 2011.
• Haracic has 26 saves through the first four games, including a career-high 12 at Michigan State.
• She recorded 96 saves in 2011, the fifth-most in a single season in Loyola history.

Stars Returning

• Loyola returns six players of last year's team who earned All-MAAC honors in 2011, highlighted by reigning MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, Nichole Schiro.
• Schiro was joined by senior defender Kelsey Rene on the All-MAAC First Team, while Gigi Mangione, Didi Haracic and Jenny Thornton earned Second Team honors.
• Kelly Santangelo was named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team.

Home Cookin'

• Since the opening of the Ridley Athletic Complex last season, the Greyhounds have posted a 14-4-3 overall record in their new home, including a 7-4 mark in 2011.

In The Coaches Box

• Katherine Remy Vettori enters her fifth season as the head coach of the Greyhounds with a 43-33-12 career record. Vettori, who led Loyola to the MAAC regular-season and tournament titles in 2009, was named Anaconda Sports MAAC Coach of the Year in 2009.
• Vettori has led Loyola to three MAAC Championship appearances in four seasons, going 4-2 in those games.
• Vettori is assisted by first-year assistant coach Lincoln Phillips along with Emily Janss and Dave Nesbitt.