GAME DAY INFORMATION DATE: October 6, 2019 | 3 p.m. LOCATION: Vonnie Gros Field | West Chester, Pa. GAME DAY LINKS LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | HISTORY (n/a)

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WEST HAVEN, Conn. – New Haven field hockey will hit the road this Sunday afternoon for a matchup at the nation's No. 2 ranked team, West Chester.

INSIDE THE SERIES
Sunday's matinee will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools in field hockey, and thus the first time head coach Kelsi Lykens will face her alma mater.

SCOUTING THE CHARGERS (4-6, 4-3 NE10)
The Chargers will be playing a ranked opponent for the third time this season, previously facing then-No. 9 Adelphi and then-No. 4 Saint Anselm. New Haven pulled out a 1-0 victory in its last game on Wednesday at Southern Connecticut State behind the first career goal for freshman Anna Racine (Whiteford, Md./North Hartford). The Chargers have not lost a game this year in which they have scored, winning four games in NE10 play, and suffering six shutout losses thus far in 2019.

In their third season as a varsity program, the Chargers have already taken significant strides forward. After jumping out to their best start in NE10 play in program history, the Chargers have also set a new program record for goals in a game with their 4-2 win over Molloy on Sept. 18. The team's most recent win over Southern Connecticut was also the first shutout win in program history.

Junior goaltender Natalie Shaker (Newtown, Conn./Newtown) tied a career-high with 22 saves on Sept. 25 at No. 9 Adelphi, ranking her third in the NE10 this season in saves with 79.

Sophomore Julia Battino (Haddonfield, N.J./Haddonfield Memorial) scored her third goal of the season on Sept. 21 at American International, moving into the team lead in that category. Sophomore Alexis Rider (Delran, N.J./Delran) registered a two-goal night against Molloy. Sophomore Taylor Geaglone (Enfield, Conn./Enfield) boasts a team-leading two assists, while freshman Zharria John (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) has the team's other assist.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN RAMS (7-0, 2-0 PSAC)
After allowing one goal in each of the first three games, West Chester has pitched four straight shutouts to rise up to No. 2 in the country in the latest NFHCA Top 10 Poll. The Chargers and Golden Rams have no common opponents thus far, with West Chester's only NE10 game coming in their 3-1 season-opening win over Stonehill.

WCU is averaging 4.0 goals per game over their current shutout streak and are scoring 3.86 goals per game overall this season. Defensively, they are limiting opponents to 0.43 goals per contest.

Cat Roncoroni and Caitlin Kelly lead the way for WCU with six goals apiece through the first seven games. Caitie McNamara adds five goals and two assists and Katie Thompson has totaled for goals and a team-leading six assists.

ON DECK
Next up, New Haven will return home to race another nationally ranked foe, No. 8 Assumption on Wednesday at 1 p.m.