Coastal Carolina (0-0) vs. West Georgia (0-0)

Date: Friday, August 25

Time: 7 p.m.

Place: CCU Soccer Field, Conway, S.C.

Series: First Meeting

Live Stats: www.GoCCUSports.com

Coastal Carolina at George Mason (0-0)

Date: Sunday, August 27

Time: 2 p.m.

Place: George Mason Stadium, Fairfax, Va.

Series: First Meeting

Live Stats: www.GoCCUSports.com

The Coastal Carolina University women’s soccer team (0-0) opens the 2006 regular season and the Rohan Naraine era this weekend with two games. The Lady Chanticleers will host West Georgia (0-0) Friday, August 25 at 7 p.m. Coastal will then head to Fairfax, Va., to face George Mason (0-0) Sunday, August 27 at 2 p.m. Coastal is coming off a 2-1 win in an exhibition against Jacksonville this past Saturday.

SCOUTING WEST GEORGIA: The Wolves are coming off a 13-7-1 season in 2005 and return six starters to this year’s squad. West Georgia had three players named to the Preseason All-Gulf South Conference team, as Sam Malone, Alex Udin and Brittany Carr were selected by the League’s coaches. Carr had 10 goals last season, which was second on the team. The team was picked fourth in the GSC Preseason Poll and had three second-place votes.

SCOUTING GEORGE MASON: The Patriots ended 2005 with an 8-11 overall record and a 4-7 record in the Colonial Athletic Association. George Mason returns seven starters for this season, including Rachel Wiggins, who has seven goals in 2005. The Patriots were picked to finish seventh in the CAA Preseason Poll.

SERIES VS. OPPONENTS: Coastal has not faced either West Georgia or George Mason.

COASTAL IN SEASON OPENERS: Coastal Carolina is 2-3-1 in season openers dating back to the 2000 season. In last year’s first game, the Lady Chanticleers used a goal by Jill Karelitz (Columbia, S.C./Dutch Fork) in the 83rd minute to defeat Elon 1-0. Coastal also defeated South Carolina State 7-0 in the 2002 lidlifter.

KOVACS, BARRETT RETURN TO CCU: Former Coastal Carolina players Marisa Kovacs and Leah Barrett will return to the CCU Soccer Field Friday night as part of the West Georgia coaching staff. Kovacs is in her first season as head coach of the Wolves, while Barrett is an assistant on the UWG staff and also in her first season. Kovacs was the Big South Freshman of the Year in 2000 as well as the Soccer Buzz National Player of the Year for First Year Programs. She earned All-Big South First Team honors in 2000 and 2003 and currently is tied for second all time in matches played. Barrett was a two-time All-Big South member who is in the top-five all-time at Coastal in goals, assists and points.

DUO RETURNS HOME FOR GEORGE MASON GAME: Senior Jaclyn Stoll and sophomore Danielle DeSonia (Fairfax Station, Va./Hayfield Secondary) return to their hometown for the game against George Mason. Stoll helped Hayfield Secondary to regional play for the first time in 15 years her freshman season, while DeSonia helped the Hawks to an undefeated regular season her sophomore year.

HUMPHRIES SCORES FOR NEW ZEALAND IN UNDER-20 WORLD CUP: Junior Emma Humphries (Wellington, New Zealand/Samuel Marsden Collegiate (Cal State Fullerton)) currently is playing for New Zeland in the Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Russia. Humphries scored a goal Sunday in the Kiwi’s 3-2 loss to host Russia. New Zealand will wrap up action on August 23 against Brazil.

COASTAL PICKED SECOND IN BIG SOUTH PRESEASON POLL: The Coastal Carolina University women’s soccer team has been picked second in the Big South Conference’s annual preseason poll, the League office announced August 15.

The Lady Chanticleers earned 126 points, including two first-place votes, to trail only 2005 Big South Tournament champion Liberty in the poll. The Lady Flames earned 147 points and 11 first-place votes. The Lady Chants were followed by High Point (113 points), Charleston Southern (107 points, three first-place votes), UNC Asheville (101 points, two first-place votes), Radford (74 points), Birmingham-Southern (71 points), Winthrop (44 points) and VMI (27 points).

MONROE NAMED BIG SOUTH PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Sophomore Blair Monroe (Little River, S.C./North Myrtle Beach) has been chosen the Big South Preseason Player of the Year, the conference office announced August 15.

Monroe, last season’s Big South Freshman of the Year, garnered five first-place votes and 13 points, defeating Charleston Southern’s Emma Mattsson by three points. Monroe led the Lady Chants and tied for the Big South lead with 17 goals in 2005, breaking Coastal’s single-season goals record. She tied for 11th in the country in goals per game and was named to the All-Big South First Team and All-Tournament Team. The sophomore was a two-time Big South Player of the Week and had seven goals in seven Big South matches.

WEILER SCORES GAME-WINNER IN EXHIBITION ACTION: Senior Laura Weiler (Lexington, Ky./Lexington Catholic), who played in her first match since Sept. 6 of 2005, scored the game-winner in Coastal’s 2-1 win over Jacksonville Aug. 19. She took a pass from sophomore Emily McColl (Wellington, New Zealand/Hutt Valley) at midfield and beat JU keeper Michelle Kmiotek in the upper left corner.

NEW LOOK CCU: Coastal Carolina will have 17 newcomers on this year’s squad, 12 of whom are freshman. In the 2-1 exhibition win over Jacksonville Aug. 19, nine newcomers played while junior Ashleigh Gunning (Baton Rouge, La./Magnet (LSU)) and freshman Maegen Hellberg (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) earned a start against the Dolphins. Gunning scored Coastal’s first goal against JU on a pass from fellow newcomer Amanda Gelsomino (Johnston, R.I./Johnston (University of New England)).

UP NEXT: Coastal hosts the College of Charleston Thursday, Aug. 31, at 6 p.m., before taking part in the Big South/Southern Challenge in Charleston, S.C. Coastal faces Appalachian State Saturday, Sept. 2, and Wofford Sept. 4 with both starts at 1 p.m.