Women's Soccer 8/21/2018 9:15:00 AM Campbellsville Athletics

Daniel Branley era begins tonight as Lady Tiger soccer kickoff 2018 campaign at Bryan College

DAYTON, Tenn. — A new era of Campbellsville women's soccer begins tonight, as recent Bryan College graduate, Daniel Branley, returns to his alma mater for his first game as a head coach.

Branley, who was hired in January 2018 to lead the CU's women's soccer program, takes his Campbellsville team to Bryan College on Tuesday night for the season opener set for 4:30 p.m. ET.

Live video and stats will be provided at the links above.

The Lady Tigers, who are 3-1 in the previous four season openers, finished with an 7-11-1 record last season and went 4-2-1 inside Mid-South Conference Play. Their road record is what hurt them, going 2-6-1 on the season.

CU returns many familiar faces but has added multiple newcomers that will make an immediate impact this season. Second Team All-MSC performer Rachel Blumfeldt finished with 11 goals last season to lead CU, while another All-MSC standout Lakin Walls finished the season with three scores, which was tied with sophomore Kiersten Clukey.

On the defensive side, the Lady Tigers will have a new face in goal, as former All-American Amanda Howard graduated after breaking multiple CU records. Who will the new goalkeeper be? Coach Branley has a trio of rookies to choose from – Katelyn Gentry, Sydney Pinkham, and Katelyn Young.

In addition, Jordan Stallings, a Second-Team All-MSC performer at centerback last season returns for her junior campaign.

Bryan College enters the season after a 12-7 record last year and being ousted of the NAIA Women's Soccer Opening Round by No. 1 Martin Methodist in overtime, 1-0.

Branley to kickoff a new era at CU:

Not only is Bryan College where he earned his degree from but it is also where he played collegiately and began his coaching career. While playing at Bryan he scored 35 career goals and accounted for 82 career total points.
Following his standout career as a player he started his coaching career, first with the men in 2015-2016 and he also coached the women in 2016 and 2017. In his two seasons as the men's assistant coach they went 29-8-5 and in his two seasons with the women they went 22-17-2 overall.

Mid-South Conference Preseason Poll:

The Campbellsville Lady Tiger Soccer program has been selected to finish fifth in the 2018 Mid-South Conference regular season standings as voted on by the leagues' coaches.
Cumberland University finished first in the voting as it received four of eight first-place votes and 46 points overall. Lindsey Wilson College was selected second as it received two first place votes and 42 total points, University of the Cumberlands also received two first place votes and finished with 36 total points to be selected third.
Georgetown College had 33 points for a fourth-place finish with the Lady Tigers coming in fifth with 26 points. Shawnee State University (18), Life University (16) and the University of Pikeville (7) round out the standings.
The Lady Tigers are coming off a season in which they tied for third in the final standings with a 4-2-1 mark in Mid-South play.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Amanda Howard: GK; 5' 9"; Senior; Harrodsburg, Ky.

#2 Rachel Blumfeldt: Fwd.; 5' 6"; Sophomore; North Ridgeville, Ohio

#6 Kiersten Clukey: Mid.; 5' 7"; Sophomore; Fort Thomas, Ky.

#4 Jordan Stallings: Def.; 5' 10"; Junior; Coxs Creek, Ky.

#8 Lakin Walls: Fwd.; 5' 4"; Junior; Bardstown, Ky.

#30 Katelyn Young: GK; 5' 6"; Sophomore; Medina, Ohio

#1 Sydney Pinkham: GK; 5' 8"; Freshman; Elizabethtown, Ky

#32 Katelyn Gentry: GK; 5' 5"; Freshman; Lexington, Ky.

Players Mentioned

#1 Amanda Howard
: 5' 9"; Senior; Harrodsburg, Ky.
: GK

#2 Rachel Blumfeldt
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; North Ridgeville, Ohio
: Fwd.

#6 Kiersten Clukey
: 5' 7"; Sophomore; Fort Thomas, Ky.
: Mid.

#4 Jordan Stallings
: 5' 10"; Junior; Coxs Creek, Ky.
: Def.

#8 Lakin Walls
: 5' 4"; Junior; Bardstown, Ky.
: Fwd.

#30 Katelyn Young
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; Medina, Ohio
: GK

#1 Sydney Pinkham
: 5' 8"; Freshman; Elizabethtown, Ky
: GK

#32 Katelyn Gentry
: 5' 5"; Freshman; Lexington, Ky.
: GK