BLOOMSBURG (0-0-0) at SALEM (0-0-0)
Friday, September 6, 2019 - 4:00 p.m.
Catalano Stadium - Salem, W. Va.
 

STORYLINE
The Bloomsburg University men's soccer team begins the 2019 campaign on Friday afternoon against Salem University in Salem, West Virginia. The Huskies finished last season with a mark of 8-9-1. The eight victories marked a three-win improvement from the year prior and were the most wins in a season since going 14-5 overall during the 2015 campaign. It also proved to be the most wins under a first-year head coach - Danny Wheelan - in program history.

NEW LOOK
With the addition of Shepherd to the PSAC, the sport of men's soccer will be split into an Eastern and Western Division for the first time since 2009. The east will consist of seven teams while the west has six. The top three of each division will earn a spot in the PSAC postseason.

ALL-TIME SERIES
The Huskies lead the all-time series against the Tigers, 1-0.

PRESEASON POLLS
Bloomsburg was picked to finish fifth in the PSAC East Division in the preseason coaches' poll. The seven possible first-place votes in the east were split among three teams as West Chester and Millersville each corralled three and were picked to finish first and second, respectively. East Stroudsburg was tabbed third while Lock Haven collected the other first-place nod and was picked fourth with the Huskies ranked fifth.Following the Huskies, Shippensburg and Shepherd rounded out the division. In the west, Mercyhurst received four first-place votes and was selected to finish atop the standings. Gannon collected the other two and was predicted to finish second.

SCOUTING BLOOMSBURG
The Huskies return senior forward Tyler Madeira (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) who is expected to provide another offensive spark this season. Madeira, an All-PSAC Second Team selection last year, had a breakout season for the Huskies as he led the team in scoring with ten goals and two assists for 22 points. He became the first Bloomsburg player to reach double figures in goals since 2015 and became the first Huskies' player to record a hat trick in a game since 2003. His hat trick came against Slippery Rock on October 6. Also expected to help offensively is junior midfielder Carter Luckenbaugh (York, Pa./Central York) who has recorded 18 assists during his first two seasons. His 18 career assists are already fourth on the school's all-time list. In goal, junior Brock Gould (York, Pa./Red Lion) returns after seeing 13 starts last season. He went 6-6-1 with a 1.59 goals-against average and a .741 save percentage.

SCOUTING SALEM
The Tigers finished 9-8-2 in 2018. They reached the finals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) where they bowed to Lock Haven, 3-0. Salem played against five schools from the PSAC last season and posted a 2-3 mark with victories over Mercyhurst and Seton Hill.

UP NEXT
Bloomsburg will continue its early-season road trip on Sunday, September 8, with a non-conference contest at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Huskies' first home match is not until Saturday, September 21, against Shepherd University at 4:30 p.m.

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