ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The RIT women's soccer team opens the 2024 season on Friday (Aug. 30) against Stevens. Here are the top six things you need to know about the Tigers heading into the season.

A QUICK LOOK BACK AT 2023
RIT returned to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in 2023, advancing to the Second Round for the second straight season. The Tigers went undefeated in Liberty League regular season play, advancing to the Liberty League Championship game for the third time. It was the program's 11th time qualifying for the conference tournament in the 12 years RIT has been a part of the Liberty League.
 
Junior forward Elena Onodera and senior midfielder Jessie Gomez were First Team All-Liberty League selections, while sophomore forward Emma Pedro was named the Rookie of the Year. Senior defender Amber Flynn and senior forward Olivia Harris were Second Team selections. Gomez and Onodera were United Soccer Coaches All-Region selections, while Gomez earned Third Team All-American accolades.

OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER RETURNS
RIT's top six scorers return from 2023. Onodera led the team with six goals and 15 points, while Harris was second with a career-high 13 points, including a team-high five assists. Gomez returns after tallying 12 points (5g, 2a) along with senior Rachel Marriott (3g, 3a). Senior forward Christine Cataldo-Smith enters 2024 fourth all-time in scoring (58 pts.), third in career goals (28) and tied for tenth in career assists (13).
 
GOMEZ LEADS A STRONG MIDFIELD
Gomez headlines a strong midfield. Junior Sam Tran played in 18 games last season along with senior co-captain Abby Umbenhaur who played in 20 games and tallied two goals.

…AND IN GOAL
Junior Emily Sanchez returns after winning nine games in 2023, recording a 0.93 goals against average and a .734 save percentage. She will be pushed by first years Caitlyn Dinh and Avery Donnelly for playing time in 2024.

STRONG DEFENDERS RETURN IN 2024
Senior co-captain Amber Flynn started all 20 games last season and will anchor the central defense for RIT. Junior Neena Damodaran played in 20 games last season, partnering with Flynn in the middle of the defense, while Roberta Moger, Jillian Antol and Isabelle Kligge will patrol the outside of the pitch.

NEW FACES FOR 2024
RIT welcomes 11 newcomers to the roster in 2024. First-years Caitlyn Dinh, Avery Donnelly, Eli Gonzalez, Lily Doucette, Daniella Malanga, Valeria Luzio, Emma Watson, Reilly Batzold, Amerie Mills, Alexa Marsh and junior Sian Cha, who played the last two seasons at Dodge City Community College will all vie for playing time in 2024.
 
2024 SCHEDULE
The Tigers will play 17 regular-season games, including nine games against Liberty League rivals, nine games at Doug May Field and three teams that competed in the 2023 NCAA Division III Tournament (Geneseo, Rochester and William Smith).
 
The Tigers begin their 2024 campaign on Aug. 30 against Stevens and Mount Saint Mary College (NY) the following day. RIT hosts Geneseo on September 7 before a game at St. John Fisher on September 10. The Tigers play at Plattsburgh (Sept. 14) and at Wooster the following weekend.
 
RIT begins Liberty League play at William Smith (Sept. 25) and rounds out September with a home game against Clarkson (Sept. 28).
 
The Tigers begin October with back-to-back home games against Nazareth Oct. 1) and Bard (Oct. 5). RIT plays at cross-town rival Rochester (Oct. 8) and at St. Lawrence (Oct. 12). RIT wraps up its four-game road trip with a pair of Liberty League contests at Skidmore (Oct. 18) and at RPI (Oct. 19).
 
RIT plays its final three regular season games at home, hosting Union (Oct. 26), Ithaca (Oct. 29) and Vassar (Nov. 2).
 
Liberty League Tournament play begins November 5 with first round games. The semifinals are Nov. 8, and the championship is Nov. 10 at the highest remaining seed.