The Lock Haven women's soccer team will open the 2023 season on the road Thursday, Aug. 31 at California (Pa.) in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East-West crossover action.
 
Setting the stage:
Thursday's match will be the first of the season for both teams. A year ago, Lock Haven opened the 2022 season at home with a 3-1 victory over Cal (Pa.) as the Bald Eagles have won five straight vs. the Vulcans.
 
Thursday's season-opener is set for a 6 p.m. start.

New Era:
When the Bald Eagles open the 2023 season on Thursday, Aug. 31 at California (Pa.), it will mark the start of a new era as it will serve as the debut for first-year head coach Sunny Gelnovatch.
 
Lock Haven announced the hiring of Gelnovatch on December 21, 2022. The former NCAA Division III All-American student-athlete at Messiah University most recently coached at the University of Alabama in Huntsville as the first assistant coach of the women's soccer team after she was hired in April of 2022. Familiar with the always competitive PSAC, Coach Gelnovatch served as a graduate assistant coach for the Bloomsburg Huskies women's soccer team during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
 
Preseason Poll:
Lock Haven was picked eighth in the PSAC East Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
West Chester received eight of nine first-place votes and was picked as the favorite by the coaches in the 2023 PSAC Eastern Division rankings. Bloomsburg grabbed the final first-place vote and sits second overall, while Kutztown rounded out the top-three. East Stroudsburg was picked fourth and the Warriors were followed by Millersville, Shepherd, Shippensburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield.
 
In the Western Division, Gannon was picked as the favorite after receiving eight of nine of first-place votes. Slippery Rock was picked second and Mercyhurst was slotted in the No. 3 spot. IUP was picked fourth and is followed by Seton Hill, California, Edinboro, Pitt-Johnstown and Clarion.
 
Storylines:
Evelyn Ciaccia returns after scoring three goals a year ago and goalkeeper Megan Miller was brilliant as a freshman in 2022. With a successful preseason training camp behind, the Lock Haven roster features a strong mix of veteran experience and leadership, and some talented newcomers.
 
The Road Ahead:
The season-opening match Thursday at Cal is the first of two straight road games to start the 2023 season. Lock Haven will open PSAC East play on the road at Mansfield on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 4 p.m. During the 2022 season, Lock Haven and Mansfield met twice and both times the two teams battled to scoreless draws.
 
After two road contests, The Haven will host Kutztown on Saturday, Sept. 9 in the Bald Eagles' 2023 home-opener. In all, nine of Lock Haven's 18 scheduled matches will be played at home. The full 2023 Lock Haven women's soccer schedule is available at GoLHU.com.
 
Up Next:
Lock Haven will make the short trip north to take on Mansfield on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 4 p.m. in the PSAC Eastern Division opener.