GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Golden Eagles are set to play on their home pitch for the first time in 2017, as they will host both Huntington University and Trinity Christian College for Night of Nets weekend. Cornerstone will begin the weekend with a 7 p.m. match vs. Crossroads League foe Huntington, before welcoming Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference opponent Trinity Christian to town on Saturday at 7 p.m. Both games will have live video, audio, and stats at cugoldeneagles.com/watch.
Opponent: Huntington University
Date: Friday, September 8
Time: 7 p.m. EST
Location: Grand Rapids, Mich. (CU Soccer Field)
Internet Coverage: Live Video/Stats/Audio
Opponent: Trinity Christian College
Date: Saturday, September 9
Time: 7 p.m. EST
Location: Grand Rapids, Mich. (CU Soccer Field)
Internet Coverage: Live Video/Stats/Audio
Scouting Huntington
The Huntington Foresters are coming off of a 5-7-5 record in 2016, where they recorded just one conference win in the tough Crossroads League. The young 2016 Huntington roster struggled to find the net in 2016, as they were shutout in eight of their 17 games last year resulting in a ninth place finish in conference play. So far this season, HU has started 0-2-1, most recently losing 3-1 to WHAC contender Indiana Tech. The Foresters will play two more games vs. WHAC opponents this season in Cornerstone and Aquinas.
Scouting Trinity Christian
The Trolls have gotten off to a very fast start in 2017, scoring 23 goals to rank third in the NAIA on their way to a 4-0-0 record. Trinity Christian is led by a 2016 CCAC All-Conference First Team player in junior Jessica Bianchi, who already ranks top three in the nation in goals (8), assists (5), and points (21). Bianchi's strong start has already gotten her a CCAC Player of the Week Award in 2017.
Series History
Cornerstone has been dominant vs. Huntington in the programs 20 year history. CU has seen the Foresters 16 times since 1997, and recorded a 14-2-0 all-time record. The last time the Golden Eagles saw HU was just a season ago, when they earned a 2-0 home victory on September 9, 2016. When it comes to the Trolls of Trinity Christian, Cornerstone has a much shorter history, playing them just six times since 1998. CU holds a 3-2-1 record all-time vs. the Trolls, winning 3-1 just last season.
Night of Nets
Cornerstone will be hosting their annual Night of Nets matches on Friday and Saturday night. Portions of the proceeds from the events will be used to purchase bed nets to help end Malaria in Africa. Night of Nets shirts will be available for purchase for 10 dollars at both Friday and Saturday nights games.
Home Success
The Golden Eagles have been dominant at home since the 2014 season, recording a record of 20-6-1 at home in that time. Despite just a 8-8-1 overall record in 2016, CU went 8-2-1 on their home pitch last season. The only time Cornerstone has won more games at home was in 2012, going 9-2 at CU Soccer Field.
