CALDWELL, N.J.- The Caldwell University Women's Soccer team begin their 2018 season as they travel to West Virginia for a pair of games this weekend. The Cougars kick off their season as they face nationally ranked West Virginia Wesleyan College on Friday, August 31 at 7:00 pm. Caldwell concludes their opening weekend as they take on Fairmont St. University on Sunday, September 2 at 2:00 pm.
 
Caldwell plays 18 regular season games, including seven home contests. The Cougars play their home opener on Saturday, September 8 against Wilmington University in their first conference game of the season. Caldwell plays a non-conference home game against Merrimack College on Saturday, September 15. The Cougars host two other home games in September as they host Felician University on Tuesday, September 18 and Chestnut Hill College on Saturday, September 22.
 
The Cougars host three Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference games in October as they host Concordia College on Tuesday, October 2. Caldwell faces Nyack College on Wednesday, October 10 and Dominican College on Tuesday, October 16. The Cougars end their regular season on Thursday, October 25 as they travel to NYIT.
 
Caldwell was selected to finish in fifth place in the CACC preseason coaches poll. The Cougars ended last season with an 8-9-1 overall record and finished in sixth place with a 7-4-1 conference mark.
 
Head Coach Nate Guagliardi enters his twelfth year leading the Cougars and looks to return to the postseason in 2018. Guagliardi earned his 100th coaching victory last season and enters this season with a 104-96-12 career coaching record at Caldwell. Last season, Caldwell came up short to Holy Family 1-0 in the quarterfinals.
 
Caldwell returns their top four scorers from last season including CACC Second Team All-Conference performers in junior Meghan Grundhauser (Easton, Pa.) and sophomore Teaghan Darling (Forked Rivers, N.J.). Grundhauser led the Cougars last season with 20 points on eight goals and four assists along with two game-winning goals.
 
Sophomore Macie Pennington (Townsend, Del.) posted 12 points on five goals and two assists and one game winning goal last season. Darling tallied 11 points on four goals and three assists with one game-winning goal, while senior Carlyn Salus (Pompton Lakes, N.J.) chipped in four goals and one assist for nine points.