BOSTON – Opening its 10th season of action, the Suffolk women's soccer team welcomes Worcester Polytechnic Institute to James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park for a 6 p.m. showdown Thursday, Sept. 1.

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DOUBLE FEATURE
Thursday's game against WPI is part of a doubleheader for the Rams, as the men's team hosts Newbury prior to the women's game at 3:30 p.m.

RUNDOWN ON THE RAMS
Suffolk returns a wealth of experience after losing just one starter to graduation last season. The pair of seniors – Salma Chleuh and Shannon Simmons and eight juniors will anchor Darren Lloyd's Rams in 2016. Highlighted by two of the team's top-three returning scorers from 2015 in Jennifer Martin (7g, 5a), Alexandra Nagri (8g, 2a) and Jessica Harmon (4g, 1a), Suffolk is poised to make another run at a spot in the conference's post season tournament. 

Lloyd's group is also youth driven, with five rookies joining a solid core of seven sophomores. Veronica bernardo makes her return for the 2016 campaign after posting two points as a freshman. 

Kirsten Weiker brings one-year of experience to the Rams' roster with freshman Jordan Pettograsso joining the ranks of Ram keepers. 

EYES ON THE ENGINEERS
WPI is set to open its 2016 slate against the Rams and looks to fill the void of losing three-time NSCAA All-American Emily Doherty. Quickly filling those shoes will be junior midfielder Susannah Gray. A NEWMAC All-Conference selection from a year ago, Gray has had a presence in the Engineers midfield for the previous two seasons as a starter. Last season, she set up a pair of tallies in a game-winner. 

In between the pipes, WPI has relatively new gloves of sophomore Gabi Hoops and freshman Mandy St. Germain. Hoops saw action in nine games a year ago and started five. 

The Engineers are coached by Stephanie Schafer, who is in her fourth year as head coach at WPI.

INSIDE THE SERIES
Suffolk first met WPI in last season's opener with the Engineers defeating the Rams 7-2.  

OPENING ACT
Since Suffolk women's soccer became a varsity program in 2007, the Rams own a 3-5-1 opening day ledger. Suffolk looks to return to the win column on opening day after falling to the Engineers of WPI, 7-2, a year ago. 

PACING THE SIDELINES
Darren Lloyd returns to the sidelines of Suffolk's program for his second season. 

SUFFOLK FREE RADIO
Suffolk Athletics has teamed up with Suffolk Free Radio to bring Ram Nation 17 live broadcasts of Suffolk soccer games this season. 

The pre-game shows are set to launch 15 minutes prior to kick-off of all contests and fans can follow along at mixlr.com/suffolkfreeradio/.  

MORE READING: Women's Soccer Ranked Ninth in GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll

COMING UP
Suffolk remains at home over the holiday weekend as the Rams entertain Eastern Nazarene Saturday, Sept. 3 at 2 p.m.