Carbondale Reporter

The Southern Illinois University women's soccer team will commence the 2024 season on Thursday at Jackson State, with the match scheduled for 1 p.m.

The Salukis concluded their 2023 season with a record of 1-11-5. McKensey Bunch returns for her fifth year at SIU, having led the team in goals with four last season. Dana Cruz, who scored twice in the previous season, is the second-leading returning scorer. Veronica Gonzalez logged the most minutes for the Salukis in 2023 with 1515 minutes-played, followed closely by Molly Tapak's 1489 minutes. The team has added 18 newcomers, including ten freshmen.

Jackson State ended their 2023 season with a record of 10-10 and a conference record of 7-2. The Tigers were eliminated in the SWAC Tournament by Grambling State after securing victories against Alcorn State and Southern University. Jackson State was predicted to finish second in the SWAC Preseason Poll.

In their first meeting last season, SIU defeated Jackson State 2-1 after securing a late penalty to win the match. This victory gives SIU a lead of 1-0 in the series history between these two programs.

Fans can follow updates and news about the Salukis on Twitter at @SIU_Soccer, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiSoccer, and on Instagram at @SIU_Soccer. Additionally, fans can download the "Salukis" Mobile App from the App Store or Google Play Store.