ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon women's soccer team will waste little time jumping directly into the fire when it hosts the inaugural Gannon University Classic sponsored by Scott Enterprises this weekend. The Lady Knights will entertain regional rival Wheeling Jesuit, Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) foe Ashland and local rival Edinboro this weekend at Gannon University Field.

The classic will consists of two matches on both Thursday, September 1 and Saturday, September 3. Thursday's action begins with Gannon and Wheeling Jesuit clashing at 5 p.m., followed by Edinboro against Ashland at 7:30 p.m. The event wraps up Saturday with Gannon and Ashland colliding at 12 noon. Edinboro and Wheeling Jesuit close the show at 2:30 p.m.

Live gameday statistics for the first match both days will be available at http://www.gannon.edu/athletics/women/soccer/lstats/xlive.htm. Live gameday statistics for the second match both days will be available at http://www.gannon.edu/athletics/women/soccer/lstats2/xlive.htm.

Gannon was picked to finish 11th in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Preseason Coaches Poll after finishing 4-10-3 overall and 3-9-2 in league action last season. Prior to the 2010 campaign, the Lady Knights had posted back-to-back winning records for the first time since the program recorded four consecutive winning seasons from 1996-99. The Lady Knights were 11-6-2 in 2008 and 10-7-2 in 2009. The program capped the 2009 campaign with its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

Amanda Sharbaugh (Sarver, Pa./Knoch) is Gannon's top returning starter. The senior forward enters the 2011 campaign tied with Erin Cray (1997-00) as Gannon's all-time leading scorer with 34 goals. She ranks second in career points (85), needing six to break Cray's school record in that category. Sharbaugh should also break a third school record this season as her 17 career assists are six behind Courtney Rowan's (2005-08) top mark.

Overall, nine of the 11 Lady Knights who recorded a point last season return. However, the squad will have a new starting goalkeeper as four-year starter Sabrina Chirco graduated. She finished her career as Gannon's all-time leader in goalkeeper victories (24) and shutouts (15), as well as ranking second in goals against average (1.27) and saves (260).

Wheeling Jesuit received four first-place votes and was picked to finish fourth in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) Preseason Coaches Poll. The Cardinals were 10-10 overall and 5-4 in the WVIAC last season. The squad returns six starters from last season, including All-WVIAC second-team selection Ashley McGinnis.

Ashland continues to build under second-year head coach Glenn Francis. The Eagles were 4-10-2 last season, including a 2-9-2 mark in GLIAC play. They were also 3-3-1 at Ferguson Field last season, the Eagles' first at their new facility. The squad was picked to finish third in the GLIAC South Division according to the league's preseason coaches poll.

On the offensive side, the Eagles return several young players who made contributions last season, including Deanna Gundling, Tani Lopez and Kelly Krispinsky. Those three returning sophomores combined for five of the Eagles' 15 goals last season.

Edinboro is coming off an 11-6-1 record in 2010, qualifying for the PSAC post-season for the first time since 2007. The Fighting Scots, who return six starters, were picked to finish seventh in the PSAC Preseason Coaches Poll.