Saturday Showdown with Husson Serves as Women’s Golf’s 2021 Opener

SATURDAY, APRIL 10 // 12:00 PM DUTCH ELM COUNTRY CLUB // ARUDEL, MAINE LIVE STATS
SERIES RECORD // FIRST MEETING

BOSTON – Suffolk women's golf will get its season underway with a head-to-head match against Husson Saturday, April 10. The Rams and Eagles will tee-off at the Dutch Elm Country Club in Arudel, Maine at 12 p.m.

SPECTATOR SECTION
With a strict no spectator policy set for the 2020-21 athletic season, here's how fans can follow Suffolk game-day action.

SOCIAL SAYINGS
Ram Nation has a chance to keep up with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics, its student-athletes and teams by following the Rams on  Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #RamNation a behind-the-scene look at Suffolk Athletics.

For an insider look at Suffolk women's golf, Ram Nation can subscribe to @suffolkwomensgolf on Instagram.

RAMS REWIND
Suffolk competed in the NWGC for the first full season in 2019-20 and finished third on the league course in early October. The Rams, two-time NEIGA Champions, looked to defend their title at Captains Golf Course in Brewster, Massachusetts, but fell short to wrap up the fall portion of its fourth-year. Little did the blue-and-gold know that that would be all it would compete as the 2020 spring slate was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ROSTER RUNDOWN
Suffolk's six-golfer roster has little experience with just two returning in senior Nicole Antonucci and junior Madison Scheinberg. Joining the upperclassmen are Rams' rookies, true freshmen, Paige Irving, Sophie Kiley, Isabel Smith and Ellie Yarbrough. 

RAMS RINGLEADER
Nicole Antonucci will act as the sole captain for the 2020-21 spring slate after receiving the responsibility by head coach Jay Parker in February 2020. 

CLASS CATEGORIES
Class wise, the majority of the six-person roster are true freshmen with four members of the Class of 2024 with one senior, Nicole Antonucci, and one junior, Madison Scheinberg. 

GEOGRAPHY 101
The Granite State and Bay States are the most represented states for Suffolk's roster. Sophie Kiley and Isabel Smith are Massachusetts locals, while Nicole Antonucci and Paige Irving both hail from Belmont, New Hampshire. Ellie Yarbrough is no newcomer to the north as well, coming from Killingworth, Connecticut, while Madison Scheinberg made the trip up from Plantation, Florida. 

SEASON OPENERS

• For the first time since 2017-18, and third time in Suffolk women's golf history, the Rams will square off in a head-to-head match to begin its season.
• The Rams are 1-1 when playing against a single opponent in its first outing of the year.
• Prior to this weekend, Suffolk has only faced Rhode Island in its first match of the campaign. 

COACH'S CORNER
Jay Parker has been the one and only head coach of Suffolk women's golf since the program began in 2016-17 and returns to the helm for his fifth season in 2020-21. 

Parker has led Suffolk to a pair of NEIGA titles (2018, 2019). Overall, he has coached five student-athletes to 11 NEIGA honors and one All-NWGC selection. 

THE COURSE
Just 1.5 hours north of Boston, Dutch Elm Country Club offers distinct challenge and pleasant scenery at every hole. For a full course tour, click here. 

EAGLE EYE
Similar to Suffolk, Husson had its fall campaign cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will begin its spring slate Saturday. 

A year ago, the Eagles captured fifth at the NWGC Championship and slid into second at the NEIGA Championships. 

Katie Goulet, a two-time All-NEIGA honoree, is back for her senior season and look to anchor Husson's five-golfer roster. Joining Goulet back on roster is Veronica Diaz and Makenzie Plourde, while Kayla Matte and Brianna Villanova will make their debuts on the links this weekend. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Although Suffolk and Husson are both members of the NWGC, the conference counterparts will meet for the first time in a head-to-head match. 

SUFFOLK SOUNDS
During the longer than usual off-season, women's golf was well represented on Suffolk Sounds, the official podcast of Suffolk Athletics, as head coach Jay Parker joined the show as a guest. 

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
Suffolk and Husson will return to Vacation Land a week from Saturday for a rematch. Next Saturday's showdown, April 17, the Rams will serve as the host.