CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Citadel women's soccer team opens Southern Conference play this week with home games against VMI on Friday at 4 p.m. and UNCG on Sunday at 2 p.m.

The Bulldogs enter league play with a record of 4-6 after splitting a pair of games against city rivals last week, defeating Charleston Southern and dropping a one-goal decision to College of Charleston.

The Keydets, making their return to the SoCon this year, are 1-7 while the Spartans are 4-4-2. Friday's game is also VMI's league opener, and UNCG is at Mercer before heading to Charleston.

The Citadel is paced offensively by senior midfielder Vanessa Aponte, who leads the team with four goals and is tied for the top spot in assists with Lea Raedle with two. Aponte scored three times last week, including twice in the win over the Buccaneers.

Aponte begins the week tied for sixth in the SoCon with her four goals and is tied for seventh with 10 points. She needs one more goal to tie Amy Loughran for third place in school history with 21 and one more point to catch Kelly Pesterfield for third in points with 58.

Raedle, Karina Schneider, Ana Mesa and Mady Riegel each have two goals for the Bulldogs.

Sophomore goalkeeper Naomi Carter continued her outstanding play with a season-high 12 saves against College of Charleston. She leads the league and ranks fifth in the nation with 69 saves and is second in the SoCon with a save percentage of .812. Carter is already fourth in school history with 210 career saves.

The Bulldogs and Keydets have not played since 2007 when VMI evened the series at two wins apiece. The Citadel won the first two meetings in 2004-05 before losing the next two seasons.

Despite having won only one game, the Keydets have been very competitive in most of their contests, including 1-0 losses to Radford and USC Upstate in their two most recent outings. Goalkeeper Kirsten Hancock is fourth in the SoCon with a save percentage of .800.

UNCG has won its past two games, blanking High Point 3-0 and James Madison 1-0. Chesney White scored a goal in both games and was named the SoCon Player of the Week. She is tied for third in the conference and tied for 20th in the nation with seven goals including three game winners.

The Spartans have won all 13 matchups against The Citadel, including a 5-3 victory last year in Charleston.