POTSDAM -- Each season the Clarkson University Women's Soccer team gets tested in the regular season with its difficult slate of Liberty League contests, but the Golden Knights will be challenged early at the North Country Classic when they host Colby-Sawyer College and Plattsburgh State this weekend at Hantz Turf Field.

The Golden Knights return 19 players from last year's team, including 10 starters and seven different players that scored a goal last season return for the 2014 season. Additionally, Clarkson is allowing less than a goal per game over the course of the last three seasons (0.983 goals against average) combined.

The Green and Gold will be challenged in both regards by the Chargers of Colby-Sawyer at 4:30 pm on Friday when the two teams open up the 2014 season. The Chargers have certainly changed in the decade since they last played the Golden Knights when Clarkson came away with a 5-0 shutout.

In 2013, Colby-Sawyer scored 67 times and allowed only 11 in 23 games last season as the team advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever. The Chargers lost their leading scorer to graduation, but do return senior forward Michelle Upham, who had 26 points on 12 goals and two assists in 22 games, none of which she started.

Classmate Sarah Little also is back in the midfield after producing 22 points on eight goals and six assists, as is Heather Faasse, who led the team in assists with seven. Junior defender Tallon Tomasi also proved chipped in six goals and an assist.

Junior goalkeeper Karley Hamilton saw nearly all the minutes for the Chargers, producing a 0.44 goals against average and an 87.8% save percentage. Hamilton also had 16 shutouts with 72 saves.

While Clarkson and Colby-Sawyer have met only once prior to Friday's meeting, the Knights are much more familiar with Saturday's opponent. Clarkson and Plattsburgh State will kick off the 31st all-time meeting at 3:30 pm on Saturday, with Clarkson last earning a win back in 2012.

The Cardinals were in unfamiliar territory last year, suffering a down season at 5-11-2 overall, but Plattsburgh State was a young team and has plenty of talent returning for the 2014 season. Sophomore Vicky Scott sored four goals in 14 games last year and junior Cassidy Clavet had three goals and three assists last season.

The Cardinals are without their two goaltenders from last year and will depend on senior Danielle Schmidt, who played in 25 games as a freshman and sophomore, allowing 1.12 goals per game with three shutouts and a 78.6% save percentage.