By: by Jessica Steadman
KENNESAW, Ga. – For the first time in its history, the Kennesaw State women’s soccer team will travel to Auburn, Ala. to take on the Tigers of Auburn on Friday night at the Auburn Soccer Stadium.
The Owls (1-2-0) enter the match after falling to No. 17-ranked Minnesota last week in a 1-0 heartbreaker in which the Golden Gophers scored the winning goal with six minutes remaining in the game. Both KSU losses this season have come to nationally-ranked teams.
Kennesaw State goalkeeper Staci Pugh tied a career high 10 saves in the Minnesota match and was selected as the Atlantic Sun Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Week honor.
Sophomore Alyssa Mahan has scored the only two goals for the Black and Gold this season, as she provided the scoring in the Owls, 2-1, win over Francis Marion last Friday in the Owls home opener.
Auburn (1-0-2) also looks to pick up their second win of 2009, after defeating South Alabama, 3-0, for their first victory of the season. The Tigers are yet to lose a game though, tying Dayton and Samford to open the season.
Three Tigers are tied for the team lead in goals with one goal each as sophomore Katy Frierson, Auburn’s leading scorer last year, senior Caitlin King and freshman Mary Coffed have all scored.
Auburn goalkeeper, Amy Howard, has already received Southeastern Conference honors as she earned a Freshman-of-the-Week award when she posted a shutout against Samford in the Tigers season opener.
Game time is set for 8:00 p.m. EST at the Auburn Soccer Stadium. Fans can follow the match via live stats by going to the Auburn website at http://auburntigers.cstv.com/ot/aub-live-stats.html.
