By: KSU Sports Information
Live Stats I
Game Notes
KENNESAW, Ga. – With only three matches remaining in the regular season the chase for a spot in the 2011 Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament is officially on for the Kennesaw State women’s soccer team as it plays the first of its final three matches on the road starting with a crucial matchup at Mercer on Friday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m.
Every time these two teams get together there is always a little something extra involved. However, when you add the fact that for the first time in the history of this in-state rivalry both teams are fighting for their postseason lives, and it’s senior day for Mercer, that only adds more intensity to this already passionate rivalry.
Kennesaw State (6-7-1, 2-4 A-Sun) comes into Friday’s match owning the tiebreaker over Lipscomb for the sixth and final playoff spot, while Mercer currently sits in a tie with Stetson in eighth place.
The Owls are coming off another weekend in which they couldn’t string back-to-back performances together. KSU opened last weekend with a great performance in a 2-0 win over Stetson on Friday, but couldn’t carry the momentum over to Sunday’s senior day matchup against Florida Gulf Coast falling 3-0.
For the Black and Gold to advance to their sixth straight A-Sun Tournament they will have to overcome their struggles on the road as they are 1-4 this season away from KSU Soccer Stadium.
“The Mercer game is always a big one,” head coach
Rob King said. “Through the years it has been a decider for the top spot in the conference. This season Mercer sits in a tie for eighth place, and we're just two points clear of them. It's a critical game for both squads, and will likely be the decider for who goes into the postseason and who doesn't. Our team is very upbeat after yesterday's practice and we'll be ready come Friday evening.”
Kennesaw State holds a 7-1 all-time series record against Mercer, and it is also 3-0 all-time at Bear Field. Six of the eight meetings between KSU and MU have been decided by one goal.
Friday’s matchup will also feature two of the premier scorers in the A-Sun in redshirt-freshman
Katrina Frost and senior Olivia Tucker. Frost and Tucker are ranked in the top three spots of several individual offensive categories. Frost is second in shots (68), second in points (21), first in goals (10) and second in game-winning goals (3), while Tucker is third in shots (41), third in points (17), third in goals (8) and tied for third in game-winning goals (2).
Mercer (7-6-1, 1-4-1 A-Sun) is coming off a 2-2 tie against Stetson on Sunday afternoon. The Bears return six starters from a team that won the 2010 A-Sun Tournament last season with a record of 10-9-1. Mercer was picked to finish in second in the A-Sun Preseason Poll, and it is led by Tucker who has a team-high 17 points.
