By: KSU Sports Information
Live Stats I Game Notes I Live A-Sun TV Broadcast
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Kennesaw State women’s soccer team hits the road for the first time in over a month as it travels down to the River City for a key conference matchup against Jacksonville at Ashley Sports Complex on Friday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m.
The Owls (5-4-1, 1-1 A-Sun) are coming off a six-match homestand in which they went 3-2-1, including a 4-0 rout of Lipscomb to wrap up their homestand on Sunday.
The Black and Gold put out a statement to the conference in their 4-0 win over Lipscomb as KSU outshot the Lady Bisons 29-3 in the game. Kennesaw State had 12 different players record a shot as it was the most shots in a game since Sept. 20, 2009 when it had 32 shots against Alabama A&M.
Offensively, the Owls were once again led by redshirt-freshman Katrina Frost who scored two goals on Sunday to now give her 10 goals in her first 10 games in a KSU uniform. Her 10 goals leads the Atlantic Sun Conference, and it also puts her in a tie for 10th in the nation in total goals scored.
Frost got a lot of support in the attacking third with senior captain Katie Schwartz having a big day as she recorded a goal and an assist in the victory. The goal was Schwartz’s first of the season, and the second time in her career she found the back of the net. Junior Sofia Blanco also made the most of her second start of the season as she registered her second multi-assist game of the year.
Looking ahead to Friday, Kennesaw State knows that it faces a stiff test as it is 5-4 all-time against Jacksonville. The Dolphins have won three of the last four meetings between the two teams, including last season’s semi-final matchup in the A-Sun Tournament.
Both teams have a pair of forwards that are steadily making their way up the A-Sun career record books this season. JU forward Liz Fink is second on the active career points leaders list with 47, while KSU senior forward Brittany Vining sits in third on that same list with 42 career points.
Head Coach Rob King knows that every time his team faces Jacksonville it’s always a battle, but he is looking forward to the challenge and seeing how his team responds to the tough road test.
“We're looking forward to playing Jacksonville on Friday,” coach King said. “They are a strong side and are well coached. I don't think we gave a very good account of ourselves against them last year, so our seniors feel that they have a point to prove. It's a real challenge to collect points on the road but if you want to be in contention for the conference title, that's exactly what you have to do.”
Jacksonville (5-4-2, 1-0-1 A-Sun) is coming off a 0-0 tie against Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday afternoon. The Dolphins return eight starters from a team that went 13-5-2 last season. Jacksonville was picked to finish third in the A-Sun Preseason Poll and it is led by Liz Fink was has a team-high three goals on the season.
