By: By Libby Knight
KENNESAW STATE AT MERCER
MATCH 13 | OCTOBER 11, 2013
MACON, Ga. | BEAR FIELD
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE BLOG | TWITTER
THE MATCHES:
The Kennesaw State soccer team (6-6-0, 3-1-0) will wrap up a three-match road trip to open Atlantic Sun Conference action with a showdown against rival Mercer on Friday, Oct. 11 in Macon, Ga. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (ET) at Bear Field.
THE COVERAGE:
LIVE STATS: Statistical updates will be available from KSUOwls.com at the start of Friday's match.
LIVE BLOG: A CoveritLive Blog conducted by Assistant Director of Athletics Communications
Libby Knight will be available for the match via KSUOwls.com starting 15 minutes prior to the contest.
TWITTER: Follow the Kennesaw State women's soccer team on Twitter @
KSUOwlsSoccer to receive updates throughout the match.
THE OPPONENT:
Mercer
The Bears (7-5-2, 2-1-1) are coming off of a four-point conference weekend, earning a 3-2 win over East Tennessee State on Friday night, before tying USC Upstate 0-0 on Sunday. Mercer currently sits in a tie for third with Stetson with seven points in the A-Sun standings. The Bears own a 4-3-1 mark in Macon this season. Brianna Stampler leads Mercer with 14 points on four goals and six assists, while Maggie Cropp (7-5-2, 1.41 GAA, 56 saves) is in goal for the Bears.
THE SERIES:
KSU leads the all-time series with Mercer, holding a 7-2-1 advantage, including the first-ever tie in the series in 2012.
It was a dramatic finish in 2012 between Mercer and Kennesaw State, with the Bears taking a 1-0 lead in the 82nd minute of the match before redshirt-junior forward
Katrina Frost scored with less than two minutes remaining to lift the Owls to the 1-1 tie. On a free kick from the circle area attached to 18-yard box, Frost fired a shot into the bottom left corner of the goal to even the score.
LAST TIME OUT:
Kennesaw State split its first road weekend in conference play, earning a 3-1 win over USC Upstate on Friday in Spartanburg, S.C., with Frost notching a pair of goals and freshman midfielder
Monica Herrera scoring her first career goal in the victory. The Owls then suffered a 2-0 setback to East Tennessee State on Sunday in Johnson City, Tenn.
NEXT UP:
Kennesaw State next returns to Fifth Third Bank Stadium for the final two home matches of the season, facing Stetson on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m., for Senior Day 2013. The Owls will honor senior defenders
Tasia Williams and
Kelsey Barr, as well as Frost. KSU will then battle reigning A-Sun champion Florida Gulf Coast for its home finale on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 1 p.m.
NEWS AND NOTES:
Defense, Defense, Defense
The Kennesaw State defense continues to be the consistent force behind the Owls, ranking second in the A-Sun with four shutouts (Tennessee Tech, Georgia State, Troy, NKU) as well as third in goals allowed (15 goals) and fourth in goals-against average (1.25).
A-Sun Standings
Despite spliting its weekend matches, the Owls currently sit in second place in A-Sun standings with nine points and are only a point out of first place, which is occupied by 2012 A-Sun champion FGCU with 10 points. Sitting in third position is Friday's opponent, Mercer, and Stetson, each with seven points.
Fans Show Up
Through five home matches in 2013, the Owls are averaging an attendance of 752 fans after ranking in the top 35 nationally and leading the A-Sun in average attendance (840) and total attendance (9,240) a season ago.
Frost Takes Control
With a five-point match in the Owls' 3-1 win over USC Upstate on Friday, redshirt-junior
Katrina Frost has taken the lead on the team in points with nine on four goals and an assist. For her career, Frost owns 25 goals and 56 points, which ranks first in active players in the A-Sun.
Conference Leaders
Frost leads the A-Sun in goals in conference action, with four scores in four matches, as well as in game-winning goals with two. She also ranks second in points with all nine of her points this season coming during league play. Fellow redshirt-junior
Jewelia Strickland sits in third in assists in A-Sun play with two.
Offense Gets Going
After starting off the season scoring three goals in the first seven matches the Owls offensive has come alive, doubling that total with nine goals in the last five matches, including a pair of two-goal efforts from Frost against Northern Kentucky and USC Upstate, as well as one from freshman forward
Maggie Gaughan against Troy.
Sturdivant Strong
Freshman goalkeeper
Olivia Sturdivant has impressed in her first season in goal with the Owls. The Sanford, N.C., native ranks second in the A-Sun with four shutouts, as well as ranking fourth with a 1.25 goals-against average.
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State soccer news follow the team on Twitter
@KSUOwlNation and @
KSUOwlsSoccer or by liking Kennesaw State University on
Facebook.
Fans are reminded that admission to all 2013 home soccer contests is free throughout the year.
- #GoKSUOwls -
