By: By Libby Knight
KENNESAW STATE VS STETSON, FLORIDA GULF COAST
MATCHES 14-15 | OCTOBER 18 & 20, 2013
KENNESAW, Ga. | FIFTH THIRD BANK STADIUM (8,300)
FREE ADMISSION
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO (FRIDAY ONLY) | PROMOTIONS | TWITTER
THE MATCHES:
The Kennesaw State soccer team will return to Fifth Third Bank Stadium for the final two home matches of the season, facing Stetson on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. (ET) for Senior Night 2013. The Owls will honor senior defenders
Tasia Williams and
Kelsey Barr, as well as redshirt-junior forward
Katrina Frost.
KSU then battles reigning Atlantic Sun Conference champion Florida Gulf Coast for its home finale on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 1 p.m.
THE COVERAGE:
LIVE STATS: Statistical updates will be available from KSUOwls.com at the start of both matches.
LIVE VIDEO: ASun.TV will have the broadcast of Friday's match starting at kickoff.
LIVE AUDIO: Play-by-Play will be available from KSUOwls.com five minutes prior to the start of both matches.
TWITTER: Follow the Kennesaw State women's soccer team on Twitter @
KSUOwlsSoccer to receive updates throughout the match.
THE PROMOTIONS:
Along with the Senior Night festivities for Williams, Barr and Frost, Friday's match will also be "Breast Cancer Awareness Night" and fans are encouraged to wear pink to the match. Those in attendance will also be treated to a post-match fireworks show following the conclusion of Friday's contest, starting approximately 10 minutes after the match ends.
Both matches this weekend are also a part of the 2013 Kennesaw State Homecoming celebration on campus.
THE OPPONENTS:
Stetson
The Hatters (6-6-2, 4-1-1) enter Friday's match riding a three-game win streak with wins over NKU (2-1), USC Upstate (4-1) and ETSU (3-0) and are 2-4-1 away from home this season. Alyssa Welsh leads Stetson with 10 points on four goals and two assists, while Victoria Troccoli (6-6-2, 1.71 GAA, 45 saves) has been in goal for all 14 of the Hatters' matches.
Florida Gulf Coast
The Eagles (10-3-2, 5-0-1) lead the conference standings with two weeks left in league play and will face Mercer on Friday night before Sunday's showdown with the Owls. FGCU is 2-2-1 on the road in 2013. The Eagles is led offensively by Tabitha Tindell with 21 points on nine goals and three assists. Brittany Brown (10-3-2) has started 13 of the FGCU's 15 matches and owns an 0.93 goals-against average and 50 saves.
THE SERIES:
KSU leads the all-time series with Stetson, holding a 5-2-1 advantage, while the Owls trail in the all-time series with FGCU as the Eagles hold a 4-1-1 advantage.
The Owls earned a 3-0 victory over the Hatters in last season's regular season finale in Deland, Fla., with junior midfielder
Nicole Calder, junior forward
Heather Joyce and Frost each notching goals in the win.
KSU lost a 1-0 heartbreaker to FGCU in 2012, with the Eagles scoring the game-winning goal in the 65th minute of the match in Fort Myers, Fla.
LAST TIME OUT:
Kennesaw State dropped a double-overtime thriller to Mercer in heartbreaking fashion on Friday, Oct. 11, as the Bears scored in the game-winning goal with only a minute left in the second-overtime period for a 2-1 win at Bear Field. Redshirt-junior defender
Jewelia Strickland gave the Owls a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute with her first goal of the season, before Mercer notched the equalizer in the 71st minute of the match.
NEXT UP:
Kennesaw State next heads south to Jacksonville, Fla., for the final two matches of the 2013 regular season, first taking on Jacksonville on Friday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. (ET). KSU then faces North Florida in the regular season finale on Sunday, Oct. 27 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 in goals allowed (17 goals) as well as third in shutouts with four (Tennessee Tech, Georgia State, Troy, NKU) and fourth in goals-against average (1.29).
Owl 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 Leads the Offense
Frost ranks in the top three in several offensive categories in the A-Sun, including second in goals (four) and goals per game (0.80), as well as third in points (nine) and points per game (1.80). She is also the conference career active leader in points (56) and goals (25).
Strickland Helps Out
With her goal against Mercer, Strickland has moved to third on the team with five points, including a goal and three assists. Strickland ranks seventh in the A-Sun in league play in assists (three) and assists per game (0.40).
Goals, Goals and More Goals
The Owl offense has come alive in the last six matches, with KSU outscoring its opponents 10 to six. The Owls started off the season scoring three goals in the first seven matches, but have lit up the scoreboard since with a pair of two-goal efforts from Frost and a third from freshman forward
Maggie Gaughan.
Sturdivant Strong
Freshman goalkeeper
Olivia Sturdivant has impressed in her first season in goal for the Owls. The Sanford, N.C., native ranks third in the A-Sun with four shutouts, as well as ranking fifth with a 1.29 goals-against average and owns 48 saves in her rookie campaign.
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 -
