By: By Libby Knight
KENNESAW STATE AT USC UPSTATE, EAST TENNESSEE STATE
MATCH 11-12 | OCTOBER 4 & 6, 2013
SPARTANBURG, S.C. | JOHNSON CITY, Tenn.
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS (FRI) | LIVE STATS (SUN) | LIVE BLOG (FRI) | LIVE BLOG (SUN) | LIVE VIDEO | TWITTER
THE MATCHES:
The Kennesaw State soccer team (5-5-0, 2-0-0) continues the 2013 Atlantic Sun Conference schedule with its first road trip in league play, traveling to Spartanburg, S.C., for a 7 p.m. (ET) match against USC Upstate on Friday, Oct. 4. The Owls then travel to Johnson City, Tenn., to battle East Tennessee State on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m.
THE COVERAGE:
LIVE STATS: Statistical updates will be available from KSUOwls.com at the start of each match.
LIVE VIDEO: ASun.TV will have the broadcast of both matches this weekend, starting at kickoff.
LIVE BLOG: A CoveritLive Blog conducted by Assistant Director of Athletics Communications
Libby Knight will be available for both matches 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 both matches.
THE OPPONENTS:
USC Upstate
The Spartans (3-5-2, 0-1-0) are coming off of a 7-1 loss to ETSU in their conference opener last Saturday after compiling a 3-4-2 non-conference record, including a 1-1-1 mark at home. Upstate is led by Haley Gethin with five points on a pair of goals and an assist. 2012 A-Sun Goalkeeper of the Year Sarah Plantz (3-3-2) owns a 1.48 goals-against average and has made 44 saves on the year.
East Tennessee State
The Bucs (5-4-1, 1-0-0) opened the A-Sun slate with bang last Saturday, notching a 7-1 win over USC Upstate after a 4-4-1 showing in the non-conference. ETSU owns a 4-1-0 tally in home matches. Offensively, ETSU is led by Sarah Zadrazil with 18 points on four goals and 10 assists and Kristi Davis with 12 points on six goals. Anna Yancey (3-1-1, 0.52 GAA, 31 saves) and Jasmine Elliott (2-3-0, 1.78 GAA, 18 saves) split time in goal for the Bucs.
THE SERIES:
KSU leads both series against USC Upstate and ETSU, holding a 9-0-0 advantage in the all-time series with the Spartans, as well as a 5-3-2 mark against the Bucs.
Last season KSU came away with a 3-0 win versus Upstate in Kennesaw, with goals coming from sophomore forward
Danielle Gray, senior defender
Kelsey Barr and then-senior
Liz Blackburn. Against ETSU, the Owls dropped a 3-1 decision despite taking a 1-0 lead in the first half on a goal from junior midfielder
Nicole Calder.
LAST TIME OUT:
Kennesaw State opened A-Sun Conference action at Fifth Third Bank Stadium with back-to-back wins to start league play 2-0-0 for the first time since 2010. The Owls posted a 2-1 win over Lipscomb in their conference opener on Friday, taking a 1-0 lead on freshman forward
Shannon Driscoll's first career goal. Entering the second half tied 1-1 after giving up a late first-half goal, junior midfielder
Nicole Calder tallied the game-winning score in the 61st minute. Both goals were assisted by redshirt-junior defender
Jewelia Strickland.
Two days later, KSU collected the program's 150th win, as well as head coach
Rob King's 150th win at the helm of the Owls with a 2-0 win over Northern Kentucky on Sunday. Redshirt-junior forward
Katrina Frost provided both goals for the Owls, with assists coming from freshman midfielder
Suzanne Arafa and Calder.
NEXT UP:
Kennesaw State next finish up its three-match road trip to open conference play with a showdown against rival Mercer on Friday, Oct. 11 in Macon, Ga. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
NEWS AND NOTES:
Dynamite Defense
The Kennesaw State defense continues to be the consistent force behind the Owls, ranking first in the A-Sun with four shutouts (Tennessee Tech, Georgia State, Troy, NKU) as well as second in goals allowed (12 goals, 1.20 average) and fourth in goals-against average (1.20).
Leaders in Attendance
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.
Strickland Named A-Sun DPOW
Redshirt-junior
Jewelia Strickland was named the A-Sun Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after notching a pair of assists in a 2-1 win over LU, before holding NKU to only three shots and only one shot on goal in both matches. It was Strickland's first Defensive Player of the Week honor and the first for the Owls this season.
Offensive 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 six goals in the last three matches, including two-goal efforts from freshman
Maggie Gaughan in a 2-0 win over Troy and redshirt-junior
Katrina Frost in a 2-0 victory against NKU.
Sturdivant Rising
Freshman goalkeeper
Olivia Sturdivant has impressed in her first season in goal with the Owls. The Sanford, N.C., native ranks first in the A-Sun with four shutouts, as well as ranking fourth with a 1.20 goals-against average.
Frosty Leads A-Sun
Redshirt-junior forward
Katrina Frost leads all active A-Sun members with 51 career points and 23 career goals. Frost scored her first two goals of the 2013 season in a 2-0 win over NKU on Sunday.
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 -
