By: By Libby Knight
KENNESAW STATE VS LIPSCOMB | A-SUN TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND
MATCH 18 | NOVEMBER 2, 2013
KENNESAW, Ga. | FIFTH THIRD BANK STADIUM (8,300)
FREE ADMISSION
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | PROMOTIONS | TWITTER
THE MATCH:
The No. 3 seed Kennesaw State soccer team opens the 2013 Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament with a first round match against No. 6 seed Lipscomb on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET) with free admission for fans.
THE COVERAGE:
LIVE STATS: Statistical updates will be available from KSUOwls.com at the start of Saturday's match.
LIVE VIDEO: ASun.TV will have the broadcast of the match starting at kickoff with Nathan McCreary calling all the action from Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
TWITTER: Follow the Kennesaw State women's soccer team on Twitter @
KSUOwlsSoccer to receive updates throughout the match.
THE OPPONENT:
Lipscomb
This will be the first-ever appearance in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament for the Bison (6-7-5, 3-3-3), after qualifying for the tournament last Sunday with a 4-1 win over USC Upstate. They are led by All-A-Sun First-Teamer Ellen Lundy, who has a team-high 31 points (14G, 3A) and All-Freshman honoree goalkeeper Anna Buhigas (6-7-5, 1.10 GAA, 94 saves, 21 GA). Lipscomb is 3-4-2 on the road in 2013.
THE SERIES:
KSU leads the all-time series with Lipscomb, holding an 8-1-0 advantage over the Bison, including a 2-1 win over Lipscomb at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in the teams' earlier meeting this season.
The Owls took a 2-1 win over the Bison on Friday, Sept. 27, as freshman forward
Shannon Driscoll scored her first career goal in the Black and Gold to give KSU the early lead. After a Bison goal from Ellen Lundy 10 minutes later, the teams entered halftime with a 1-1 tie. Junior midfielder
Nicole Calder broke the tie with the game-winning goal in the 61st minute with a header off of redshirt-junior defender
Jewelia Strickland's corner kick service. It was Strickland's second assist of the night, as Driscoll also scored off of a Strickland corner.
LAST TIME OUT:
Kennesaw State split its final regular season weekend, earning a 2-1 double-overtime win over Jacksonville on Friday, before suffering a 4-1 setback to North Florida on Sunday. The Owls were led by freshmen forwards
Maggie Gaughan and
Shannon Driscoll against the Dolphins, with Gaughan notching the game-tying score and Driscoll tallying the game-winning goal in the 104th minute of the match. Redshirt-junior forward
Katrina Frost scored the lone Owl goal against the Ospreys.
NEXT UP:
The winner of Saturday's match will earn a trip to the tournament semifinals, hosted by No. 1 seed and regular season champion Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers, Fla., and will face No. 2 seed Jacksonville on Friday, Nov. 8.
In the other first-round match, No. 4 seed Mercer and No. 5 seed Stetson face off for the fourth and final spot in the semifinals and will play FGCU on Friday, Nov. 2 as well.
NEWS AND NOTES:
KSU in the A-Sun Tournament
The Owls own a 4-3-2 record in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. KSU earned the No. 3 seed for the first time in program history a season ago, but took a heartbreaking 3-1 loss to No. 6 seed North Florida in last season's first round match in Kennesaw.
Defense, Defense, Defense
The Kennesaw State defense continues to be the consistent force behind the Owls, ranking second in shutouts, third in goals allowed and fourth in goals-against average in the conference in A-Sun action, as well as overall play.
Home Field Advantage
In the seven home matches in 2013, the Owls are averaging an attendance of 842 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.
A-Sun Honorees
When the Atlantic Sun Conference announced its annual postseason awards list, the Kennesaw State soccer team had five members of the team earn honors. Junior defender
Alma Gardarsdottir led the way with a selection to the All-Atlantic Sun First-Team, while redshirt-junior forward
Katrina Frost, junior midfielder
Nicole Calder and redshirt-freshman defender
Brittney Reed earned All-Atlantic Sun Second-Team accolades. Reed also joined freshman goalkeeper
Olivia Sturdivant on the All-Atlantic Sun Freshman Team.
Frost Leads the Way
Frost, the team leader in points, was also named to the A-Sun Academic All-Conference Team. The Fayetteville, Ga., native owns five goals and two assists for 12 points on the season.
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 Saturday's home soccer contest is free.
- #GoKSUOwls -
