By: By Libby Knight
KENNESAW STATE VS. TENNESSEE TECH, OKLAHOMA
MATCHES 1-2 | AUGUST 23 & 25, 2013
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. | REGAL SOCCER STADIUM (3,000)
GAME NOTES | TTU LIVE STATS | OU LIVE STATS | TTU LIVE BLOG
THE SERIES:
The Kennesaw State soccer team will officially open the 2013 regular season schedule this weekend, heading to Knoxville, Tenn., for a pair of neutral site matches against Tennessee Tech and Oklahoma on the campus of the University of Tennessee.
The Owls will be looking to get into its winning ways after dropping its last two season openers, both to Alabama.
KSU opens against the Golden Eagles on Friday, Aug. 23 at 5 p.m. (ET), before facing the Sooners on Sunday, Aug. 25 at noon.
THE COVERAGE:
LIVE STATS: Statistical updates will be available from KSUOwls.com at the start of each match.
LIVE BLOG: A CoveritLive Blog will be available for Friday night's match against Tennessee Tech.
TWITTER: Follow the Kennesaw State women's soccer team on Twitter @KSUOwlsSoccer to receive updates through both matches.
THE OPPONENTS:
Tennessee Tech is looking to bounce back from a 5-12-1 season in 2012 and posted a 1-1 tie with Tennessee Wesleyan in their lone exhibition match of the preseason. The Golden Eagles return six starters from last season's squad and welcome in nine newcomers to the fold.
Oklahoma went 7-9-4 in head coach Matt Potter's first season at the helm and is in the midst of a rebuilding effort with the program. The squad returns nine starters and welcomes in a talented group of 15 newcomers. The Sooners tied Idaho, 0-0, and fell to Gonzaga, 2-1, in their two exhibitions.
THE SERIES:
KSU currently leads the all-time series over Tennessee Tech, 2-0-0, with the Owls winning the previous meeting 7-0 on Oct. 27, 2006 in Kennesaw.
Sunday's meeting between the Owls and the Sooners will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
LAST TIME OUT:
The Owls split its two exhibition matches during the preseason, falling to Wofford, 3-0, on Friday, Aug. 9, before rebounding for a 3-0 win over Clayton State last Saturday. Freshman Suzanne Arafa notched a pair of goals in the victory, with junior Katrina Frost supplying the third.
NEXT UP:
KSU travels to Chapel Hill, N.C., for the Carolina Nike Classic and will battle against two of the top programs in the nation.
First up for the Owls is 2012 national quarterfinalist Duke, who is ranked No. 7 in the NSCAA/Continental Tire Preseason Poll, on Friday, August 30. KSU then gets a chance of a lifetime on Sunday, September 1, when the Owls go toe-to-toe with tournament host and 2012 national champion North Carolina in the finale of the Classic. The Tarheels enter the 2013 season ranked No. 1 in the nation.
NEWS AND NOTES:
Notable Returners
Individually, the Owls return 12 letterwinners from the 2012 squad, including eight starters. Notable returnees include 2012 All A-Sun First-Team Frost, Second-Team selections Jewelia Strickland and Kelsey Barr, and All-Freshman Team honoree Danielle Gray.
Frost Leading the Way
Frost leads the Atlantic Sun in career points (47) and goals (21). Frost is the first A-Sun women's soccer student-athlete to tally back-to-back double-digit goal seasons since Stetson's Tessa Gavilsky (2008, 09).
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.
- #GoKSUOwls -
