By: By Libby Knight
KENNESAW STATE VS OLE MISS
MATCH 6 | SEPTEMBER 13, 2013
KENNESAW, Ga. | FIFTH THIRD BANK STADIUM (8,300)
FREE ADMISSION
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | PROMOTIONS | TWITTER
THE MATCH:
After opening the 2013 season with five-straight road or neutral-site matches, the Kennesaw State soccer team starts a five-game home stand on Friday, Sept. 13, when the Owls make their 2013 Fifth Third Bank Stadium debut against Southeastern Conference foe Ole Miss. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (ET).
Friday's match will be the only match of the weekend for KSU, who returns to action for a rare midweek match on Tuesday, Sept. 17 against Samford at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
THE COVERAGE:
LIVE STATS: Statistical updates will be available from KSUOwls.com at the start of the match.
LIVE VIDEO: ASun.TV will have the broadcast of Friday's match starting at kickoff. Play-by-Play will be available from KSUOwls.com with Daniel Miller and Scott Bagwill calling 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 PROMOTIONS:
With the Owls kicking off the 2013 home schedule, there will be many activities going on prior-to, during and after Friday night's match against Ole Miss.
Youth League Soccer Night, Camper Reunion Night and Girl Scout Night & Sleepover
Friday will be Youth Soccer League Night and Camper Reunion Night, as well as Girl Scout Night and Sleepover. Girl Scouts wishing to sleepover must have preregistered as there will be no walk-up sales at the match.
Inflatables
Inflatable games on the main stage will be open to all fans prior to kickoff and at halftime.
Football Helmet Unveiling
Fans will want to stay in their seat during Friday's halftime as Kennesaw State will have the long-awaited unveiling of the first official Kennesaw State football helmet with head football coach
Brian Bohannon and Director of Athletics
Vaughn Williams. The Kennesaw State marketing department will have a tent set up on the concourse level where fans can enter a drawing to win a replica helmet signed by Bohannon.
Following the unveiling of the helmet, the Kennesaw State bookstore will be selling football-related merchandise displaying the new helmet on the concourse level. The merchandise also will be available at the campus bookstore.
Dachshund Dog Races
Along with the football helmet unveiling, fans will be treated to the Dachshund Dog Races prior to the unveiling.
Autograph Sessions
The 2013 Kennesaw State men's basketball team will be signing autographs from 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., while Bohannon will be signing autographs during the second half.
Post-Match Fireworks!
Last but not least, there will be a fireworks show following the conclusion of Friday's match, starting approximately 10 minutes after the match ends.
THE OPPONENT:
Ole Miss
The Rebels (4-1-1) are coming off a hard-fought weekend at the Minnesota Gold Classic where Ole Miss played a pair of overtime matches against No. 13 Southern California (T, 1-1) and host Minnesota (L, 2-1). The Rebels are 2-1-0 on the road this season and are led by Rafaelle Souza (five goals, three assists) and Mandy McCalla (five goals, one assist). In goal for Ole Miss is Kelly McCormick, who owns a 0.83 goals-against average.
THE SERIES:
This will be the first meeting between the Ole Miss Rebels and the Kennesaw State Owls. This is the second time this season that KSU has faced a first-time opponent. The Owls fell to Oklahoma, 2-0, on Aug. 25, in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
LAST TIME OUT:
After dropping a heartbreaking match to Georgia State a season ago, the Owls were determined to return the favor to the Panthers and did so in dramatic fashion as junior midfielder
Nicole Calder scored the game-winning goal on a cross from redshirt-junior defender
Jewelia Strickland in the 86th minute of the match to give KSU a 1-0 win over Georgia State at the GSU Soccer Complex on Friday, Sept. 6.
NEXT UP:
KSU continues its five-match home stand with a rare midweek match on Tuesday, Sept. 17, against Samford at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (ET). Admission for fans to all 2013 soccer matches is free throughout the year.
NEWS AND NOTES:
Defense Holds Strong
The Kennesaw State defense has continued where it left off a season ago and is holding opponents to a .085 shot percentage and a .380 shots on goal percentage through five matches.
Starting the Season off with a Bang
Making her 2013 debut after missing the first four matches due to injury, Calder made her presence felt immediately for KSU in notching the game-winning goal over the Panthers. Calder and redshirt-freshman defender
Brittney Reed have tallied the Owls' two goals on the season, while Strickland earned the first Owl assist of the year on her cross to Calder on Friday night.
Sturdivant Succeeding
Freshman goalkeeper
Olivia Sturdivant has continued her impressive play in goal, earning her second shutout of the season in Friday night's win over Georgia State. Sturdivant recorded three saves in the outing. She posted a season and career-high seven saves versus the Blue Devils. For the season, Sturdivant has totaled 21 saves in four matches and owns a .778 save percentage.
Playing 90
Redshirt-junior defender
Alma Gardarsdottir and Sturdivant have each played every minute of all five matches and lead the team in minutes played with a perfect 450.
Notable Returners
Individually, the Owls return 12 letter winners from the 2012 squad, including eight starters. Notable returnees include 2012 All A-Sun First-Team
Katrina Frost, Second-Team selections Strickland and
Kelsey Barr, and All-Freshman Team honoree
Danielle Gray.
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 -
