By: By Libby Knight
KENNESAW STATE VS SAMFORD
MATCH 7 | SEPTEMBER 17, 2013
KENNESAW, Ga. | FIFTH THIRD BANK STADIUM (8,300)
FREE ADMISSION
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE AUDIO | PROMOTIONS | TWITTER
THE MATCH:
The Kennesaw State soccer team 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).
THE COVERAGE:
LIVE STATS: Statistical updates will be available from KSUOwls.com at the start of the match.
LIVE AUDIO: Play-by-Play will be available from KSUOwls.com with Nathan McCreary 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:
All Kennesaw State students are invited to a pregame student tailgate, presented by the KSU Bookstore, prior to Tuesday night's soccer match against Samford. The tailgate will run from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. or until supplies last, on the main concourse of Fifth Third Bank Stadium, with food provided by Skips Catering. Students must have a valid campus card to participate.
THE OPPONENT:
Samford
The Bulldogs (4-2-0) come into Tuesday's match on a two-match winning streak, including its third win over an SEC opponent this season on Friday with a 3-2 win over Vanderbuilt. SU has also notched wins over Tennessee (1-0) and Auburn (1-0). Samford is 1-2 on the road in 2013, with its lone win over UTSA (2-0) and are led offensively by Trine Taule (two goals, one assist). In goal is Katie Peters, who owns a 0.97 goals-against average.
THE SERIES:
The Owls own 1-3-0 record against Samford, but earned its first victory in school history against the Bulldogs in last season's meeting in Birmingham. KSU came away with a 2-1 win at the Samford Track and Soccer Complex on Sept. 14, 2012 as sophomore forward
Danielle Gray and redshirt-junior defender
Jewelia Strickland each notched goals, before the Owl defense held Samford to a single second half goal to get the historic victory.
LAST TIME OUT:
Despite a rowdy, enthusiastic crowd of 1,883 fans, the Owls dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to SEC foe Ole Miss on Friday, Sept. 13 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. In the 57th minute freshman midfielder
Suzanne Arafa converted the first Owl penalty kick of the season for a 1-0 lead. The lead would not last long as the Rebels scored a minute later to even the match. Ole Miss then scored the go-ahead goal in the 70th minute on a controversial call during an Ole Miss free kick in the KSU 18-yard box that resulted in a penalty kick for the Rebels.
NEXT UP:
Following Tuesday's match KSU is off until Sunday, Sept. 22, when the Owls take on Troy in a 1 p.m. (ET) contest at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Admission for fans to all 2013 soccer matches is free throughout the year.
NEWS AND NOTES:
Defense Holds Strong
The Kennesaw State defense continues to be the consistent force behind the Owls, ranking second in the Atlantic Sun Conference in goals allowed with a 1.33 average, while also ranking fifth in shutouts with a pair this season (Tennessee Tech, Georgia State).
Offensive Leaders
After leading the Owls in shots and shots on goal for most of the season, freshman midfielder
Suzanne Arafa finally notched her first career goal in Black and Gold on Friday against Ole Miss. Arafa converted KSU's first penalty kick of the season in a 2-1 loss to the Rebels. Along with Arafa, redshirt-freshman defender
Brittney Reed and junior midfielder
Nicole Calder have each tallied goals, while redshirt-junior defender
Jewelia Strickland owns the lone Owl assist on the season.
Sturdivant Succeeding
Freshman goalkeeper
Olivia Sturdivant has impressed in her first season in goal with the Owls. The Sanford, N.C., native owns a 1.33 goals-against average, while totaling 27 saves through a tough early-season slate of matches. She posted a season and career-high seven saves against No. 12 Duke and has registered at least five saves in four matches this season. For the season, Sturdivant owns a .771 save percentage.
Playing 90
Redshirt-junior defender
Alma Gardarsdottir and Sturdivant have each played every minute of all six matches and lead the team in minutes played with a perfect 540.
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 -
