By: By Libby Knight
KENNESAW STATE VS TROY
MATCH 8 | SEPTEMBER 22, 2013
KENNESAW, Ga. | FIFTH THIRD BANK STADIUM (8,300)
FREE ADMISSION
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE AUDIO | PROMOTIONS | TWITTER
THE MATCH:
Kennesaw State wraps one of its toughest nonconference schedules in program history with a 1 p.m. (ET) match against Troy on Sunday, Sept. 22 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
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 Daniel Miller 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 OPPONENT:
Troy
After dropping three-straight matches, the Trojans (4-5-0) have bounced back with back-to-back wins, including a 4-2 win over Murray State last Sunday and a 3-1 victory over Gardner-Webb on Friday. The Trojans are 1-4-0 on the road in 2013, with four players with three goals, as well as three players with three assists. In goal is Caitlin Buono, who owns a 2-5-0 record and a 2.19 goals-against average.
THE SERIES:
Sunday's match will be the first-ever meeting against the Trojans in the fall season. While the Owls have faced the Trojans in spring competition, the two programs have not played against each other in the main competition season.
LAST TIME OUT:
The Owls ran into a talented Samford squad on Tuesday, Sept. 17, dropping a tough 3-0 decision against the Bulldogs on a chilly night at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. With less than four minutes left in the first half, Samford broke the scoreless tie with a goal from Amanda Abbott in the 41st minute. The Bulldogs then added a pair of second half goals to cement the victory.
NEXT UP:
The Owls next open Atlantic Sun Conference play with the final two home matches in September as KSU first battles Lipscomb on Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m., followed by a show down with Northern Kentucky on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. Both matches will be held at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
NEWS AND NOTES:
Dynamite Defense
The Kennesaw State defense continues to be the consistent force behind the Owls, holding its opponents to a 0.116 shot percentage and a 0.463 shots on goal percentage through seven matches. The Owls have also tallied a pair of shutouts this season (Tennessee Tech, Georgia State).
Leaders in Attendance
Through two home matches in 2013, the Owls are averaging an attendance of 1,207 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.
Offensive Leaders
Junior
Nicole Calder, redshirt-freshman
Brittney Reed and freshman
Suzanne Arafa have each notched a goal for the Owls this season, with redshirt-junior
Jewelia Strickland owning the lone Owl assist of the season. Arafa lead the team with 11 shots on the season, with five of those shots coming on frame.
Strong Sturdivant
Freshman goalkeeper
Olivia Sturdivant has impressed in her first season in goal with the Owls. The Sanford, N.C., native owns a 1.57 goals-against average, while totaling 33 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 five matches this season. For the season, Sturdivant owns a .750 save percentage.
Playing 90
Redshirt-junior defender
Alma Gardarsdottir and Sturdivant have each played every minute of all seven matches and lead the team in minutes played with a perfect 630.
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 -
