By: By Libby Knight
KENNESAW STATE AT GEORGIA STATE
MATCH 5 | SEPTEMBER 6, 2013
ATLANTA, GA. | GSU SOCCER COMPLEX (1,892)
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE BLOG | TWITTER
THE MATCH:
The Kennesaw State soccer team will wrap its five-match road trip to start the 2013 season on Friday, Sept. 6, when the Owls drive the short distance to Atlanta to face off against rival Georgia State. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (ET) at the GSU Soccer Complex at 7 p.m.
It will be the only match of the weekend for KSU, who will be off until its home-opener against Southeastern Conference (SEC) opponent Mississippi on Friday, Sept. 13 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
THE COVERAGE:
LIVE STATS: Statistical updates will be available from KSUOwls.com at the start of the match.
LIVE BLOG: A CoveritLive Blog conducted by Assistant Director of Athletics Communications
Libby Knight will be available for the match via KSUOwls.com starting 15 minutes prior to the contest.
TWITTER: Follow the Kennesaw State women's soccer team on Twitter @
KSUOwlsSoccer to receive updates throughout the match.
THE OPPONENT:
Georgia State
The Panthers (0-1-1) come in having only played two matches in 2013, but have had both contests head to extra time on the road. GSU opened its season with a 2-2 double-overtime tie with A-Sun member Mercer, before falling to SEC foe Alabama, 2-1, in overtime. Friday's match with the Owls will be the home opener for GSU. The Panthers are led offensively by Nikki Fedele and Whitney Raven, who have each recorded a goal and an assist on the season. In goal, Brie Haynes has played every minute and owns a 1.77 goals-against average with 14 saves
THE SERIES:
The Owls currently own a 2-1-0 advantage in the all-time series with the Panthers, but fell in the previous meeting between the two schools, 2-1, last season in Kennesaw.
Despite a record crowd of 2,683 fans at last season's meeting, Raven scored the game-winning goal with less than 40 second remaining. After the Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the first half, the Owls tied up the contest with seven minutes left on a
Danielle Gray header goal from a
Julia Nelson corner kick.
LAST TIME OUT:
KSU went head-to-head with the nation's top competition at the Carolina Nike Classic last weekend in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Owls dropped both matches in the tournament against No. 12 Duke (1-0) on Friday and No. 1 North Carolina (3-0) on Sunday, but showed the strength of its defense and the tenacity of its fight.
NEXT UP:
The Owls return to Kennesaw for their home-opener at Fifth Third Bank Stadium on Friday, Sept. 13, facing Southeastern Conference (SEC) opponent Mississippi at 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 .103 shot percentage through four matches.
Offensive Leaders
Redshirt-freshman
Brittney Reed tallied KSU's lone points on the season with a game-winning goal against Tennessee Tech in the season opener. Freshman
Suzanne Arafa leads the Owls with seven shots, including two on frame.
Sturdivant Succeeding
Freshman goalkeeper
Olivia Sturdivant was impressive against the high-powered offenses of Duke and North Carolina, posting a season and career-high seven saves versus the Blue Devils and five against UNC. For the season, Sturdivant has totaled 18 saves in four matches and owns a .750 save percentage.
Playing 90
Redshirt-junior
Alma Gardarsdottir, sophomore
Hannah Churchill and Sturdivant have each played every minute of all four matches and lead the team in minutes played with a perfect 360.
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
Jewelia Strickland and
Kelsey Barr, and All-Freshman Team honoree 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 -
