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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Kennesaw State soccer team combined an offensive outburst with a complete team effort to send the sixth-seeded Owls to a 5-0 victory over third-seeded Jacksonville in the first round of the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament on Friday night at Southern Oak Stadium.
 
"It was a great performance," said head coach Rob King. "That was the best we have played this year. Pretty good scoring tonight with five goals in the game, but defensively we were excellent against a good Jacksonville team. They did not win it last year for nothing. They were a good side and well-coached. We jumped out to an early lead and I think that really helped. We kept the pressure on for a full 90 minutes and it was great to see the older players get on the scoreboard and some of the youngsters as well."
 
With the win, the Owls advance to their second-consecutive A-Sun Conference Tournament semifinals, hosted by No. 1 seed Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers, Fla., next weekend and will face No. 2 seed Lipscomb on Friday, Nov. 7.
 
The Owls struck fast as senior Alma Gardarsdottir scored her second goal of the season in just the second minute of the match on a header off of cross from freshman Marit Sandtroeen on the right side of the field.
 
With less than a minute left in the first half, KSU added to its lead when redshirt-sophomore Danielle Gray earned her first goal of the season on a 50-yard free kick that hit off JU goalkeeper Sarah Sierra and into the goal for the 2-0 Owl advantage heading into intermission.
 
In the second half, the Owls continued to pressure the Dolphins and broke through for their third goal of the match in the 77th minute when JU was flagged for a hand ball in the penalty box and KSU was awarded a penalty kick. Gray calmly converted the kick for her second goal of the season.
 
Freshman Khatra Mahdi made it 4-0 in the 88th minute on her first career goal as an Owl on a chip shot to the right corner of the goal from 10 yards out. Senior Julia Nelson finished off the scoring for the Owls a minute later as she got in on the fun with her second goal of the season. Mahdi earned her first career assist as the Canada native sent a cross to Gardarsdottir, who then tapped the ball to Nelson and the Marietta, Ga., native finished into the back of the net.   
 
The Owls improved to 3-0 on Halloween and posted a season-high in goals in a match this season. The 5-0 decision is tied for the second largest margin of victory in the quarterfinal rounds in A-Sun history.
 
KSU outshot the Dolphins 18-9, including a 9-2 mark on shots on goal. Gardarsdottir and Nelson each totaled three shots to lead the Owl charge.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Sturdivant collected a pair of saves to post her third shutout of the season.
 
The Owls next travel to Fort Myers, Fla., for a semifinal match-up with No. 2 seed Lipscomb on Friday, Nov. 7 at the FGCU Soccer Complex.
 
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.
 
Fifth Third Bank is the Official Bank of Kennesaw State Athletics. Fifth Third Bank Stadium is the home of women's soccer, women's lacrosse and football, which will play its inaugural season in 2015.