KENNESAW STATE AT ALABAMA
MATCH 1 | AUGUST 22, 2014
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. | ALABAMA SOCCER COMPLEX
 
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | TWITTER
 
THE MATCH:
After two weeks of preseason and three exhibition matches, the Kennesaw State soccer team will officially open the 2014 season on Friday, Aug. 22 as the Owls travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to take on Southeastern Conference (SEC) foe Alabama in the Alabama Soccer Complex at 8 p.m. ET. 
 
THE COVERAGE:
LIVE STATS: Statistical updates will be available from KSUOwls.com at the start of Friday's match.
LIVE VIDEO: A live video broadcast will be available for a fee on SEC Network+.
TWITTER: Follow the Kennesaw State women's soccer team on Twitter @KSUOwlsSoccer to receive updates throughout the match.
 
THE OPPONENT:
Alabama
The Crimson Tide return nine starters and 12 letterwinners from a 6-12 season in 2013, including the top scorer from a season ago in senior forward Pia Rijsdijk. Along with its returning group, the Tide also welcome in nine newcomers for the 2014 season. In its lone preseason exhibition match, Alabama defeated Mississippi State, 2-0, on Saturday night (Aug. 16) at the Alabama Soccer Complex. The Tide controlled much of the possession and outshot the Bulldogs 16 to nine.
 
THE SERIES:
The Owls own a 1-2-0 record against the Crimson Tide, including the program's first-ever win against the SEC with a 3-2 victory over The Tide on Sept. 7, 2007 in Tuscaloosa. In the teams' last meeting, Alabama earned a 1-0 win in Kennesaw on Aug. 17, 2012. The Owls are 2-8 against the SEC, with the program's second-ever win coming at Arkansas in a 1-0 decision on Sept. 2, 2012.
 
LAST TIME OUT:
The Owls went 2-1 in their preseason exhibition season, earning wins over Wofford (1-0) and Clayton State (6-1) before dropping a hard-fought 4-2 defeat to Middle Tennessee in the final exhibition on Sunday. Sophomore Maggie Gaughan and freshman Marit Sandtroeen both posted two goals in the three matches, with redshirt-sophomore Brittney Reed registering three assists for the Owls. All three KSU goalkeepers saw action in the three matches, with sophomore Olivia Sturdivant owning a 1.20 goals-against average in 75 minutes of play.
 
NEXT UP:
KSU returns to Kennesaw for its 2014 home opener on Monday, Aug. 25 as the Owls host regional rival Georgia State at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will be available on KSUTV.
 
NEWS AND NOTES:
2013 Review
The Owls return eight starters and 12 letterwinners from a 9-9-1 team that advanced to the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament semifinals in 2013.
 
2014 A-Sun Coaches Poll
In the annual A-Sun Coaches Poll, KSU was picked to finish third, coming in behind regular season champion Florida Gulf Coast and tournament champion Jacksonville.
 
Record in Season Openers
The Owls are 7-5 in season openers, including a 1-0 win over Tennessee Tech in last season's beginner in Knoxville, Tenn. Twice before KSU has faced Alabama in its opener, with the Tide winning both contests.
 
New Assistant Coach     
Head coach Rob King announced the addition of former Owls soccer player Rachel Beckler as an assistant coach for the 2014 season. Beckler was a standout in her first and only season with the Owls in 2008 and earned NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division I All-Mid-Atlantic Region Third-Team, A-Sun First-Team All-Conference and A-Sun All-Tournament Team accolades.
 
Newcomers
Along with its 12 returners, the Owls welcome in nine newcomers for the 2014 season, including six international student-athletes, three from Canada and three from Norway, along with three local players.
 
Owls on the 2014 A-Sun Preseason All-Conference Team
A pair of KSU seniors landed on the 2014 Preseason All-Atlantic Sun Team as defender Alma Gardarsdottir and midfielder Nicole Calder were named to the team.
 
Top Returners Part I
Calder is the top returning point-getter, having recording seven points a season ago on two goals and three assists. Top returning goal scorers for the Owls are sophomores Maggie Gaughan and Shannon Driscoll, while Calder and redshirt-sophomore Brittney Reed notched three assists each in 2013, the most of any returning players.
 
Top Returners Part II
Sophomore Olivia Sturdivant played every minute in goal for the Owls in her first collegiate season. She ranked second in the conference with seven shutouts and sat sixth in the league with a 1.23 goals-against average in overall action, before lowering her average to 1.15 in league play to rank fourth in the A-Sun.  
 
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 2014 home soccer contests is free throughout the year.
 
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.
 
 

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