KENNESAW STATE VS GEORGIA STATE
MATCH 2 | AUGUST 25, 2014
KENNESAW, Ga. | FIFTH THIRD BANK STADIUM (8,300)
 
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | PROMOTIONS | TWITTER
 
THE MATCH:
The Kennesaw State soccer team returns to the friendly confines of Fifth Third Bank Stadium for its 2014 home opener on Monday, Aug. 25 as the Owls host regional rival Georgia State. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET and will be available on KSUTV via KSUOwls.com.
 
THE COVERAGE:
LIVE STATS: Statistical updates will be available from KSUOwls.com at the start of Monday's match.
LIVE VIDEO: A live video broadcast will be available at the start of the match via KSUOwls.com.
TWITTER: Follow the Kennesaw State women's soccer team on Twitter @KSUOwlsSoccer to receive updates throughout the match.
 
THE PROMOTIONS:
With the Owls kicking off the 2014 home slate, so does the 2014 promotional schedule on Monday at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Georgia Lottery will be holding its Dollars for Degrees program, with two students each winning $1,000 during Monday's match.
 
Along with Georgia Lottery Dollars for Degrees, it will also be Camper Reunion night as all attendees of Black and golf Soccer Camps can reunite with their fellow campers and cheer on the Owls against the Panthers.
 
THE OPPONENT:
Georgia State
The Panthers return 11 student-athletes from a 6-10-1 squad, while adding five freshmen and three transfers for the 2014 season. In the annual Sun Belt Preseason Poll, Derek Leader's team was picked to finish third in the league standings. GSU opened the 2014 season with a 1-0 overtime loss to Furman at Stone Stadium in Greenville, S.C. After 98 scoreless minutes, the Panthers were flagged for a hand ball in the box and Paladins converted the winning penalty kick. Top returners include forward Ashley Nagy (8G, 3A in 2013) and goalkeeper Brie Haynes (27 GA, 1.55 GAA, 105 Saves in 2013).
 
THE SERIES:
The Owls own a 3-1-0 mark against the Panthers, including a 1-0 win at the GSU Soccer Complex on Sept. 6, 2013 in the teams' last meeting. Senior Nicole Calder notched the game-winning goal with less than five minutes remaining in the match on the assist from then-senior Jewelia Strickland. KSU has also posted wins against GSU in 2005 and 2006, while the Panthers earned their first win in the series in a 2-1 decision on Aug. 24, 2012, the last time the two teams' played in Kennesaw.
 
LAST TIME OUT:
Sophomore Maggie Gaughan tallied the first Kennesaw State soccer goal of 2014 as the Owls dropped their season opener to Alabama, 5-1, at the Alabama Soccer Complex on a hot and humid Friday night (Aug. 22). Freshman Mali Kokvoll received the ball at the top of the 18-yard box, before tapping it over the Alabama defense to Gaughan, who finished into the top left corner of the goal in the 48th minute. It was the Marietta, Ga., native's fourth career goal and the first career assist for Kokvoll.
 
NEXT UP:
KSU next heads to its first of two consecutive tournaments next weekend, traveling to Troy, Ala., for the 2014 Troy Trojan Classic in the Troy Soccer Complex on Aug. 29-31. The Owls will face off against the host Trojans on Friday at 4 p.m., before taking on South Alabama on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
NEWS AND NOTES:
KSU in Home Openers
The Owls are 10-2 in home openers, but have loss back-to-back home beginners with a 1-0 setback to Alabama in 2012 and a 2-1 defeat from Ole Miss a season ago.
 
Home Opener Fun Facts
KSU has played Georgia State once before in a home opener, taking a 3-0 win over the Panthers on Aug. 25, 2006. The earliest home opener in program history was Aug. 17, 2012, while the latest was Sept. 29, 2005 against Stetson.
 
Owls at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in 2013
The Owls owned a 5-2-1 record, including an undefeated mark in A-Sun play, at home in Fifth Third Bank Stadium in 2013 and averaged 817 fans in attendance per game after a little over 6,500 fans came to watch the Owls play last season.
 
Freshmen Debuts
Eight freshmen Owls made their collegiate debut on Friday night at Alabama as Mady Carter, Ida Hepsoe, Marit Sandtroeen, Mali Kokvoll and Khatra Mahdi all recorded their first start in the Black and Gold. Ashtah Das, Ava Scott-Moncrieff and Abby Roth each made an appearance as a substitute in the contest.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
 

Related Videos

Now Playing:

• Play Video