KENNESAW STATE VS FURMAN, MEMPHIS
MATCHES 7-8 | SEPTEMBER 12-14, 2014
KENNESAW, Ga. | FIFTH THIRD BANK STADIUM (8,300)
 
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO (FRIDAY ONLY) | LIVE AUDIO (SUNDAY ONLY) | PROMOTIONS | TWITTER
 
THE MATCHES:
After almost three weeks away from the friendly confines of Fifth Third Bank Stadium, the Kennesaw State soccer team returns to Kennesaw this weekend to open a three-match homestand. The Owls will first take on Furman in a 7 p.m. ET contest on Friday, Sept. 12, before facing Memphis at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14.
 
Live video for Friday's contest will be available on ASun.TV, while live audio for Sunday's match will be broadcasted on KSU All-Access.
 
THE PROMOTIONS:
With the Owls returning to Fifth Third Bank Stadium, there are a number of promotions set for this weekend's matches. On Friday there will be inflatables and a halftime performance from the KSU Flight Squad. Along with the dance team's performance, football head coach Brian Bohannon will speak to celebrate the one-year countdown to the Owls' first home football game.
 
On Sunday, the fan favorite Sundae Funday will be back with free ice cream sundaes for fans while supplies last.
 
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 Friday's match via KSUOwls.com, with Nathan McCreary on the call.
LIVE AUDIO: A live audio broadcast will be available at the start of Sunday's match via KSUOwls.com, with Kaleb Frady on the call.
TWITTER: Follow the Kennesaw State women's soccer team on Twitter @KSUOwlsSoccer to receive updates throughout the match.
 
THE OPPONENTS:
Furman/Memphis
The Paladins opened the 2014 season with an overtime win over Georgia State, before dropping a 2-1 decision to Auburn. Since then, Furman has won three-straight, including Mississippi State (2-1), Presbyterian College (4-1) and USC Upstate (3-0). They are led by Stephanie DeVita (3G) and Carlie Couch (2G 2A), who lead the Paladins with six points. After opening the season with a 2-1 win over Alabama, the Tigers have gone winless with ties against Lipscomb and Ole Miss and losses against Vanderbilt and Auburn. Valeria Sanderson leads UM with six points on three goals this season, which play Southeastern Louisiana on Friday prior to Sunday's match.  
 
THE SERIES:
The Owls own a 1-0-0 record against the Paladins after earning a 3-1 win over Furman on Sept. 12, 2008 in Spartanburg, S.C., while Sunday's match against the Tigers will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.  In the Owls' 3-1 win over the Paladins, Brittany Vining posted her first two goals of her career and Beth Meadors added a third score to lead KSU to victory.
 
LAST TIME OUT:
The Kennesaw State soccer team went 1-1 at the Blue Raider Classic, hosted by Middle Tennessee at the Hayes Soccer Stadium. The Owls opened the tournament with a 1-0 win over Austin Peay as freshman Marit Sandtroeen headed in her first-career goal off of a cross from senior Julia Nelson in the 56th minute of the match. KSU then dropped a back-and-forth overtime battle with South Florida on Sunday when the Bulls scored the game's only goal in 99th minute for the 1-0 victory.
 
NEXT UP:
The Owls wrap up their three-match homestand with a 7 p.m. match against UT Martin on Friday, Sept. 19, before traveling to Birmingham, Ala., for a 1 p.m. contest at Samford on Sunday, Sept. 21.
 
NEWS AND NOTES:
Gaughan Leading Owls
Sophomore Maggie Gaughan leads the Owls with six points on three goals this season. She ranks in the top five of the Atlantic Sun Conference in points (t-fourth, six), points per game (t-fifth, 1.0 avg./game), goals (three) and goals per game (0.50 avg./game).
 
Sturdivant in Goal
Since returning to the lineup, sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Sturdivant has been tough to beat in front of the net and holds a 0.73 goals against average in 368 minutes of action. She ranks in the top seven in the league in goals against average (fourth, 0.73 GAA), save percentage (fourth, .824), saves (seventh, 14), shutouts (t-third, one).
 
KSU Defense Stepping Up
After giving up five goals in their season-opening match at Alabama, the Kennesaw State defense has buckled down to allow only four goals in its last five matches. In this stretch the Owls have allowed no more than one goal per match, while also earning their first shutout of the season against Austin Peay last Friday.
 
Offsides
KSU opponents have been flagged for 36 offside calls in six matches this season, including a season-high 10 from South Florida on Sunday.
 
How Long Has is it Been?
Following almost three weeks away from Fifth Third Bank Stadium, the Owls return to Kennesaw for its first home match since hosting Georgia State on Aug. 25.
 
Calder Selected as Senior CLASS Award Candidate
On Sept. 2, senior Nicole Calder was named as one of 30 candidates for the 2014 women's soccer Senior CLASS Award. The list is comprised of 30 NCAA Division I seniors who have notable achievements in four areas – community, classroom, character and competition. The candidate class will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, before the winner is announced during the 2014 Women's College Cup in December.
 
King Nets 200th win
With the Owls' 1-0 win over Austin Peay last Friday, head coach Rob King earned his 200th career head coaching win and now owns a 200-114-22 record in 19 seasons of coaching. At Kennesaw State, King owns a 156-62-18 record after earning the program's 150th win against Northern Kentucky on Sept. 29, 2012. Prior to KSU, King spent six seasons at Montevallo and accumulated a 44-52-4 record while coaching the Falcons.
 
Gaughan Earns A-Sun Player of the Week Honor
For her efforts this season, Gaughan was selected as the A-Sun Player of the Week on Sept. 2, following her second-career two-goal game to lead the Owls to a 2-1 win over South Alabama. It was her first-career Player of the Week accolade and the first for the Owls' this season.
 
Program Wins 100th Division I Win
With the 2-1 win over USA on Aug. 31, Kennesaw State registered its 100th Division I win in program history. The program is currently in its 10th season at the Division I level and owns a 100-56-16 mark in that period. The Owls have an all-time program record of 156-62-18 in 13 seasons.
 
KSU on the 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 Calder were named to the team.
 
2014 Team Breakdown
The Owls are a mix of youth and experience, with 12 letterwinners returning from a season ago as well as welcoming in nine newcomers in 2014, including six international student-athletes and three local players.
 
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.
 
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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