By: Ryan Shillcutt (KSU Student Intern)
Match Notes | Watch | Live Stats | Tickets
NASHVILLE, Tenn.- The Kennesaw State Owls will look to bring home their third ASUN Conference Championship when they face the Lipscomb Bisons on Saturday, Nov. 9 in Nashville.
Coverage
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+. Links to watch and follow live stats are available on KSUOwls.com.
ASUN Tournament Recap
The Owls entered the ASUN Tournament as the fifth seed and started off hot with a 3-1 win over North Florida. Goals from Erin Harris, Morgan Harrison and First-Team All-Conference selection Isabella Contreras lifted the Owls to the second round.
In the semifinals, the Owls faced the top-seeded Florida Gulf Coast Eagles, led by ASUN Player of the Year Evdokia Popadinova. After going down 2-0 early, the Owls rallied behind goals from ASUN Freshman of the Year Becky Contreras and senior Carly Pressgrove. Goalkeeper Tiffany Sornpao saved the day for the Owls in the penalty shootout, saving four out of five shots to secure a championship berth for the Owls for the first time since 2014. The Owls have not won the ASUN Conference Championship since 2009.
Team Notes
Going into the ASUN Championship, the Owls rank third in the conference for goals scored (28) and fifth in goals allowed this season (21). Harris is tied for second in the conference for assists with six, and Sornpao ranks fourth in total saves with 81 and fifth in save percentage (.794). The Owls have registered 131 shots on target this season, which is good for third in the ASUN.
The 11 victories this season is good for the most wins over a two-season span since 2007-08 when the Owls won 28 games. The total from 2018-19 is 23 wins. KSU carries its five-game unbeaten streak into the Championship game.
Tournament History
The Owls are 2-1 vs Lipscomb all-time in ASUN Tournament play, with their last meeting coming in the semifinals in 2017. Lipscomb won the match 1-0.
Opponent Preview
The Owls will look to resolve their recent struggles against Lipscomb, as they have lost three in a row to the Bisons dating back to last season. The Bisons are also the reigning ASUN Conference Champions, having defeated North Alabama by a score of 3-2 last year to lift the trophy. The Bisons have appeared in the last four ASUN Championship matches, losing to FGCU in three consecutive seasons (2015-17) before defeating North Alabama in 2018.
The Bisons have the most lethal attack in the conference, scoring 40 goals and tallying 112 points this season, both first in the ASUN. They're led by seniors Olivia Doak (nine goals, five assists) and Maycie McKay (six goals, seven assists). Both players were selected to the First-Team All-Conference. Freshman forward Molly Grant is also an X-factor, being selected to the All-Freshman team with her performances this season (six goals, six assists). Their defense is also impressive, only allowing 17 goals in 19 games this season, only FGCU had a better defense this season.
The Bisons are also on a long streak of their own heading into the title round, winning their past six games. In those six games, goalkeeper Melissa Gray has recorded five clean sheets and the Bisons have won by a combined score of 16-1.
@Ryan_Shilly Game Preview
In the ASUN Conference Championship game Friday night, the Owls will look to their key players, Harris and Isabella Contreras to push the ball upfield and create as many chances as possible as they will try to unlock the top-rated defense in the ASUN Conference. Sornpao will have her hands full at the other end dealing with top scorers Doak and McKay of Lipscomb. If the Owls can dominate the midfield with the likes of Pressgrove and Becky Contreras, the Owls can bring their decade-long championship drought to an end.
PK with Benji Walton
Head Coach Benji Walton joins Nolan Alexander to preview the ASUN Championship match. He discusses the team's morale and what fans can expect to see in Saturday's title bout.
For more information on Kennesaw State soccer, follow @KSUOwlsSoccer on Twitter and Â
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