Saturday, March 2
1:00 p.m. – Kennesaw State (0-3) at Winthrop (0-5)
Links: Live Stats
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Notes: KSU 

The Opening Draw
» The Kennesaw State women's lacrosse team squares off against Winthrop this Saturday as both the Owls and Eagles search for their first wins of the season.

» Siena Gore logged her second straight game with five goals to bring her season total up to 13, good enough for first in the ASUN and 30th in the NCAA. Her current 4.3 goals per game average ranks eighth in the nation.

» Marissa Gore tied her career-high for the second straight game with five draw controls in KSU's home-opener against Marquette. Gore ranks among the league's top-10 for draw controls (T-8th), ground balls (T-8th) and caused turnovers (T-4th).

» KSU has been a force in the center circle throughout the early portion of the season, racking up 40 total draw controls to rank second in the conference while leading the league averaging 13.3 draw controls per game. Siena Gore (T-4th), Marissa Gore (T-8th) and Abby Squires (T-8th) all rank among the league's top-10 having recorded 10 or more draw controls.

» The Owls are the top free position shooting team in the ASUN, going 14-of-18 from the hash for a 77.8 shooting percentage. KSU is the only team in the nation currently shooting over 70 percent. Siena Gore has netted eight of KSU's 14 goals from the spot, ranking third in the NCAA averaging 2.67 free position goals per game.

» Alex Bunn logged her third straight game with double-digit saves against Marquette. On the year, Bunn has totaled 37 saves to rank third in the conference. Her 12.3 saves per game average ranks eighth in the NCAA.

» Just three games into the season, the Owls are among the nation's top shooting teams with a 47.8 shooting percentage. That mark is good enough for second in the conference and 16th in the NCAA, trailing only Coastal Carolina who leads the country with a 58.8 shooting percentage. 

Scouting The Eagles
The Eagles enter Saturday's game looking to record their first win of the year after starting the season 0-5, dropping their most recent game at Old Dominion 11-10. Winthrop has had the upper hand on the Owls in the past with a 4-0 series record.

Sophomore Lauren Morris leads the attack for Winthrop, recording 10 goals and four assists so far this season. Four Eagles have netted at least five goals on the year.

Defensively, goalkeeper Alaina Girani leads the Bog South and ranks 10th in the country with 49 total saves. Girani is also third in the NCAA averaging 4.8 ground balls per game.

A Tale Of Two Sisters
Sophomore twins Siena and Marissa Gore have been a force to be reckoned with since joining KSU. Siena Gore picked up right where she left off from last season with 13 goals over KSU's first three games, logging five goals in the last two games. She currently leads the league for total goals while ranking eighth in the NCAA with a 4.3 goals per game average.

Siena is also the team leader in draw controls, ranking tied for fourth in the conference with 13 on the year. Although just a sophomore, Siena Gore is already second on the KSU all-time career draw controls list with 132, one of three Owls with over 100 draw controls. She is also currently ranked fifth all-time with 83 career goals.

Meanwhile, Marissa Gore has been a tremendous presence in the midfield for KSU, leading the team in both ground balls and caused turnovers. She set a single-game career-high with four ground balls in KSU's season-opener at Arizona State, following it up with career-highs in draw controls (5) and caused turnovers (4) at Vanderbilt, a mark that is tied for third in KSU single-game history.

Marissa Gore's seven caused turnovers is tied for fourth in the conference while her 2.3 caused turnovers per game average stands at 22nd in the NCAA. Gore also ranks among the league's top-10 for ground balls (T-8th) and draw controls (T-8th).

While at Vandy, Marissa also recorded one goal and one assist.

Eight-Meters Out
The Owls recorded eight free position goals against Marquette, finishing 8-of-10, which is tied for third all-time in a single-game. On the year, KSU is 14-of-18 on free position attempts, leading the country with a 77.8 scoring percentage.

The Owls' 14 free position goals ranks second in the league, trailing Liberty by only one goal with two games in hand.

Siena Gore has netted eight of her 13 goals this season off free position attempts. Her eight goals scored ranks first in the league while her 2.67 free position goals per game average ranks third in the NCAA.

Gore currently holds the KSU career record for free-position goals with 41, 14 more than the next closest Owl.

Anna Giulitto, Izzy Palermo and Abby Squires have all been perfect from the hash so far this year netting three, two and one goals respectively. Giulitto is one of six players in the nation, not including Palermo and Squires, with a perfect free position shooting percentage.

With three goals scored, Giulitto has secured sole possession of eighth place on the all-time free position goals scored list with 15. Palermo is now tied with Connor Zophy for fifth following her two goals on the year.

Bullseye
The Owls are currently one of the most accurate shooting teams in the nation ranked second in the ASUN and 16th in the NCAA with a 47.8 shooting percentage.

KSU trails only Coastal Carolina who leads the country with a 58.8 shooting percentage.

Izzy Palermo has been a sharpshooter for the Owls scoring six goals on nine shots to rank second in the league and 13th in the NCAA with a 66.7 shooting percentage.

Siena Gore is second on the squad with 13 goals on 23 shots. Of her 23 shots, 18 have been on goal. She is currently averaging six shots on goal per game to rank 10th in the NCAA.

With 51 of its 69 shots this year on goal, KSU is currently ranked fourth in the conference with a 73.9 shots on goal percentage.

1...2...3...Draw!
Kennesaw State has racked up 40 draw controls so far this season to rank second in the conference. Three Owls rank among the league's top-10 for draw controls.

KSU averages 13.3 draw controls per game to lead the league.

Siena Gore leads the Owls with 13 draw controls to rank tied for fourth in the conference. Marissa Gore and Abby Squires are both tied for 10th with 10 draw controls each.

While Siena Gore is firmly locked in second on the all-time career draw controls record list for the time being, needing 81 draw controls to set a new career record, Squires has begun her climb towards the top. Squires entered the year in eighth with 53 career draw controls, moving up to sixth place following the first three games of the season.

Despite only recording two draw controls so far this year, Izzy Palermo has managed to maintain her No. 5 ranking, staying just ahead of Squires with 64 career draw controls.

Bunn-believable
Senior Alex Bunn put the ASUN on notice in her first game back between the pipes. Bunn fended off a potent Arizona State offense, breaking the KSU single-game record with 17 saves.

Bunn has recorded double-digit saves in all three games to give her 37 on the year, which ranks third in the league and 28th in the NCAA. Her 12.3 saves per game average is good enough for eighth in the nation.

The Roswell, Ga., native has jumped from fourth to second on the all-time career saves list with 177, 13 saves shy of the overall record.

Maness Enters Third Season
Head Coach Laura Maness looks to continue to elevate the women's lacrosse program in her third season at the helm.

Since taking over in 2017, the Owls have had their best two-year stretch with 15 wins, more than the first four years of the program combined. In 2017, KSU recorded a program-best eight wins.

The rise in KSU's production over the last two seasons is noticeable, recording over 200 goals, 400 ground balls and 200 draw controls in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.

Next Up
After Saturday's game, the Owls return to Fifth Third Bank Stadium to open a three-game homestand against St. Bonaventure Thursday (Mar. 7) at 7 p.m.

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