Saturday, Apr. 24
2:00 p.m. ET – Kennesaw State (5-7, 1-1) at Mercer (4-6, 2-2)
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Notes: KSU

OPENING DRAW
» The Kennesaw State women's lacrosse team caps off its home-and-home series with Mercer this Saturday, taking on the Bears in Macon at 2 p.m. Fans can expect another tight battle between the in-state foes as the Owls look to even the series after dropping the first meeting 20-19 in overtime. Both Gores hit career marks in the previous matchup with Siena Gore recording nine goals and Marissa Gore dishing out five assists.

» KSU is looking to bounce back after recording a season-low six goals in its last match at Liberty. Seeing limited action against the Flames, Siena Gore recorded only one goal for the first time in her career. Despite that, she still ranks second in the NCAA for goals per game averaging 5.18 while ranked fourth with 57 total goals. Gore has recorded six or more goals in five games this season tying her career-high, and the KSU single-game record she previously set, with nine goals against Wofford and Mercer. Only six other players in the country have netted at least 50 goals on the year. Gore also leads the country for total free position goals (28) and free position goals per game (2.55) while ranked 21st in the NCAA for draw controls per game (6.09) and 32nd for caused turnovers per game (1.73). This year Gore became the first Owl in program history to record over 200 career points while breaking the all-time ASUN record for career goals and draw controls with 223 and 330 respectively. She needs just 12 more points to break the all-time conference record for career points.

» Freshman Julia Weiss has been a brick wall in the net for KSU, recording her sixth game with double-digit saves at Liberty. She currently leads the league and ranks 26th in the NCAA with 106 saves. Following her 12 saves against the Flames, Weiss became the sixth goalkeeper in program history to reach the century mark for career saves, reaching that mark in a record 12 games.

» Twin sister Marissa Gore has provided a one-two punch for KSU, recording at least four points in seven games this year. She currently leads the league with 16 assists, recording a career-high five assists against Mercer, one shy of the single-game record. A threat across the field, Gore ranks second in the league for points (46), draw controls (50), ground balls (32) and caused turnovers (20) while ranked third for goals (30).

» On the defensive side, the Owls have seven players ranked in the league's top-15 for caused turnovers with Marissa and Siena Gore ranked second and third with 20 and 19 caused turnovers respectively. Payton Gregory and Roslyn Talbert round out the top-10 ranked eighth and 10th while Julia Weiss comes in at 14th followed by Carson Pearson and Rachel Price in 15th. As a team, KSU ranks 25th in the NCAA averaging 9.42 caused turnovers per game.

WONDER TWIN POWERS
Senior twins Siena and Marissa Gore have buoyed the KSU attack this season and throughout their careers. They rank first and second in the ASUN for total points on the year, leading the Owls with 57 and 30 goals respectively. They are the only two players in the league to record over 40 points on the year with Siena ranked 10th in the country.

Siena Gore has netted at least six goals in five games, breaking the single-game record twice with a career-high nine goals against Wofford and Mercer. Siena is one of seven players in the country to record over 50 goals this season, ranked second in the NCAA for goals per game (5.18) and fourth for total goals (57). She has now netted over 50 goals in three seasons, the only Owl to score 50+ goals in a year.

She leads the ASUN with 62 points as her and sister Marissa, who ranks second, are the only two players in the conference to tally over 40 points on the year. Siena also ranks in the league's top-5 for draw controls (1st), caused turnovers (3rd), ground balls (3rd) and shooting percentage (1st).

Not to be overshadowed, Marissa Gore currently leads the ASUN for assists (16) while ranked among the top-5 in the conference for goals (3rd), points (2nd), draw controls (2nd), caused turnovers (2nd) and ground balls (2nd). Marissa has netted at least three goals in seven games, recording four or more points in seven games.

The Gores have either broken or are ranked in the top-10 for nearly every category in the KSU career record book.

Siena Gore has broken the single-season record for points, goals and draw controls twice, becoming the only Owl in history to record over 150 goals and 250 draw controls. She recently set the KSU all-time career record for points and is one of four players in ASUN history to earn at least 200 career points ranked second with 247.

Marissa Gore has been another all-around powerhouse for KSU, ranking fifth all-time for career assists (46), third for draw controls (186) and third for caused turnovers (55). She recently became just the eighth player in KSU history to record 100 career points after scoring a career-high six goals against Stetson. Marissa ranks fifth for career points (128) and seventh for career goals (82).

WEISS IN HER VEINS
Freshman Julia Weiss has been a huge asset in the net for KSU totaling 106 saves on the year to lead the ASUN and rank 26th in the NCAA. She currently averages 8.83 saves per game having logged double-digit saves in six games, including a career-high 14 against Winthrop.

Weiss is just the sixth keeper in KSU history to hit the century mark for career saves, passing Peyton Murdock to rank fifth all-time. If she can maintain her current saves per game average, Weiss would rank second on the single-season record list, marking just the fourth time an Owl has averaged over eight saves per game in a season.

Weiss also ranks fifth in the conference with 27 ground balls on the year joining Siena and Marissa Gore as three of the eight players in the ASUN to tally at least 20 ground balls this season.

LOCK DOWN D
From the cage to the restraining line, the Owl defense has shined this season. KSU averages 9.42 caused turnovers per game to rank 25th in the NCAA. Seven Owls, Siena Gore, Marissa Gore, Carson Pearson, Roslyn Talbert, Payton Gregory, Rachel Price and Julia Weiss, all rank among the league's top-15 for total caused turnovers with Siena ad Marissa Gore ranked 30th and 33rd per game respectively for caused turnovers per game.

KSU has recorded over 10 caused turnovers in six games, recording 15 in its game against Mercer falling one shy of the single-game record. If maintained, KSU's 9.42 caused turnovers per game average would set a new single-season record marking just the second time in program history KSU has averaged over nine caused turnovers per game.

FREE NINETY NINE
The Owls have made the most of their free position attempts so far this season, converting 60 of their 118 shots. KSU's 50.8 shooting percentage from the arc ranks 18th in the NCAA with its 60 total goals leading the country.

KSU's stellar production is due in large part to Siena Gore who has scored 28 goals on 41 free position attempts. She, along with sister Marissa, is one of three players in the ASUN to record more than 10 goals from the eight-meter arc, leading the country in both total goals and goals per game (2.55).

Marissa Gore has netted 12 free position goals on the year with Camryn Klaus recording six followed by Natalie Welch and Julia Dell'Angelo with three and Hannah Barth and Abbey Behn with two. Mia MacKenzie, Jaxsyn Schonewille, Jenna Mish and Emily Napierala have also recorded one goal from the hash.

On the flipside, KSU has held opponents to 44 percent from eight meters out, holding teams to 30 goals on 67 free position attempts.

UP NEXT
The Owls close out the regular season in Fifth Third Bank Stadium, taking on ASUN powerhouse and 11th-ranked Jacksonville Friday (Apr. 30) at 4 p.m.
 

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