Friday, Apr. 8
12:00 p.m. ET – Kennesaw State (5-5, 1-0) vs Furman (6-3, 1-0)
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Notes: KSU

OPENING DRAW
» The Kennesaw State women's lacrosse team will take on its third straight SoCon foe Friday afternoon hosting Furman on Sports Park Field 3 for its "Bark at the Park" game at 12 p.m. The Owls are looking to rebound after a tough battle against in-state rival Mercer, dropping the game 20-19 in KSU's first overtime game since 2018. The Paladins have had the upper hand in the past, holding a 6-1 all-time series record over the Owls with KSU's sole victory coming from a 13-12 decision in 2017.

» Despite the overtime loss, Siena Gore shined once again tying her career-high, and the KSU single-game record she previously set, with nine goals against the Bears. Gore has recorded at least six goals in her last four appearances, four or more in the last seven, to rank second in the NCAA for both total goals (54) and goals per game (6.00). Only one other player in the country has netted at least 50 goals on the year, with four others recording at least 40. Gore leads the country for total free position goals (27) and free position goals per game (3.00) logging 10 more than the next closest player. She also ranks 13th in the country for draw controls per game (7.00) and caused turnovers per game (2.11). 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 220 and 326 respectively. She needs just 15 more points to break the all-time conference record for career points.

» Twin sister Marissa Gore has provided a one-two punch for KSU, recording at least four points in seven of her last eight games, including a career-high five assists against Mercer, one shy of the single-game record. She currently leads the league with 13 assists while ranked second for goals (27) and points (40), and third for draw controls (35), ground balls (25) and caused turnovers (16). She and Siena are the driving force behind KSU's attack as two of four players in the league to net at least 20 goals on the year. The Owls lead the ASUN, and rank 20th in the NCAA, averaging 14.6 goals per game. Five Owls, Siena Gore (1st), Marissa Gore (2nd), Jaxsyn Schonewille (8th), Camryn Klaus (10th) and Natalie Welch (13th), rank among the top-15 for goals scored on the year.

» On the defensive side, the Owls have seven players ranked in the league's top-15 for caused turnovers with Siena Gore leading the league with 19 followed by Marissa Gore in third with 16. Payton Gregory and Roslyn Talbert are tied for 10th with nine apiece while Carson Pearson sits in 13th with eight followed by Julia Weiss and Rachel Price in a tie for 15th with seven. As a team, KSU ranks 17th in the NCAA averaging 10.1 caused turnovers per game. The Owls have logged 10 or more caused turnovers in six games with its 15 against Liberty falling one shy of the KSU single-game record. If maintained, KSU's current average would set a new single-season record and mark just the second time in program history the Owls have averaged over nine caused turnovers in a year. In the net, freshman Julia Weiss leads the league with 82 saves, averaging 8.2 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 goals and points on the year, leading the Owls with 54 and 27 goals respectively. They are the only two players in the league to record over 30 points on the year with Siena ranked fourth in the country followed by Marissa in 31st.

Siena Gore has netted at least six goals in her last four straight games, breaking the single-game record twice with a career-high nine goals against Wofford and Mercer. Siena is one of six players in the country to record over 40 goals this season, ranked second in the NCAA for goals per game (6.00) and total goals (54).

She leads the ASUN with 59 points as her and sister Marissa, who ranks second, are the only two players in the conference to tally over 30 points on the year. Siena also ranks in the league's top-5 for draw controls (1st), caused turnovers (1st), ground balls (2nd) and shooting percentage (2nd).

Not to be overshadowed, Marissa Gore currently leads the ASUN for assists (13) while ranked among the top-5 in the conference for goals (2nd), points (2nd), draw controls (3rd), caused turnovers (3rd) and ground balls (3rd). Marissa has netted at least three goals in seven games, recording four or more points in seven of the last eight 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 244.

Marissa Gore has been another all-around powerhouse for KSU, ranking fifth all-time for career assists (43), third for draw controls (171) and third for caused turnovers (51). 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 seventh for career points (122) and seventh for career goals (79).

LOCK DOWN D
From the cage to the restraining line, the Owl defense has shined this season. KSU averages 10.1 caused turnovers per game to rank 17th in the NCAA. Seven Owls, Siena Gore, Marissa Gore, Carson Pearson, Roslyn Talbert, Rachel Price, Payton Gregory and Julia Weiss, all rank among the league's top-15 for total caused turnovers with Siena Gore ranked 13th in the country averaging 2.11 caused turnovers per game.

KSU has recorded over 10 caused turnovers in six games, recording 15 in its recent game against Mercer falling one shy of the single-game record. If maintained, KSU's 10.1 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.

In the net, freshman Julia Weiss has been a huge asset for KSU totaling 82 saves on the year to lead the ASUN and rank 24th in the NCAA. She averages 8.2 saves per game having logged double-digit saves four times, including a career-high 14 against Winthrop.

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

FREE NINETY NINE
The Owls have made the most of their free position attempts so far this season, converting 52 of their 103 shots. KSU's 50.5 shooting percentage from the arc ranks 20th in the NCAA with its 52 total goals leading the country.

KSU's stellar production is due in large part to Siena Gore who has scored 27 goals on 38 free position attempts. She, along with sister Marissa, is one of two 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 (3.00).

Marissa Gore has netted 11 free position goals on the year with Camryn Klaus recording five followed by Julia Dell'Angelo, Hannah Barth and Nataiie Welch with two and Mia MacKenzie, Jaxsyn Schonewille and Jenna Mish all logging one apiece.

On the flipside, KSU has held opponents to 43 percent from eight meters out, holding teams to 23 goals on 53 free position attempts.

UP NEXT
The Owls hit the road for their second conference game of the season, taking the trip north to square off with Liberty Friday (Apr. 16) at 1 p.m.
 

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