By: Jacob Westberry
Kennesaw State (4-8-2), (2-3-1) vs. Eastern Kentucky (7-4-2), (3-2-2)
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. | Fifth Third Bank Stadium
Date: Oct. 13
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Live Stats | Video
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State returns to Fifth Third Bank Stadium to face the Eastern Kentucky Colonels Thursday at 7 p.m. after coming off a three-game road trip.
KSU and Eastern Kentucky will meet for the first time in a decade and have only met once on the pitch, with the Owls taking a 3-0 victory over the Colonels on Sept. 7, 2012.
The Owls are coming off a pair of losses to North Alabama and Central Arkansas this past week.
Eastern Kentucky split two matches, falling 5-1 to FGCU and shutout Stetson 2-0 Sunday.
Thursday's match against Eastern Kentucky is designated as Pink Night. The first 250 fans will receive a pink KSU bracelet and there will also be a postgame autograph session.
Allanah Blye's Strong Performance
Blye finished with 10 saves in Sunday's 1-0 loss at Central Arkansas. The 10 saves are the seventh-most in program history. The Duncan, S.C. native already broke the KSU record for saves in a game with 16 earlier this season against Liberty. Blye sits atop the ASUN with a .835 save percentage (48th nationally) and averages 7.33 stops per game (6th nationally). Her 66 saves rank second in the conference, trailing UNA's Peyton Yates by one.
KSU's Stout Defense in Conference Play
The Kennesaw State defense and Blye have gotten off to a strong start in conference play. KSU has only given up seven goals in the past seven games and has posted three shutouts against Georgia Southern, Jacksonville State and Jacksonville. The seven goals allowed in ASUN action are tied for third-best in the conference, only trailing ASUN frontrunners Liberty and Lipscomb.
Hayley Dekker Nets First Career Goal
Dekker has been a defensive stalwart for the Owls all season but was an offensive difference-maker in Jacksonville. The defender scored her first career goal and the game-winner in the 15th minute as the Owls knocked off the Dolphins 1-0 on the road. Dekker and the KSU defense limited Jacksonville to just seven shots and three shots-on-goal, both season-low figures for Kennesaw State.
Underclassmen Powering Offense
Underclassmen have scored eight of the 12 goals for KSU this season. Freshman Stella Allen leads KSU with three goals and is tied for 10th in the ASUN in goals scored. Sophomore Macie Rainwater has chipped in two goals after scoring seven a season ago. Freshmen Chiara Singarella, Mai Jensen and Aly Bryan each have one goal scored. Singarella leads the Owls with 21 shots taken and 11 shots on goal.
A Look at Eastern Kentucky
EKU enters the match with an RPI of 127, good for the fourth highest in the ASUN only trailing Lipscomb (86), Liberty (96) and FGCU (111). KSU is seventh in the ASUN with an RPI of 220. Maddy Lemery leads the conference and is sixth in the nation with four game-winning goals on the season.
Next Match
The Owls host Bellarmine on Sunday at 1 p.m.
