By: Jacob Westberry
Kennesaw State (3-5-1), (1-0-0)
vs. Queens (0-5-3), (0-2-0)
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. | Fifth Third Bank Stadium
Date: Sept. 22
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Live Stats |
Video
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State hosts conference newcomer Queens in the ASUN home opener on Thursday at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
The Owls are coming off back-to-back wins and two consecutive shutouts, including a 1-0 win at Jacksonville State to kick off conference play 1-0. Kennesaw State is looking to start 2-0 in ASUN play for the first time since 2013.
The Queens Royals are the newest addition to the ASUN conference, and this matchup would mark Kennesaw State's first-ever meeting against Queens. So far, the Royals are 0-2 against ASUN opponents.
Autographs will also be available following the game for fans to come down to the field.
Blye Posts Back-to-Back Shutouts
In her first home start,
Allanah Blye finished with seven saves and posted her first career clean sheet in a 2-0 win over Georgia Southern. The 2-0 shutout was KSU's first since a 1-0 win against Bellarmine on Oct. 31, 2021, in the ASUN Conference Tournament. The Duncan, S.C. native continued her strong play at Jacksonville State, posting her second consecutive shutout for the Owls. Blye finished with five saves in the 1-0 victory. Blye's back-to-back shutouts for the Owls are the first since
Dylan Pixton had two straight shutouts in the spring of 2021 ASUN Conference Tournament. In four games as a starter this season, the two shutouts for Blye rank as the fourth best in the ASUN. She sits on top of the ASUN in saves per game, averaging 6.5 stops.
Bryan Scores First Career Goal
True freshman
Aly Bryan scored the eventual game-winner in the sixth minute in a 1-0 shutout at Jacksonville State on Sunday.
Macie Rainwater dumped off a pass and Bryan hooked a shot into the top left corner of the net from 30 yards out to net her first career goal. Underclassmen have accounted for 8 out of the 10 goals scored this season for the Owls.
Stellar Stella
True freshman
Stella Allen has shown a knack for finding the back of the net in her first season at KSU. The Snellville, Ga. native leads the team with three goals on just five shots. The forward scored her third goal in the 2-0 win over Georgia Southern. Allen's three total goals rank tied for fourth in the ASUN.
First Look at Queens
In the first RPI release of the season, Queens comes in with an RPI of 332, which ranks the Royals 13th out of 14 ASUN schools. Queens is still searching for its first win of the season but have scratched across three ties. The Royals' defense has been a strong suit for the conference newcomer, only conceding 11 goals on the season, with six of those coming at Tennessee. Nia Gaither leads the Royals offense, scoring the only two goals for Queens through eight games.
Here Comes the Rain
Sophomore forward
Macie Rainwater added her first career assist in a 1-0 victory at JSU on Sunday. The forward scored goals in two straight games earlier in the year. The forward added a goal at UAB and another goal at home against Georgia State. The Kennesaw native is tied for 10th in the ASUN with two goals. Rainwater led the Owls in scoring as a freshman a season ago, netting seven goals and 14 points to earn a spot on the all-conference freshman team. The forward scored the first KSU hat trick since Shannon Driscoll on Aug. 28, 2016, with three goals in the ASUN Tournament quarterfinal win against Central Arkansas last season.
New Faces
KSU features 14 newcomers, 11 of which are freshmen. The Owls brought in a trio of transfers,
Morgan Thomas (Kansas),
Kaylee Hammer (Cincinnati) and
Madelyn Baucom (Virginia Tech). The freshmen class features four players from Georgia, two from Florida, and one each from South Carolina, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Washington and Argentina. The 11 freshmen are tied for the 11th most in the NCAA this season. Ten of the 11 freshmen have already seen playing time through seven games.
Next Match
The Owls continue their homestand on Sunday, hosting Liberty at 1 p.m. at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
To keep up with the latest on the Kennesaw State women's soccer team, follow the team on Twitter
@KSUOwlNation and
@KSUOwlsSoccer or by liking Kennesaw State University on
Facebook.
