By: Zac Pike
Kennesaw State (1-4-1), (0-0-0)
at Tennessee (2-2-1), (0-0-0)
Location: Knoxville, Tenn. | Regal Soccer Stadium
Date: Sept. 8
Time: 6:30 p.m. EST
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KENNESAW, Ga. - The Kennesaw State women's soccer returns to the road Thursday to take on its second SEC opponent in a row, the Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols were picked as the preseason favorite to win the SEC by the league's 14 head coaches. Tennessee enters the matchup ranked 17th by Top Drawer Soccer.
KSU and the Volunteers have only met once on the pitch, with Tennessee taking a 2-1 victory on Aug. 31, 2012.
The Owls are looking for their fourth win over an SEC team in program history, with the last victory coming against Georgia in 2018.
Freshmen Standouts
Stella Allen,
Chiara Singarella,
Mai Jensen and
Allanah Blye have all made an impact for the Owls early this season. In just four appearances, Allen is tied for the lead on the team with two goals on just three shots. Singarella leads the team in shots with 13 and added an assist and the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over Presbyterian. Jensen scored in her season debut against South Alabama. The trio has combined for over half of the scoring for KSU this season. Blye earned her first career start at goalkeeper at Presbyterian, she posted five saves and allowed just one goal in the victory.
Here Comes the Rain
Sophomore forward
Macie Rainwater 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 seventh in the ASUN with two goals. The forward 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 also 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 a season ago.
Hammer Second in ASUN
Graduate transfer goalkeeper
Kaylee Hammer has posted 29 saves in five starts, setting a career-best with nine the last time out against Georgia on Sunday.
Miller Time
Erin Miller notched her first goal of 2022 and the third of her career on a header from a corner kick against Georgia State. Playing as both forward and defender this season, the Marietta native has bolstered both the offensive and defensive attack. Miller also ranks first on the KSU squad in minutes, playing in 530 out of 540 minutes.
Jensen and Allen Dazzle in Debuts
Freshmen
Stella Allen and
Mai Jensen have both scored in their season debuts this season. Appearing in her first game as an Owl against UAB, Allen connected on her first career goal. Jensen achieved the same feat in the season opener against South Alabama. Jensen was the first true freshman to score in a season opener since Alma Gardarsdottir did so in 2010.
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 six games.
Next Match
The Owls return home on Sunday at 1 p.m. with a matchup for Senior Day against Georgia Southern.
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.
