By: Jordan Griffitt
Opponent: Austin Peay
Date: Thursday, Oct. 26
Site: Fort Myers, Fla. | Pickering Field at The FGCU Soccer Complex
Kickoff: 5:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN+
FORT MYERS, Fla. – For the twelfth consecutive year, the Owls are competing in the ASUN Championship as they will face #7 Austin Peay at 5:00 p.m. on Oct. 26.
The Owls ushered into the championship as the six seed after defeating Queens, 3-1 - their largest margin of victory the entire season. This marks the eighth-straight postseason appearance during coach
Benji Walton's tenure.
Series History
It's a dead-even split in the series history versus the Governors at 1-1-1. These teams have each other fresh in their minds as they played Oct. 12 resulting in a 0-0 draw in Clarksville, Tenn. Before this year's battle, these teams hadn't faced each other since 2015 with the Govs taking it 3-1. The Owls took the first matchup in 2014 1-0 in Murfreesboro, Tenn. This will be the first matchup in the series outside of Tennessee.
Scouting
Austin Peay has had a bounce-back run in the ASUN as they stand at 3-5-3 in the conference after only two wins in non-conference action. They have defended Clarksville with pride sporting a 4-2-2 record at home. Thursday's game will be the team's first appearance in the ASUN Championship as they recently joined the conference in 2022. It was a bit of yin-and-yang to end the season for the Govs as they lost to Lipscomb, 4-0, Saturday but came into that match on a three-game draw streak.
Just Needed the Ticket
Since 2016, the Owls have won at least one game in the postseason in all but two seasons. In that time span, KSU's playoff record is 6-6-3. Of the three draws, two of the advancements went to the Owls. That record puts the Owls up to a 53% win/advancement tally which includes a streak of three-straight ASUN finals appearances.
Saving The Best for Last
It has been a struggle to get the ball in the net until Saturday as the Owls not only posted their highest scoring total but also the largest margin of victory of the season. With the win, the Owls skied up to sixth in the ASUN Championship.
Aila the Defender
Defender
Aila Swinton has not only exceeded in the back line but also on the attack. Thanks to her goal versus Queens, the redshirt sophomore earned her first ASUN Player of the Week award. It's the first player of the week the Owls have garnered and the first defender to win the award in the ASUN this season. It's the first time in the KSU's DI era a defender has ended the regular season as the points leader (6). She ended the regular season tied for the team lead in goals (2), the first time a defender has done so in over a decade for the Owls. Both of the goals she has scored this season have been game winners.
The Royal Trio
The three goals versus Queens came from the feet of
Macie Rainwater, Swinton and
Agata Giani. Rainwater kicked across her first goal of the season. She added onto a solid all-round game with four shots on goal coming off the bench. Swinton headed one in from
Tianna Rivera to earn her second goal of her season. Swinton is now second among defenders for single season scoring under coach Walton's tenure. Giani flashed another sign of brilliance in the second half, scoring her second goal of the year. She pushed through the goal to tie versus Florida in non-conference play. Two of the three goals came from non-starters.
Shutouts Galore
The Owl defense has been a no-fly zone all season long for the opposing attack shutting out seven opponents this season. The total has tied for the ninth-most in program history and marked the third time in KSU history there has been a season with seven shutouts. They also sit for tied fifth in the Atlantic Sun for goals allowed per game at 1.44.
Atlantic Sun Successes
ASUN play has been kind to the Owls over the last few seasons earning at least four wins versus conference opponents each year since 2018. Dating back to 2005, the Black and Gold have accrued a 98-54-16 record versus the ASUN. Head coach Benji Walton has been responsible for a 34-14-8 record in his eight seasons.
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.
