By: Jordan Griffitt
Opponent: Jacksonville Dolphins
Date: Thursday, Oct. 5
Site: Fifth Third Bank Stadium; Kennesaw, Ga.
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats: Click Here
Opponent: North Florida
Date: Sunday,
Oct. 8
Site: Fifth Third Bank Stadium; Kennesaw, Ga.
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats: Click Here
KENNESAW, Ga. – The final regular season home stretch sits in front of the Owls as they will face Jacksonville and North Florida Thursday night and Sunday afternoon.
Kennesaw State stands at 2-7-4 with a 1-4-1 ASUN record after recording its first win over Stetson 1-0 Sunday. With time left to jockey into postseason position, the Owls come up to an important weekend facing two team that currently sits in the bottom half of the standings.
Series History
Kennesaw State's eight consecutive wins over JU is the second longest active undefeated streak in program history with USC Upstate at number one with 12. The Owls have a lengthy history with Jacksonville dating back to 2005, holding a record of 16-5-1. Those 16 wins are the most wins over a single program in Kennesaw State soccer history. The last win the Dolphins secured versus the Owls was back in 2015 with a 1-0 decision. In the previous eight matches, KSU has outscored JU 11-2 with the last match ending 1-0 in favor of the black and gold.
Not far behind the 16 win tally versus Jacksonville is North Florida as the Owls hold 14 wins over the Ospreys. Coming into Sunday's match the record holds at 14-6-4 to the Owls advantage. There have been identical outcomes in the last two matches tying in 0-0 scores. The Owls last win versus UNF came in 2019 in Ft. Myers with a 3-1 victory in the ASUN Championship Quarterfinals.
Scouting
Jacksonville hasn't quite hit its stride so far this season but will showcase the golden foot of Lillian Young, reigning ASUN Player of the Week. She scored two goals in the teams' loss versus Bellarmine and ranks second in the league in goals with six. The Dolphins are still searching for their first conference win sitting at 2-8-3 overall and 0-5-1 ASUN record.
North Florida had some strong results early in the year with wins over Air Force and Troy along with a narrow 2-1 loss versus #22 ranked UCF. It's been a mixed bag for UNF in conference play with wins over Stetson and Austin Peay. On the flip side, all three ASUN losses have been via the shutout. The most recent game resulted in a draw versus Bellarmine in Louisville, Ky. and will play Queens Oct. 5 in Charlotte, N.C.
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 96-53-14 record versus the
ASUN. Head coach
Benji Walton has been responsible for a 32-13-6 record in his eight seasons.
The Senior Streak
Tianna Rivera has always been a player who scores in bunches late in the season and this year is no different. She has scored two goals in the last three games to lead the Owls with her latest coming as the game winner versus Stetson. In the Eastern Kentucky match, she earned her 20
th point as an Owl becoming the lone player on the squad with the feat. Fellow senior
Kendall Hoskins also earned her first career assist kicking in the cross to Rivera in that match. Hoskins scored her first career goal in the loss to FGCU with a flick over the keepers head.
Racking Up the Minutes
Macie Rainwater recently joined the 3,000-career minute club last weekend to link up with Camry Simmons and Rivera for the feat. Earlier this year,
Teresa Wowk crossed 2,000 minutes played as she awaits Allanah Blye to join her sitting at 1985 for her career.
Next Match
It's the start of a lengthy road trip for the Owls starting with Austin Peay Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. in Clarksville, Tenn.
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.
