Kennesaw State (3-8-4, 1-2-3 CUSA) vs. Jacksonville State (7-8-1, 2-4-1 CUSA)
Location: Jacksonville, Ala. --  Jax State Soccer Complex
Sunday, Oct. 26 @ 8 p.m. ET
Live Stats: Click Here
Live Broadcast: Click Here
Follow the Action: @KSUOwlsSoccer

Series History vs. JSU:
Series Record -- 3-1-0, KSU
Away Record -- 2-0-0
Largest Margin of Victory -- 3-0, KSU

Tore Up the Panthers
KSU secured a marquee win versus FIU last time out, taking down the Panthers at home 3-0. The three goal total was the highest of the season for the Owls as three different players recorded scores (Rivera, Nesbit & Orozco). They handed FIU its first loss in the CUSA season and its fourth loss overall. FIU's losses came to Miami, Stetson and Oklahoma prior to the KSU match. The defense shined yet again as shutout held a team that was ranked top 20 nationally in scoring offense. 

The First of Many
For the first time in program history, Kennesaw State earned Conference USA weekly awards with Tianna Rivera winning offensive and Charlee Bernal winning goalkeeper of the week, the league office announced Tuesday. In the match versus FIU, Rivera nabbed one goal and two assists earning four points, the highest total of the season of any individual Owl. Her four point performance showcased a career high over her five seasons. The forward notched her sixth goal of the season, tying the team lead with Macie Rainwater. The goal signified Rivera's fourth career game-winning goal and 16th total score. She is not only tied for the team lead in goals but has spearheaded the Owl attack with four assists, the most on the team. 

The award is the first of Bernal's career as she tallied her third clean sheet of the season, shutting out the formerly-undefeated FIU Panthers Sunday, 3-0. The keeper posted seven saves over 90 minutes in the match, the third-most in any single game this season for Bernal. FIU entered the match in the top 15 in the NCAA in scoring offense, leading CUSA in goals per game with 2.36.

Bernal's Blocks
Bernal continues to be astounding this season as she leads Conference USA in saves per game with 4.91. Her save percentage of 78.3 is second in the league while also sitting at fourth in total saves with 54 in just 11 games. The redshirt sophomore has set a career high in saves twice this year with 10 saves versus Mercer and 11 saves in the win versus Sam Houston. She recently surpassed the 1,000 career minutes played while setting a single season high in saves (54). In the Sam Houston match, she not only set a career in high in saves for a single game but placed herself fifth all-time with 11. 

Rivera's Riviera 
The career year continues to impress as Rivera's goals four goals over the last four games signified the most over any given four game stretch in her career. The fifth-year senior bested her season high three goal seasons as she now has five on the year. She now leads the team with her five goals. Her second score versus the Blue Raiders was the first penalty kick score of the season for the Black and Gold.

The Ramblin' Owls
The final month of the season creates the largest challenge for KSU as they will have to play five of their last six matches on the road. The team will travel roughly 4,600 miles through those five road games with the lengthiest trip spanning nearly 1,500 miles to New Mexico State (10/13). The lone home game is senior day versus FIU at 1 p.m. Oct. 20. 

Eat 'Em Up Owls
The Owls collected a marquee win in the 2-1 victory over Sam Houston Sunday to maintain their undefeated Conference USA record. Tianna Rivera nabbed her second goal of the season and her first since scoring the 8^th minute in the season opener versus Mercer (8/15). The fifth-year senior scored the 12^th goal of her career with 10 of those coming versus conference opponents (ASUN & CUSA). Scoring in the second half for the first time this year was forward Alana Nesbit. Nesbit is the first Owls player outside of Macie Rainwater and Rivera to register a goal on the season. 

Career Marks
A handful of Owls hit career milestones versus Sam Houston but none more impressive than Rivera's mark. The Miami, Fla. native now stands alone atop the most games played in KSU program history (83) while becoming the 11th Owl to record over 5,000 minutes played. Goalkeeper Charlee Bernal tallied 11 saves in the contests, setting a career high. Junior Brenna Young leaped past the 1,000 career minute mark versus the Bearkats. 

A Stark Difference
KSU's familiarity with their opponents will be there in the first half of the season but it quickly dissipates. Through the first seven games, Kennesaw State's series history with each team spans more than five matchups. At the start of conference play, that number drops significantly. At the start of the Conference USA season on Sept. 19, the Owls will face six of seven CUSA teams for the first time in program history. The odd team out is MTSU for a single contest played in 2017. The Black and gold will then wrap up CUSA regular season play with former ASUN rivals, Jacksonville State (Oct. 26) and Liberty (Nov. 1). 

Put It in the Books
There were a handful of "firsts' for KSU in the 1-0 win over Jackson State. KSU captured the first win of its season, the first win as a CUSA member and the first in the Chris Cahill era. 

Concentrated Storms
Senior Macie Rainwater has been superb for the Owls as she leads the team in goals scored (4) while totaling over 50% of the teams scores on the season. Another feather in the cap of Rainwater, has been her precision. The forward has netted four goals with only 10 shots on the season for a .400 shot percentage. That .400 mark is .360 higher than her percentage in '23 and currently stands as her career best in a season. 

UTEP Spotlights
The UTEP match signified the first Conference USA match in Kennesaw State Athletics history. Not only was it a building block for the department, but it showcased some new faces for the Owls. Freshmen Caroline Wehr and Delaney Edwards made their first career starts versus the Miners. Wehr became the third goalkeeper to record a start for KSU this season. Additionally, freshman Ava Bradford made her season debut after battling a lower half injury. Five freshman saw action in the CUSA opener as Layla Kerr recorded a start with Bella Stephens entering the game in the second half.

Drought Breaker
Macie Rainwater's goal versus UTEP broke an extensive drought for KSU's attack. The Black and Gold hadn't scored in over a month when Rainwater scored twice versus Eastern Washington (8/18). Of the four goals scored this season, Rainwater has accounted for three of them as she compiled her 15th career goal. 

Florida Spotlights
Although the result didn't go the way of the Owls, there were a few new faces to appear for KSU. For the first time in her career, redshirt freshman Caroline Wehr entered the game and earned her first collegiate save. Along with Wehr, midfielder and former LSU transfer Raelyn Prince made her first start as an Owl. The junior appeared in 43 minutes over just two games before making the starting lineup. Cornerstone defender Jade Barkett made her return for the first time since Georgia Southern (8/22) as she also scratched the starting lineup. 

Injury Bug
KSU has been unable to escape injuries thus far as they have had seven separate potential starters sidelined throughout the season. The Owls have issued a different lineup in each of the last five games. Not only have the Owls had four different variations of their back line but they have also had to start three goal keepers due to injury (Bernal, Rosenblum and Wehr). The Black and Gold have had only three players who have started every game this season (Rivera, Wowk, Bryan). 

On The Job Learning
Since replacing Charlee Bernal during the No. 16 Georgia game, true freshman Aryana Rosenblum has stepped up between the posts for the Owls, appearing in three straight games. She's responsible for the lone clean sheet of the season (UNF) while compiling 18 saves in under 300 minutes played. The Oviedo, Fla. native is the last true freshman to start at goalkeeper since Allanah Blye in 2022. During the Florida game, Rosenblum was part of a nasty collision resulting in her exit of the game as Caroline Wher replaced her in goal. The red shirt freshman collected four saves in her first collegiate appearance. 

The Return of the Rain
Senior Macie Rainwater tallied two scores versus Eastern Washington becoming the last Owl to do so in two years. Rainwater was also the last Owl to do so, as she has recorded multiple goals game the last three times in program history. Not only did she do so against Stetson (10/23/22), but she recorded a hat trick versus Central Arkasnas the season prior (09/30/21). She's the last Owl to accomplish the same feat versus a non-conference opponent since Kendall Baker versus Gerogia State (8/25/2019). Six freshmen have touched the pitch for Kennesaw State this year with Kerr and Rosenblum earning well over triple digit minutes on the season. 

Blue Weather
Georgia weather has not been a friend thus far to Kennesaw State home matches as both Sunday matches at Fifth Third Stadium have been cut short due to inclement weather. During the Eastern Washington game, the final eight minutes were not played as hte Owls shortly after the Owls captured momentum, resulting in a 2-3 loss. In the match versus ETSU, the first 45 minutes were played before lightning surrounded the area, forcing a no-contest. 

Leader of the Charge
Head coach Chris Cahill leads the Owls in his first season as head coach after spending the '23 season as the associate head coach at KSU. Prior to KSU, Cahill earned over a decade of experience at Middle Tennessee State University serving as the Blue Raiders' associate head coach. He coached 29 all-conference selections including Conference USA's all-time goal scoring record and points holder, Peyton DePriest. Before MTSU Cahill served at Evansville, Auburn and at Harrison High School. During his time at Harrison, he collected a 28-4 coaching record. It's a welcome back for Cahill as he served as the Assistant to the Director of Student-Athlete Services in 2008. He assisted with advising, class registration and supervised study hall. He is the only NCAA DI women's soccer head coach that also served on the academics side of the same school he coached at. 

Been There, Done That
Of the 22 returners for the Owls, five are seniors with three being fifth year graduate students. Headlining the group are forwards Tianna Rivera and Macie Rainwater who have tallied nine conference awards collectively. Most recently, Rivera earned a Third Team All-ASUN bid in the final year of the ASUN era. Anchoring the backline is 2023 minutes leader, Jade Barkett. Barkett tallied her first collegiate goal last year. Rounding out the bunch are midfielders Teresa Wowk and Juliette Barbush.

By the Skin of Their Teeth
The Owls set the single season record last year with seven draws, four of those being shutouts. The seven ties ushered into the top 10 for a single season, marking the fourth time the Black and Gold have pitched seven shutouts.

Year Two
Sophomore Anabel Orozco impressed in year one earning an ASUN All-Freshman spot in the final year for KSU in the conference. She racked up 717 minutes, the second most among freshmen while scoring an impressive goal from outside of the box versus South Alabama. Orozco was implemented for the first time this season versus Georgia Southern after battling injury. The Fayetteville, Ga. native plans on joining the Navy post graduation. 

Injection of Youth
Along with a slew of veteran talent, coach Cahill will welcome nine freshman to the roster this season. Highlighting the bunch is the midfielder from McKinney, Texas, Ava Bradford. Coming off an outstanding season, at Frisco Independence, Bradford landed on the United Soccer Coaches All-American Team last summer. For the first time in D-I program history, The Owls have recruited a freshman from the state of Tennessee (Morgan Mahoney) and Texas. 

Portal Players
The newcomers are exclusive to high school products as forward Makai Laguines and midfielder Raelyn Prince join the squad via the transfer portal. Laguines tallied nearly 1,000 minutes in 15 games for the Marshal Runnin' Herd in '23. Prince is fresh from LSU where she appeared in 30 games for the Tigers over two seasons. 

Staff Pickup
The newest addition of the Owl coaching staff is assistant coach Wezly Barnard. Barnard comes straight from the Southern Soccer Academy where he served as the Director of Coaching Atlanta in 2023. He has specialized in goalkeeping throughout his career after his playing days at Young Harris ('13).

Milestone Watch (Career):
Macie Rainwater (Shots) -- 96 shots
Aly Bryan (Minutes Played) -- 2985 minutes

Recently Passed Milestones
>> Naomi Moleka (Career Minutes Played) -- 3,000 minutes played surpassed versus FIU
>> Alana Nesbit (Career Minutes Played) -- 1,000 minutes surpassed versus FIU
>> Teresa Wowk (Career Minutes Played) -- 4,000 mark surpassed versus WKU
>> Tianna Rivera (Career Minutes Played & Career Games Played) -- 5,000 mark surpassed versus Sam Houston | 83 games played, all-time record holder for games played
>> Brenna Young (Career minutes Played) -- 1,000 mark surpassed versus Sam Houston
>> Juliette Barbush (Career Minutes Played) -- 2,000 mark surpassed versus La. Tech
>> Jade Barkett (Career Minutes Played) -- 2,000 mark surpassed versus UTEP
>> Macie Rainwater (Goals & Career Minutes Played) -- Scored her 15th goal versus UTEP | Surpassed 4,000 minutes played versus MTSU
>> Aly Bryan (Career Minutes Played) -- 2,000 mark surpassed versus Georgia Southern
>> Tianna Rivera (Career Shots) -- 100 mark surpassed versus Eastern Washington | 75 games played versus Georgia Southern

About Our History
>> The Owls will be navigating un-chartered waters in the '24 season as they take the leap to Conference USA
>> Spent 18 years in the ASUN Conference, Finishing top three in the league nine times
>> 14 winning seasons, 237-141-41 record (.615) -- Just three head coaches since 2022
>> Reached the NCAA Tournament two times ('07 & '09)

Donate Today:
Fans interested in making a contribution to Kennesaw State women's soccer can do so by clicking here. Your gift will help provide a transformational student-athlete experience athletically, academically, and culturally for every KSU student-athlete. We appreciate your continued support of KSU Athletics. 

Follow Along With The Action:
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.

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