By: Ryan Henry
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Owls look to get in the win column this week as they travel to Atlanta to face Georgia State (Thursday) before hosting former ASUN rival North Florida on Sunday.
Six players (
Julia Balchen,
Anna Economopoulos,
Sara Hill,
Caroline Shaw,
Sydni Whitehead and
Rebecca Womer) made their KSU debuts. Hill saved all three shots she faced in her relief appearance against Auburn.
Thursday, August 28
7 p.m. – Kennesaw State (0-2-0, 0-0-0 CUSA) vs. Georgia State (2-1-0, 0-0-0 Sun Belt)
Location: GSU Soccer Complex | Atlanta, Ga.
Sunday, August 31
6 p.m. – Kennesaw State (0-0-0, 0-0-0 CUSA) vs. North Florida (1-2-1, 0-0-0 Atlantic Sun)
Location: Walens Family Field at Fifth Third Stadium | Kennesaw, Ga.
Follow KSU Soccer - X / Instagram
New Name, Same Feel
On August 19, Kennesaw State announced that the field at Fifth Third Stadium, home of the Owls' football, soccer and lacrosse programs, will be named Walens Family Field in recognition of a transformative $4 million philanthropic gift from Dave and Donna Walens.
2024 Year in Review
The Owls concluded their first season in Conference USA with a 3-10-4 record, finishing seventh in the conference. The season was highlighted by their 3-0 thumping of eventual CUSA champions FIU. For their efforts, forward
Tianna Rivera and goalkeeper
Charlee Bernal became the program's first CUSA Player and Goalkeeper of the Week. At the year's conclusion, Rivera received all-conference second-team honors.
Mark Your Calendars
Coach
Chris Cahill packed the schedule in his second season at KSU. The Owls will face three teams that made the 2024 NCAA tournament (Auburn, FIU and Missouri State). KSU hosts American regular season champions Memphis on Aug. 21 for its season opener. CUSA play begins on Sept. 21 at Western Kentucky.
Key Returners
Six starters from last year's squad (Bernal,
Aly Bryan,
Naomi Moleka,
Alana Nesbit,
Anabel Orozco and
Delaney Edwards) return for the 2025 season. Bernal made history last season as she became the program's first CUSA Goalkeeper of the Week after her 3-0 shutout against the conference champions FIU on Oct. 20. Senior
Mai Jensen also returns, having started in all seven matches she played in before going down with an injury.
Fresh Faces
Seven new players (two transfers and five freshmen) will be added to the fold this season. Georgia transfer
Rebecca Womer brings two years of SEC experience, having played with current KSU assistant coach
Daniella Murguia.
Sydni Whitehead (Bellarmine) received ASUN All-Freshman team honors in 2023 and will face her former squad on Sept. 14.
Julia Balchen,
Aubrey Diskin,
Anna Economopoulos,
Sara Hill and
Caroline Shaw hope to make an impact at The Nest from day one.
CUSA Preseason Poll
Kennesaw State was picked to finish eighth in the Conference USA coaches' preseason poll, tallying 47 total points. The Black and Gold finished seventh in their inaugural CUSA season with a conference record of 2-4-3. The conference expanded to 12 teams following the additions of Missouri State and Delaware, who were predicting to finish third and seventh respectively. Liberty tops the poll with 119 points and nine first-place votes.
Scouting the Panthers
Georgia State enters Thursday's contest at 2-1-0, having beat Truett McConnell and fellow in-state rival West Georgia. Their offense has been the key, scoring 11 goals on 69 shots in those contests.
They are led by JUCO transfer Hina Suzuki who has four goals in the short season, including a hat trick against TMU. Sophomore Sunniyah Tucker has already matched her points total from last season with six.
Two-time Sun Belt All-Conference First-Team selection Aaliyah Faddoul has five points (one goal and three assists). Goalkeeper Arianna Anderson has two clean sheets in three matches with 10 saves.
Scouting the Ospreys
North Florida is 1-2-1, having gone winless in their last three matches (Campbell, FIU and Florida).
The Ospreys had two players selected to the Preseason All-ASUN team (Paige McSwigan and Sofia Miliancano) with Miliancano being named Preseason ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year.
Miliancano has conceded one of fewer goals in three matches this season with a clean sheet against Howard. McSwigan has gotten off to a slow start with only three shots and zero points. Isabella Pontieri leads the team with two goals.
