By: Ryan Henry
Sunday, October 4
12 p.m. (ET) – Kennesaw State (5-4-3, 2-0-0 CUSA) vs. Delaware (7-2-3, 2-0-0 CUSA)
Location: Kennesaw, Ga. | Walens Family Field at Fifth Third Stadium
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State soccer resumes its homestand on Sunday to take on the Delaware Blue Hens in a battle of two of the top three teams in Conference USA.
The Black and Gold returned to Walens Family Field at Fifth Third Stadium on Thursday night following a nearly three-week hiatus and defeated New Mexico State, 1-0.
Senior
Anabel Orozco scored the lone goal of the game off a penalty kick for her eighth score of the season. It's the most goals in a single season by an Owl since Katrina Frost's 10 scores in 2012. The reigning Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week has recorded a goal contribution in six-straight games. During this stretch, the midfielder has 16 points (seven goals and two assists).
The Owls picked up their first clean sheet since the nil-nil draw at Tennessee Tech back on August 30.
UD has opened up conference play with back-to-back 1-0 victories against Missouri State and FIU. It's had three different players (Maggie Groh, Adiat Olaogun-Dickson and Cassandra Saldarini) win CUSA Offensive Player of the Week this year. Groh leads the group with 12 points (five goals and two assists). Goalkeeper Sophia Hall has built off her stellar freshman season, sporting a 0.85 goals-against-average and .821 save percentage.
It'll mark the first time the Black and Gold will host the Blue Hens in program history. These teams played each other last season with Delaware winning that contest in Newark.
Float like a Butterfly, Sting like AB
Fayetteville native
Anabel Orozco has recorded a goal contribution in six-straight games. During this stretch, she has recorded 16 points (seven goals and two assists). After being named CUSA Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 15, she received the award again this past week after scoring a brace at Sam Houston (9/26). Orozco currently ranks first in CUSA in shots (41), shots on goal (24), points (18) and goals (eight). Among all DI players, she's top 35 in country in shots, points and goals.
The Bernal Wall
After splitting time as the starting goalkeeper in 2025, fifth year
Charlee Bernal has emerged as the starting goalkeeper. After climbing inside the top five in program history in saves against No. 21 Memphis (8/12), the Roswell, Ga. native hit another milestone against Auburn (8/27). She recorded a season high nine saves to become fourth in team history in saves. On the season, she's third in CUSA in saves (46) and fifth in GAA (1.29).
Double Trouble
Julia Balchen and
Lara Kennedy had brilliant individual performances in KSU's 5-0 win over Alabama State (8/23). Both players recorded a brace while Balchen added two assists as well. They became the first pair of Owls to score at least two goals in the same game since Shannon Driscoll and Kim Fincher did it against Alabama A&M nearly a decade ago. Balchen's six points on the afternoon was the most by an Owl in a single game since 2021.
Impenetrable Fortress
In the Owls' game against Stetson (8/16), their defense shut down the Hatters, conceding zero shots on target for the entire contest. It was the first time KSU had done that to an opponent since its contest against Alabama State back on Aug. 28, 2016. The backline trio of
Aubrey Diskin,
Paris McCulloch, and
Ashley Tan played all 90 minutes, while
Maci Stancil and
Symone Thomas logged 70+ minutes. It was the first clean sheet for the Owls this season.
The Champions Fund
The Champions Fund is a newly created, 100% tax deductible, philanthropic opportunity to contribute strategic revenue to Kennesaw State Athletics, with the goal of strengthening our ability to recruit and retain top-tier talent in this new era of collegiate athletics. Contributions to the Champions Fund will help aid in funding student-athlete recruitment and retention, as well as helping the Owls provide competitive excellence through investments in coaching, travel and facilities. The fund will also give an elevated student-athlete experience, including enhanced academic, nutrition, wellness and leadership programs. Donate to the Champions Fund here and help us support our Kennesaw State Owls.
