ANDERSON, S.C. - Entering the week on a four-match winning streak, capped off by back-to-back victories over teams ranked in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Southeast Region Poll, Anderson University women's soccer remains in the Upstate on Wednesday when it hosts Newberry in a South Atlantic Conference matchup. Kick-off from Trojan Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m.
The Trojans
With a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Carson-Newman in a rainy
Upward Star Center on Saturday, AU holds a 9-1 overall record,
matching its most overall victories in the SAC era. Within their
conference schedule, the Trojans are 4-1 and sit in a tie for
second place with C-N and are a game out from first-place Wingate.
With a victory on Wednesday, AU would match its season-opening
winning streak of five and increase their home winning streak to
six dating back to last season.
The Trojans continue to lead the conference in most offensive categories, including goals scored (38), assists (30), shots (215) and shots on goal (125). Junior forward Idoia Agirre scored the eventual game-winning goal on Saturday against Carson-Newman and she increased her goal total to 13 for the year, which leads the SAC. Agirre also leads the conference in assists (5), points (31), shots (47) and shots on goal (36). Agirre is tied with teammates Kenzie Van Heusen and Marie Yasmine Alidou is assists with five, while Emily Cowan follows with four.
Freshman goalkeeper Abby Helm shined last week with 20 total
saves in AU's two victories. Helm stopped nine shots last Wednesday
at Limestone to lead the Trojans past the Saints, and eventually
topped her previous season-high in saves with 11 in AU's 2-1
triumph over Carson-Newman on Saturday. For the year, Helm is
slotted second in the conference in goals-against average with a
0.82 mark, while her 40 saves puts her in seventh.
The Wolves
Prior to the start of the season, Newberry was projected to finish
fourth in the SAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll after closing the
2014 season with a 10-5-4 overall record. This season, the Wolves
have struggled and enter Wednesday's contest with a 1-6-2 overall
mark and a 1-4 record inside the league. Newberry's last five
setbacks have been by just one goal, including a 2-1 overtime loss
to nationally-ranked Wingate two weeks ago.
A bright spot for the Wolves has been the play of Michelle Calmeyn, who leads the team in goals (7), assists (2) and points (16). Calmeyn has scored at least one goal in Newberry's last four contests and has totaled a point in all but two matches this season. The senior is responsible for seven of the team's 13 goals this season, as the Wolves have been out-scored 19-13 on the year.
Defensively, senior goalkeeper Alexis Carrillo has earned starts in eight matches, totaling over 747 minutes played. The senior currently paces the SAC in saves with 76, totaling double-figure save marks in four matches on the year.
The Series
Anderson seeks its first win over Newberry since 2003 and looks for
its first point against the Wolves since 2012. The Trojans have
dropped their last eight matchups against their in-state rivals,
including a 1-0 setback in 2014.
