ANDERSON, S.C. - With back-to-back draws in its last two matches, Anderson University women's soccer seeks its third win of the season as its hosts No. 18 Columbus State in a non-conference showdown Tuesday afternoon at Trojan Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
The Trojans
AU remained unbeaten in South Atlantic Conference play when the
Trojans and Mars Hill played to scoreless draw Saturday afternoon
at Meares Stadium. Senior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Neipp made eight saves
en route to her second complete shutout of the season, giving her
18.4 career shutouts. If the senior earns three more complete clean
sheets, she will move past a three-way tie for ninth-place all time
in SAC history.
Senior Krystal Goss and freshman Helena Moore lead the offense as both players are the lone Trojans to have double-digit shots on the season with 28 and 21, respectively. Goss is in a four-way tie for the team-lead in goals with freshmen Emily Perez and Madison Taylor and redshirt sophomore Faith Johannes. Goss is also tied for the team-lead in assists with Taylor, as each player has three.
Half of Anderson's matches this year have gone at least one overtime period, as the Trojans are 0-1-3 in those four overtime matches. With a win on Tuesday, AU can even up its overall record to 3-3-3 before facing three-straight SAC contests, beginning on Sunday at Tusculum.
The Cougars
In last week's National Soccer Coaches of America Association
(NSCAA)/Continental Tire Poll, Columbus State was ranked No. 18
nationally, as the Cougars were the only team within the top 25 to
have two or more losses. CSU enters Tuesday's meeting with a 4-3
overall record, but a perfect 2-0 mark in the Peach Belt
Conference. With the national ranking entering Tuesday's contest,
CSU does not carry a senior on the current roster.
Three of CSU's four wins have come via shutout, including a 2-0 win over SAC opponent Tusculum. A major factor in those shutouts has been sophomore goalkeeper Meosha Hatcher who has earned all three CSU shutouts. Hatcher comes into the mid-week matchup with a 4-1 recorded with 33 saves on the season.
Offensively, Columbus State has had seven different goal scorers as sophomore Chelsea Person leads the team with three. Sophomores Tori Hood and Shelby Rolling, along with freshman Nichole Corcione, all tie for the second on the team with two. Rolling currently leads the squad in assists with two.
The Series
Anderson and Columbus State will meet for the first time on
Tuesday, as AU looks to improve on a 0-2 record against PBC
opponents this season. With its 2-0 victory over TC earlier in the
season, the Cougars hold a 1-0 record against SAC teams on the
year.
