ANDERSON, S.C. - Looking to bounce back after three straight defeats, Anderson University women's soccer jumps back into South Atlantic Conference action on Saturday when it hits the road for its final leg in a three-match road stretch to Coker. Kickoff from the Coker Soccer Field is set for 4:30 p.m.
The Trojans
In its most recent result, AU suffered a 3-1 defeat to Peach Belt
Conference opponent Georgia College on Wednesday. With the setback,
the Trojans have dropped their last three matches after winning
their opening two contests to begin the season. The setback streak
marks the first time since 2011 Anderson has dropped three in a
row.
Scoring against GC on Wednesday was freshman Lyssa Engle, who joins fellow freshmen Maddie Volz and Rachael Whaling as three of the four goal scorers for the year. Whaling currently leads the squad with two goals after she scored twice in the home opener against Southern Wesleyan on Sept. 4. Joining the freshmen trio in the goal category is newcomer Mariana Poveda, who scored AU's second goal in a 2-0 win at North Greenville.
Junior midfielder Emily Cowan has also provided offense for the Trojans, as the Belmont, Mich. native is tied for second in the league with three assists on the season. With the three assists, Cowan is currently second on the club in points and is one point shy of the team lead, held by Whaling.
Sophomore goalkeeper Sadie Lancaster posted a season-high five saves against Georgia College and ranks 11th in the league in the category.
The Cobras
Despite a five-win season in 2013, Coker has won two of its last
three matches, highlighted by a 1-0 win at Lincoln Memorial last
Saturday. With a brief two-match winning streak heading into last
Wednesday, the winning stretch was cut down by Converse, as the
Valkyries cruised to a 4-0 nonconference win. With the setback,
Coker enters the weekend matchup with a 2-3 record, matching
Anderson's mark.
A well-balanced Coker offense has seen five different Cobras score goals through its first five matches, as senior Erica Snyder and sophomore Jordan Roy paced the team in points with three apiece. Senior Trah Monroe joins the freshman tandem of Laura Bexell and Autumn Fetterrolf as the final three goal scorers for the Cobras.
Preseason All-SAC First Team honoree Lizz Morris has started all five contests on the year and has recorded a league-high 47 saves. Last season, Morris posted 156 saves which earned her a spot on the postseason all-conference first team.
The Series
Last season, in the first meeting as SAC members, Anderson captured
a convincing 3-0 win over Coker at Trojan Staduim. Then-freshman
Tera Dolan opened AU's scoring with an eighth minute goal, which
would later be tabbed the game-winner.
