ANDERSON, S.C. - Looking to snap a three-match setback streak, Anderson University women's soccer moves away from its South Atlantic Conference schedule on Wednesday when it heads to in-state rival Lander for a regional matchup. Kickoff from the Van Taylor Stadium at the Jeff May Complex is slated for 7 p.m.
The Trojans
Seeking its first win in October, Anderson enters the midweek
contest with a 4-6-1 overall record with a 2-4-1 mark in SAC play.
With the seven points, the Trojans find themselves in eighth place
in the conference standings, which would give them the final spot
in the SAC Tournament if the season ended on Wednesday. Anderson is
currently one point clear of Coker and four points ahead of
Brevard, which sit in ninth and tenth place, respectively.
At this time of the season in 2013, the Trojans rattled off three wins in their last five matches to give them five victories on the year. This season, Anderson's next triumph would match last season's win total.
Anderson's offense is continued to be led by freshman Lyssa Engle with nine goals as she sits in fourth place in the conference. Engle has scored Anderson's last six goals scored as teammate Emily Cowan scored the last goal not scored by Engle in a 9-0 win at Coker on Sept. 20. Engle is followed by classmate Maddie Volz with four goals, while Alaina Gay and Rachael Whaling each have two goals apiece.
Defensively, sophomore goalkeeper Sadie Lancaster has posted 47 saves, placing her fifth in the SAC in the category. Lancaster has accumulated three shutouts on the year as ranks third in the league in goalkeeper minutes played with just over 1,005 minutes.
The Bearcats
Lander is also seeking its first win of October after entering
Wednesday with a 0-2-2 mark for the month. Overall, the Bearcats
carry a 4-2-3 record with an even 2-2-2 mark in the Peach Belt
Conference. Currently, LU is on a two-match losing streak,
suffering a 3-0 home defeat to UNC Pembroke last Wednesday,
followed by a narrow 1-0 setback to Clayton State on Saturday.
Three different Bearcats have scored three goals on the year as senior Kimberly Kesler, junior Alexis Rogers and freshman Logan Lewis pace the Lander offense. Kesler holds the team-lead in shots with 33 as the Bearcats have out-shot their opponents 170-72 for the season. Kesler and teammate Casey Black are responsible for over 33-percent of the shots taken by the Lander attack.
In goal, Katie Lyle has posted just 24 saves in seven starts on the year. Lyle has recorded one shutout on the year while totaling over 861 minutes played.
The Series
Last season marked the first time Anderson and Lander have met
since 2011 as the Bearcats claimed a 1-0 overtime win over AU at
the Bob May Complex. Since 2009, LU holds a 4-0 mark over the
Trojans, as the Black and Gold has managed just one goal in the
previous four meetings.
