ANDERSON, S.C. - After a last-minute goal handed Anderson University women's soccer its fourth straight victory to begin the season, the Trojans look to continue their winning streak as it opens South Atlantic Conference play with in-state rival Coker on Wednesday. Kick-off with the Cobras at Trojan Stadium is slated for 2 p.m.
The Trojans
With its narrow 2-1 triumph over Young Harris on Saturday, Anderson
is off to its best start to a season since the 2001 campaign when
it opened up 6-0. The Trojans have scored at least two goals in
every match this season and lead the SAC in goals scored with 22.
With the Black and Gold clicking early on in the season, they are
the only conference team with over 100 shots (116) and lead the
league in shots on goal (76), assists (15) and shots per match
(29.0).
Leading the attack has been junior forward Idoia Agirre who has recorded a goal in every match this season. Agirre paces the conference in goals (nine), points (20), shots (29) and shots on goal (26), as she put AU on the scoreboard for the first time with an equalizer just seconds before halftime against YHC on Saturday. Sophomore Abbey Mills sealed the victory with a 90th minute header for her second goal of the season.
Fellow strikers Kenzie Van Heusen and Marie Yasmine Alidou join Mills with multi-goals this season with six and three, respectively. Van Heusen saw her streak of three straight matches with two goals scored come to a close, settling without a goal against Young Harris.
In goal, freshman Abby Helm has recorded all four of AU's wins
on the year, ranking seventh in the conference in saves with 11.
Helm topped her season high with four saves in the victory over YHC
on Saturday.
The Cobras
First-year head coach Debbie McGuinness earned her first win at the
helm of Coker on Sept. 9 when the Cobras knocked off Greensboro,
3-1, in the Tar Heel State. Despite the victory, Coker had
sandwiched the win with a pair of setbacks, beginning with
Limestone (3-0) in the season opener and Florida Tech (3-1) in its
most recent result on Saturday.
The Cobras enter Wednesday's matchup four different goal scorers, as sophomore Batavia Mata leads the team with four points this season with a goal and a pair of assists. Teammate Renee Lesesma follows Mata in points with three with a goal and an assist. Despite the four goals, Coker has been outshot 53-20 for the young season.
Defensively, two goalkeepers has seen time between the posts as freshman Shelby Middleton has earned two starts and has grabbed 11 saves. Sophomore Ashton Knopf has also earned a start and recorded three saves in the 3-0 setback to Limestone to open the year.
The Series
Since Coker joined the SAC prior to the 2013 season, Anderson has
defeated the Cobras in each meeting over the two seasons,
out-scoring their in-state rival, 12-0. Last season, the Trojans
claimed a convincing 9-0 win over Coker in Hartsville.
