ANDERSON, S.C. - Entering the week with wins its last two matches, Anderson University women's soccer looks to pick up a key NCAA Southeast Region win over nonconference opponent Limestone when it closes a four-match road swing on Wednesday. Kick-off from Saints Field is scheduled for 5 p.m.
The Trojans
With victories over Brevard (2-0) and Tusculum (2-1, 2OT) last
week, Anderson comes into Wednesday's tilt with a 7-1 overall
record and a 3-1 mark in the South Atlantic Conference, sitting in
a tie for third place with Lenoir-Rhyne in the currently conference
standings. Last week, the Trojans cracked the National Soccer
Coaches of America Association Southeast Regional Rankings for the
first time since the 2012 season, entering the poll at the No. 10
slot.
Junior forward Idoia Agirre continues to lead the team and the conference in goals (12), assists (5), points (29), shots (45) and shots on goal (35). Agirre currently has more goals than seven SAC teams and has recorded at least one point in seven of the team's eight matches on the year. Teammate Kenzie Van Heusen and Marie Yasmine Alidou follow the striker with six goals apiece, which currently tie for fifth in the SAC. In addition to the goals, Alidou is even Agirre in assists with five.
Freshman goalkeeper Abby Helm has earned starts in all eight matches this season, posting two complete shutouts, which slots her for the third most in the SAC. Helm tied a season-high with four saves in a 2-1 double-overtime victory over Tusculum on Saturday, including stopping a first-half penalty kick.
The Saints
Limestone has been ranked in the NSCAA Southeast Region Poll for
several weeks, peaking at the No. 8 position. The Saints have been
perfect through their first eight contests, entering Wednesday's
contest with an 8-0 overall record with a 5-0 mark in Conference
Carolinas. Within the streak, Limestone has not been scored on in
its last two matches and has allowed just two goals all season.
Offensively, the Saints have produced 31 goals and 25 assists on the year, highlighted by 11 different goal scorers. Striker Holly Rawcliffe leads the club with eight goals and 18 points, as her season has been headlined by a hat trick in an 8-1 victory at Chowan on Sept. 8. Three Saints follow Rawcliffe in the goals category, as Isidora Hernandez, Alex Mathis and Emily Ludwig all have four goals to their credit.
Four different goalkeepers have seen time for the Saints this season, as Mariette Martinez leads the group in minutes with 630. Martinez has posted 17 saves and is responsible for six shutouts on the year.
The Series
Anderson and Limestone meet for the first time since the 2011
season when the Saints edged the Trojans with a 1-0 victory in
Gaffney. AU seeks its first triumph over its in-state rival since a
2-1 Conference Carolinas Tournament win in 2009, which was
Anderson's last Conference Carolinas Tournament win before
transitioning to the SAC in 2010.
