ANDERSON, S.C. - Following a regular season with the most South Atlantic Conference wins in program history, the fifth-seeded Anderson University women's soccer team begins its postseason campaign when it hits the road to fourth-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne for the opening round of the SAC Championship. Kick-off at Bears Field is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Trojans
With a narrow 2-1 road victory over Mars Hill last Saturday, AU
ended its regular season with a program record 14 victories, as it
enters the SAC Championship with a 14-3 overall record, marking the
third-highest winning percentage in the SAC this season. The
Trojans have won their last two contests and four of their last
five entering the annual tournament, allowing just three goals in
the span. Anderson seeks its first win in the SAC Tournament, but
looks to advance to the semifinals for the second time in program
history after advancing on penalty kicks over Tusculum in 2011.
Junior striker Idoia Agirre led the charge over MHU on Saturday, tallying a goal and an assist in the 2-1 victory. With her second-half goal, Agirre became the first SAC player to score 20 goals in a season since Wingate's Jade Montgomery accomplished the feat in 2012 with 21. Agirre leads the SAC in goals (20), points (47), shots (75) and shots on goal (57), as she ended the year scoring more goals than four teams in the SAC.
Teammate Kenzie Van Heusen provided the game-winner against Lions, as she netted her ninth goal of the season to give Anderson to 2-1 victory. With the goal, Van Heusen ranks ninth in the SAC, while continuing to rank second in the league in assists with seven for the year.
In goal, freshman Abby Helm recorded her 13th victory between the posts, which slots her second in the SAC in wins. Helm also ranks eighth in saves (67) and fourth with her 0.89 goals-against average.
The Bears
Lenoir-Rhyne wrapped up the regular season in a tie for third place
in the final SAC standings, joining Queens. The Bears dropped a 1-0
decision to the Royals on Oct. 3, forcing L-R to the fourth seed,
while Queens moved up to the No. 3 seed in the annual tournament.
Lenoir-Rhyne saw a memorable Senior Day in its final home contest
on Saturday with a 2-0 triumph over Newberry, as it closed the year
with a 12-4-1 overall record and an 8-2-1 conference mark.
The Bears enter Tuesday's contest with a perfect 8-0 record at home this season, as they hold an impressive 17-1-1 record at Bears Field over the past two seasons. For the month of October, L-R conceited just one goal at home and it came in Anderson's 2-1 setback in Hickory on Oct. 10.
Ranking second behind Agirre in goals this season is L-R forward Leah Mullins, who has 16 goals on the year. Mullins has been held without a point in the Bears' last two contests, but scored both of Lenoir-Rhyne's goals in a 2-0 victory over Coker on Oct. 21. For the year, Mullins has score three hat trick with her most recent one coming in L-R's 9-0 win over Mars Hill on Oct. 7.
Junior goalkeeper Andrea Leano has started in 15 of Lenoir-Rhyne matches this season and ranks fourth in the SAC in goals against with 13. Within her 15 matches played, Leano has not made more than four saves in all but one match on the year.
The Series
Earlier this season, L-R tallied a come-from-behind victory to
defeat the Trojans, 2-1, at Bears Field on Oct. 10. Tuesday's
matchup will mark the third time the teams have locked up in the
SAC Tournament, as Anderson still seeks its first point against
Lenoir-Rhyne since joining the conference in 2010. The Trojans are
0-8 against the Bears and AU has scored just two goals in the
span.
