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HomeSportsRoad trip opens season for Lady Govs soccer

Road trip opens season for Lady Govs soccer

APSU Sports: Women’s Soccer

Austin Peay State University Lady GovsClarksville, TN – A season-opening road trip awaits Austin Peay State University women’s soccer team, beginning with a 4:00pm, Friday match at Alabama A&M, followed by a 2:00pm, Sunday match at Chattanooga.

The Lady Govs, who were picked to finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll, won both of their exhibition games and, despite some sporadic injuries, open the regular season in relatively good physical shape.

APSU Women's Soccer. (Courtesy: Mateen Sidiq/Austin Peay)
APSU Women's Soccer. (Courtesy: Mateen Sidiq/Austin Peay)

“We’re excited to get out and play against another team,” Head coach Kelley Guth said. “Our preseason games went well, the team is fired up and ready to go. We’re ready to play some games that count.”

Among the returning players for Austin Peay are three 2010 All-OVC picks, including the 2010 Freshman of the Year Tatiana Ariza, along with twin sister Natalia Ariza and Joceline Quiceno. During the summer the Arizas participated in team activities with the Colombian National Team, with Tatiana making the team for a trip to the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Quicenos (Joceline and Andy) spent the summer rehabbing knee injuries, along with junior Sara Kluttz and sophomore Corey Osborn. Joceline and Andy have returned at full strength to the front line, while Kluttz and Osborn can be found as outside backs opposite center back Emily Kink.

“It’s been great to have every back together,” head coach Kelley Guth said. “The Arizas were late arriving, but they made it. To have the Quicenos healthy up top has been good to see. Our defense has looked strong as well through the preseason.”

Alabama A&M was picked to finish fourth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s preseason poll. Led by preseason All-SWAC first-team pick Celeste Roberts, the Bulldogs return a large portion of their contributors from 2010.

Chattanooga opens its regular-season facing a pair of OVC teams, beginning with Tennessee Tech, Friday. Seniors Donna Kay Henry and Danielle Barr lead 10 returning players from a team that finished with only four wins in 2010

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