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Austin Peay Lady Govs Soccer hosts South Alabama and Alabama A&M this weekend

APSU Sports: Austin Peay Soccer

Austin Peay State University Lady GovsClarksville, TN – A week of rest has the Austin Peay State University women’s soccer team ready to roll in two weekend home matches.

The Lady Govs host South Alabama in a 7:00pm, Friday match before concluding the non-conference schedule with a 2:00pm, Sunday game against Alabama A&M.

Austin Peay Lady Govs Soccer.
Austin Peay Lady Govs Soccer.

The Lady Govs (3-4-0) haven’t played since last Friday, a 4-0 road loss to Miami (Ohio). Austin Peay’s offense has been stellar in its victories (three or more goals in all three wins) but mostly silent in its defeats (one total goal in four losses).

“We’ve spent a lot of time on our mentality,” said head coach Kelley Guth. “We want our work ethic in training to transfer onto the game field and we felt it didn’t last week. We worked hard and challenged our players to challenge one another.”

Jocelyn MurdochSouth Alabama (4-3-1) provides a familiar foe for the Lady Govs, who faced the Jaguars at last season’s Port City Classic. A Jocelyn Murdoch header gave the Lady Govs an early lead, but two South Alabama goals combined with five second-half saves to upend the Lady Govs victory bid.

The Jaguars have a winning record despite having been outscored 17-9 through eight matches. Junior Kristyn Thacker leads South Alabama with four goals this season.

“They’ve had some people in and out of the line-up,” Guth said. “They’re going to be very aggressive. I expect it to be a great match-up and good test for our team.”

Tatiana ArizaSunday opponent Alabama A&M (0-7-0) is winless this season and have yet to score a goal. The Bulldogs will be at Murray State, Friday, before making the journey to Clarksville. Austin Peay will be the third Ohio Valley Conference school the Bulldogs have faced this season, after Murray State and a 5-0 loss to Jacksonville State, August 26th.

This will be Austin Peay’s seventh meeting with Alabama A&M. The Lady Govs are 4-2-0 (all-time) against the Bulldogs and have won the previous two meetings. Last season’s 14-0 victory set program single-game records for goals (14), assists (nine), and points. Sophomore Claire Pultz set the school record with four goals, while she and junior Tatiana Ariza each set single-game Austin Peay marks with eight points.

Keep An Eye On

Emily PerkinsSenior Emily Perkins needs one point to pass Adonia Bivins (2003-08) for sole possession of seventh place all-time; the pair are currently tied with 22 points apiece.

With one goal this weekend, Tatiana Ariza would move into a tie for most goals in school history with Ashley Beck (2005-08).

Junior Natalia Ariza needs one point to break her tie with Kaylee Yago (2002-05) and Erica Dengler (2003-06) for fourth all-time in scoring; all three are currently deadlocked at 30. A goal for Ariza would move her past Yago and Dengler in points and tie her with the duo for fourth all-time in goals scored with 12.

The Lady Govs open the Ohio Valley Conference schedule 2:00pm, Sunday, September 23rd when they host archrival Murray State.

Lady Govs Online

Be sure to follow all the Lady Govs action at www.LetsGoPeay.com, and check them out on Twitter (@AustinPeaySocr) and by liking the Austin Peay Women’s Soccer Official Page on Facebook.

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