APSU Sports: Austin Peay Soccer
Clarksville, TN – A logjam in the standings makes this a big weekend for Austin Peay State University women’s soccer team.
The Lady Govs host Tennessee Tech, 7:00pm, Friday, and Jacksonville State, 2:00pm, Sunday, in two match-ups that will have direct bearing on Austin Peay’s placement in November’s Ohio Valley Conference Soccer Tournament.
The Lady Govs own tiebreakers against Belmont (defeated 3-0, October 7th) and Southeast Missouri (defeated 1-0, September 30th), but could solidify their positioning with two positive results this weekend.
Last weekend, the Lady Govs trounced Eastern Illinois 6-1 before salvaging a scoreless tie with SIU Edwardsville. Austin Peay, which has battled back to even its record at 7-7-1 after a 4-7 start, has been led by junior Tatiana Ariza, who leads the OVC with 22 points and is 26th nationally with 1.69 points per game. She is the only player in the OVC ranked in the top 50 nationally in both goals per game (0.615, 48th) and assists per game (0.46, 48th)
Tennessee Tech (4-9-1, 2-4-0 OVC) has been led by junior Ellie Iaciofano, who is tied with Ariza for the conference lead with eight goals. She’s either scored or assisted on 10 of the 14 goals scored by the Golden Eagles this season.
Freshman keeper Jordan Brown needs three saves to reach 100 in her first season in Cookeville, TN.
“Iaciofano has had a really good season,” said head coach Kelley Guth. “She’s come on strong as a threat. We just have to continue to defend as a team and make sure she’s someone we’re aware of.”
Jacksonville State (10-4-2, 3-2-1 OVC) has a high-octane offense led by sophomore Courtney Hurt (seven goals, five assists) and freshman Kelsey Bright (six goals, three assists).
That offense has been limited of late, scoring just once in four of the last five contests.
Friday’s match will be Parent’s Night at Morgan Brothers Stadium; parents of Austin Peay soccer players will be recognized at halftime. Sunday will be Senior Day, with six Lady Govs seniors (Jazzmine Chandler, Sara Kluttz, Jocelyn Murdoch, Emily Perkins, Renny Robinson and Stephanie Weider) honored before the match for their contributions to Austin Peay’s soccer program.
Last Time Against This Weekend’s Opponents
The Lady Govs went into overtime against both Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State in 2011. A 78th minute goal by Emily Perkins forced overtime in Oxford, AL, against the Gamecocks and Austin Peay held on for a 1-1 draw.
Play was scoreless through 90 minutes in Cookeville last season, but the Golden Eagles Leigh Heffner headed in a 99th-minute corner kick for the game-winner. Austin Peay outshot Tennessee Tech 15-10 but couldn’t put a shot by departed keeper Becca Toler (five saves).
Keep An Eye On
Tatiana Ariza needs five points to pass Ashley Beck’s 2007 campaign and tie her own 2010 season for second-most points in a single season with 27. It would give Ariza the top three single-season marks in APSU history. One assist would also tie her 2011 and Andy Quiceno’s 2010 school-best seven assist mark.
Junior Andy Quiceno, who netted a hat trick in last weekend’s game at Eastern Illinois, needs one goal to equal the fifth-best single-season mark in school history with seven. She is tied with Jessica Hosse (2004-07) for third in school history with 33 career points.
Senior Emily Perkins is tied with Erica Dengler (2003-06) and Kaylee Yago (2002-05) with 12 career goals.
The Lady Govs close out the regular season, next weekend, with a Friday road match at Morehead State (6:00pm) before ending the season at home against Eastern Kentucky, 2:00pm, Sunday.
Lady Govs Online
Be sure to follow all the Lady Govs action at LetsGoPeay.com, and check them out on Twitter (@AustinPeaySocr) and by liking the Austin Peay Women’s Soccer Official Page on Facebook
