Clarksville, TN – After missing the postseason a year ago, the Austin Peay State University (APSU) soccer team can earn a spot in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship Tournament field, 6:00pm, Friday, October 25th at Morgan Brothers Soccer Field, with a victory versus Eastern Illinois.
The Governors enter the final week of the regular season with an overall record of 4-8-3 and a 3-4-1 mark in OVC play after dropping a heartbreaking, 2-1, double-overtime final to Murray State this past Sunday.
But prior to that loss to the Racers, coach Naomi Kolarova’s squad had won three of its previous four matches to elevate its position in the OVC standings to seventh place overall – top eight teams make the tournament field – with 10 points, two points ahead of Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State, who are all tied for the final spot in the tournament field with eight points each.
So, coming into this week’s action the math is simple for Austin Peay State University, if the Governors defeat or tie the Panthers this Friday at home, they lock up a postseason berth no matter what they do Sunday, October 27th in Nashville, TN versus Belmont to end the regular season.
But a loss this Friday versus Eastern Illinois would drop the APSU Govs into eighth place in the league standings and leave the door open for either Eastern Kentucky or Morehead State to slip by Austin Peay for the final spot in the OVC Tournament on the final day of the season if the Govs also lose to Belmont and if either Eastern Kentucky or Morehead State can defeat SIU Edwardsville in their final matches next weekend.
But even with a home loss to EIU on Friday, Austin Peay State University still controls their own destiny if they defeat or tie Belmont, due to owning any tiebreakers versus EKU and Morehead State with head-to-head victories against the pair during the regular season.
In this week’s matchup versus EIU, the Govs will be looking to their three leading scorers – Claire Larose, Rachel Bradberry and Anna McPhie – who have combined for eight goals and 23 total points this season to lead the way, with the trio having scored six of their eight goal this season in their last three victories.
The APSU Govs will also need a strong effort from their senior keeper Mary Parker Powell, who has only allowed one goal to the Panthers in her two previous efforts in goal versus the Panthers in her career.
