Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Owls Open Sun Belt Play This Weekend
9/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 18, 2006
BOCA RATON, FL -- The Sun Belt Conference portion of the 2006 schedule has finally arrived for the Florida Atlantic University women's soccer team.
In its first season in the conference, the Owls (3-3-2) will welcome Middle Tennessee State and Western Kentucky to FAU Field for the team's first taste of conference play.
MTSU (6-2-0) boasts one of the conference's most potent offensive attacks, with 30 goals already this season, including a 10-0 victory over Lipscomb. Leading the way offensively is Kala Morgan with nine tallies on the year to go with five assists for 23 points. Mary Zapapas (five goals), Jennifer Threlkeld (four goals, five assists), and Holly Grogan (four goals, seven assists) create a diverse attack for the Blue Raiders.
The Blue Raiders have split time in net between two players, Courtney Fortner and Erynn Murray. Fortner has made five starts to Murray's three. The two have combined to post a 1.21 goals-against average and two shutouts while making 24 stops.
Both of the Blue Raider losses have come in overtime. They dropped a 2-1 decision in overtime to #10 Tennessee, and in the team's most recent outing they fell to Vanderbilt, 4-3 in double-overtime. FAU won the only previous meeting between the two teams, 5-0 on September 17, 2000. The Blue Raiders and Owls square off on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Western Kentucky (4-4-0) opened the season with three losses, and then ran off a four-game winning streak before dropping a 2-1 decision to Louisville.
The Lady Toppers have outscored their opponents 14-11 on the season and are lead on offense by Kristi Cocchiarella with four goals and three assists. Kellie Walker is close behind with three goals and four assists.
Meredith Goodson has played the entire season in net for WKU, giving up 11 goals and making 28 saves in 640 minutes of play for a 1.55 goals-against average. She has one shutout to her credit.
This is the first meeting between the Lady Toppers and Owls. WKU and FAU kickoff Sunday at 1 p.m.
Owls fans can catch all the action live via the GameTracker feature, accessible from the women's soccer schedule page. Each game is also video streamed on a tape-delay as part of the FAU All-Access package.
