BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic University women's soccer is on the road for the final time this regular season, for a Thursday night matchup at Old Dominion, and a Sunday contest at Middle Tennessee, which will be shown on
ESPN+.
The Owls (10-3-0, 4-1-0 C-USA) held firm in the latest RPI ratings at No. 30, and with 12 league points, sit in a three-way tie for second in the Conference USA standings (alongside North Texas and WKU, and behind 5-1-0 Charlotte).
Owls' Week in Review
A 2-1 comeback victory last Friday over UTSA extended the Owls' home win streak to six in a row, behind tallies from the team's top two goalscorers on the year,
Mary O'Hara (her eighth) and
Pernille Velta (fifth).
The result marked the ninth win in goal this season for redshirt freshman
Cassidy Wasdin, who this week was ranked in Top Drawer Soccer's
Women's Freshmen Top 100, the midseason update of the outlet's nationwide list. Only two other C-USA freshmen were also recognized (forward Tessa Carlin of UTEP and midfielder Michelle Gonzalez of North Texas).
Owls' Weekend in Preview
The Owls will first take on ODU (8-3-2, 2-3-0 C-USA). The Monarchs have rebounded since losing their first three league matchups with back-to-back wins over WKU (by a score of 3-0) and Middle Tennessee (3-2 in OT). Amanda Nhek has a team-high eight goals, followed by Kyra Ricks with five. Both share the team lead with four assists.
Then, a matchup with Middle Tennessee (5-8-1, 2-3-1 C-USA) will wrap the weekend. The Blue Raiders were swept in their last two, by ODU (3-2 in OT) and Charlotte (5-2), after topping UTEP the weekend prior in a 6-1 rout. Reigning C-USA Offensive Player of the Year Peyton DePriest continues to excel, with 11 goals (second in the league), while last year's league Freshman of the Year, Hannah Tillett, has six goals and six assists.
Opponent History
ODU holds a 3-1-2 advantage in the all-time series, though FAU has gained at least a point in the last two matchups, with a 1-0 win two seasons ago, and a scoreless tie last year. Both matches took place in Boca Raton.
Besides FIU, among C-USA opponents, the Owls have played the most matches against Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders have a slim 9-7 edge, but the Owls have won three out of the last four, including two last year: 1-0 in the regular season in Boca, and 2-1 in overtime in the quarterfinal round of the C-USA Championship in Norfolk.
Women's Soccer on Social Media
Follow the Owls on Twitter and Instagram, both @FAUWomensSoccer, and like the team on Facebook
here.
After This
All that's left in the regular season are three matches, and all are at FAU Soccer Stadium. It's a two-match weekend first, next Friday versus North Texas and Sunday hosting Rice. Then, on Friday, Nov. 1, Senior Night will be against FIU, to conclude things before postseason play.