Clarksville, TN – After a successful opening-weekend sweep of Chattanooga and Appalachian State, Austin Peay State University women’s soccer team opens its home schedule with a 7:00pm, Friday, match against Sun Belt foe Arkansas-Little Rock.
Ariza’s offensive exploits were buoyed by a stout Lady Govs defense led by OVC Defensive Player of the Week Shelby Olszewski, who netted a goal and an assist in her women’s soccer debut against Chattanooga.
Senior Corey Osborn (played the full 90 minutes in both matches) and sophomore Nikki Filippone (six saves, zero goals allowed) also showed promise in the season’s opening weekend – Filippone made a career-high four saves in the first half against Appalachian State.
UALR has been impressive offensively early on in 2013, outscoring opponents 10-1 through the first two matches. Senior Paige Mason and freshman Kayla Turner have scored two goals apiece, while junior Ariel Galletti, who scored UALR’s lone goal against Austin Peay in 2012, has chipped in a goal and two assists.
However, the Trojan defense has yet to see the type of pressure the Lady Govs offense is likely to put on it; UALR keepers have only seen two shots put on goal in the season’s first two matches.
Austin Peay will be off next weekend, with mid-week matches at Western Kentucky (September 5th, 7:00pm) and Lipscomb (September 9th, 7:00pm) marking the beginnings of a four-match road trip that spans the first three weeks of September.
Austin Peay returns home to host UT Martin (September 27th, 7:00pm) to open OVC play in a rematch of last season’s OVC Tournament Championship match.
Last Time Against UALR
The Lady Govs were without Tatiana and Natalia Ariza, who were still away after playing for the Colombian National Team at the 2012 London Olympics. Filippone made three saves in 45 second-half minutes against the Trojans.
Keep An Eye On
Tatiana Ariza needs just five points to tie former Eastern Illinois athlete Tracie Strother (1995-98) for third among OVC student-athletes in points – although Strother played only the inaugural season of OVC play for the Panthers. Ariza is at 105 career points heading into the weekend.
With one point, senior Andy Quiceno would take sole possession of third place on Austin Peay’s all-time points list, breaking a tie with Emily Perkins (2011-12), who scored 35 points in two seasons in Clarksville. She and her sister Joceline are tied for eighth all-time in goals scored with 10 apiece.
With one point, senior Natalia Ariza would tie Jessica Hosse (2004-07) for fifth place on the all-time list with 33 points. She remains one goal away from tying Erica Dengler (2003-06) and Kaylee Yago (2002-05).
Senior defender Emily Kink needs one more assist to move into a tie for tenth all-time.
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. Live stats will be available prior to the match at www.LetsGoPeay.com.
