Free Kicks - Women's Edition

We didn’t have a lot of comments from our first edition of FREE KICK. We’ll work a little harder on our end to solicit some. Remember, if you attend a match, this week send us a photo of you and your friends … we’ll get it posted here and on our Facebook page! Thanks to the folks at FGCU and USC Upstate that sent stuff to us.

College Cup Comes to Kennesaw
More news related to the KSU Soccer Stadium. The NCAA announced that the facility will serve as host to the 2011 Women’s College Cup. That’s a great honor for Kennesaw State and the A-Sun. Our staff in Macon is looking forward to helping the Owls out that weekend.

JU Near Miss
Jacksonville stood less than 20 minutes away from claiming The Citadel/Nike Invitational title before falling to Charleston Southern in overtime. The Dolphins dispatched the host Bulldogs in dominate fashion, 3-0. A goal in the 73rd minute and the game-winner five minutes into overtime drowned the team’s opportunity to take home the trophy. Lisa Hensley and Jelena Vrcelj each scored two goals on the weekend.

Blog Me
The A-Sun clearly was not the only person that saw the value of a blog. If you want another inside view into A-Sun women’s soccer, Belmont coach Lisa Howe (http://bruinsider.blogspot.com/), ETSU teammates Tori Head and Samantha Kron (http://www.etsubucs.com/sports/wsoccer/default.aspx), JU senior Devin Dowell (http://www.judolphins.com/multimedia/blogs/215/) and Mercer senior Sara Elliot (http://www.mercerbears.com/sports/wsoc/2010-11/files/Bloggin_With_Sara) provide regular blog posts throughout the season as well.

Big Weekend at Bear Field
Mercer will host “Orange Out Weekend” as two of the most recognized non-conference foes on the schedule come to Macon. Every fan wearing orange to Bear Field will receive complimentary admission as Mercer takes on in-state rival Georgia at 7:00pm on Friday and Florida State at 1:00pm on Sunday. Those unable to make it to Bear Field can watch all the action on the conference's webstreaming channel, ASun.TV.

Lady Bisons Defense Making the Difference
Lipscomb may have been picked to finish near the bottom of the standings in the preseason poll, but a stout defense through the season’s first two weeks may turn some heads. The Lady Bisons surrendered just three goals in four matches and have yet to allow an opponent to find the back of the net twice in a single match. Goalkeeper Erin Zerio boasts a 0.73 goals against average but owes a lot to her defense since she only averages 4.5 saves per match. While the defense is the good news for the Lady Bisons, the offense will have to try to catch up to make a big move in the conference. Lipscomb scored just three goals of their own through four matches.

By the Numbers
Four A-Sun goalies carry sub-1.00 goals against averages into the weekend: Megan Masch, ETSU (0.37), Erin Zerio, Lipscomb (0.73), Cristina Guilarte, Mercer (0.90) and Jamie Panfil, Campbell (0.95). Impressive numbers, no doubt, but who has needed to make more saves to reach that mark? Zerio and Panfil have each made 18 saves while Masch has recorded only six saves and faced just 22 shots.

Looking Ahead
In addition to the Orange Out Weekend at Mercer, FGCU plays host to a formidable group of teams in its Embassy Suites Hotel Kickoff Classic. Arkansas, Kent State and Miami all descend upon Fort Myers for what should be a competitive classic.

Worth Quoting
“The committee is thrilled with the selection of Kennesaw State as host of the 2011 NCAA Women’s Soccer College Cup. The committee’s priority is to select a championship site that will continue to elevate the championship experience, meanwhile enhancing the student-athlete experience. We are confident Kennesaw State is committed to these goals and will conduct a first-class championship.”

Dr. Lisa Campos – NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Chairperson

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