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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s soccer team will open OVC play this weekend at home with games against Murray State (Friday at 4:00 p.m.) and UT Martin (Sunday at 1:00 p.m.). The Colonels (3-4-2) begin conference play having won two straight games and having not lost a game since Sept. 3.

“We’ve had a great tone in training this week, and I think we’re in a good place right now,” head coach Lindsay Basalyga said. “We’re excited to kick off conference play at home this year.”

EKU is fresh off its highest-scoring weekend in program history. The Colonels overwhelmed Presbyterian, 4-0, at home on Friday, then went on the road to defeat a tough Horizon League opponent in Detroit Mercy, 2-1, on Sunday for their first road win of the season.

A promising sign for the Colonels as they enter OVC play is the emergence of several young players over the last few games. Three of the four goals scored against Presbyterian on Friday were scored by freshmen and all four assists recorded during the game were recorded by freshmen. Redshirt freshman Lauren Fant then scored the game-winner against Detroit Mercy on Sunday.

Senior goalkeeper Stephanie Lynch has also picked up her play just in time for the conference schedule. Lynch recorded her second shutout of the season and 19th of her career against Presbyterian and has only allowed two goals over the Colonels’ last three games. She has been helped by the play of a young backline that is just starting to gel and communicate at a high level. The veteran of that backline, junior Stephanie Murray, has played every minute of every game this season.

Murray State eliminated EKU in the first round and won the OVC Tournament last year , but the Racers are just 1-7-2 entering OVC play and have fallen upon hard times recently. Still, the Racers’ roster is filled with starters from last year’s championship team and they could become dangerous at any time. 2009 first team All-OVC selection Sophie Hargreaves leads Murray State with three goals.

The Colonels will be looking for their first ever win over the Racers on Friday as Murray State leads the all-time series between the two programs, 4-0-2.

UT Martin enters this weekend on a three game winning streak and with an overall record of 4-4-1. The Skyhawks finished last season 9-6-0 (6-2-0 OVC) and won a share of the program’s first ever regular season OVC title. Rosaelia Loza leads this year’s squad with five goals while Jenni Duffy has recorded two goals and three assists.

UT Martin leads the all-time series between the two schools, 4-1-1. EKU won its only game over UT Martin, 1-0, at EKU Soccer Field in 2008.