Cincinnati Live Stats I Wright State Live Stats

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women’s soccer team is off to the best start in program history, and the Colonels are looking to ride that wave of momentum into a pair of challenging matchups this weekend against Cincinnati and Wright State.

EKU (2-1-0), which won its first two games of the season before being edged at Kentucky, 2-1, last Friday, will play at Cincinnati on Friday at 7:00 p.m. before hosting Wright State on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

EKU’s defense has been stout early in the season, as the Colonels enter the weekend ranked second in the Ohio Valley Conference with only three goals allowed. The Colonel offense, meanwhile, has been opportunistic and balanced. Junior Lauren Fant provided the game-winner in the season opener against UNC Asheville, while freshman Taylor Perkins buried the game-winner against Robert Morris two minutes into overtime.

Cincinnati (2-0-1) is off to a similarly strong start. The Bearcats opened the season with a draw against Elon, but have since reeled off two straight wins over North Carolina State and Northwestern. Laura Rose paces the Bearcat offense with three goals on the season.

Cincinnati defeated EKU, 3-2, at EKU Soccer Field in 2009 in the only other matchup between the two programs. The Colonels staged a furious second half rally in that game, tying the score, 2-2, in the 72nd minute; however, the Bearcats scored with just three seconds on the clock to come away with the thrilling win. Seniors Katie Collar and Deja Tennon both saw action as freshmen in that heartbreaking loss.

Wright State (2-1-1) is also a dangerous team. The Raiders won their first two games of the season before tying Denver and losing to Colorado on a trip to the Centennial State last weekend. Emilie Fillion is the focal point of the Wright State offense, as she has tallied three goals and one assist so far this fall.

EKU will be looking for its first-ever win over Wright State, as the Raiders lead the all-time series between the schools, 3-0, including a 1-0 win in Dayton last year.