RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women's soccer team will open 2024 Atlantic Sun Conference play with a home match against Lipscomb on Thursday and a road match against long-time rival Austin Peay on Sunday.
Thursday's ASUN home opener will be EKU's Farewell to Summer Celebration and free pint glasses will be handed out while supplies last. Admission to the EKU Soccer Field is free and open to the public for the duration of the 2024 season.
Both matches this week will be streamed live on ESPN+ for those not able to be in attendance.
Match Nine: EKU (3-4-1) vs. Lipscomb (4-2-1)
Thursday, Sept. 19 – 4 p.m. EST
EKU Soccer Field – Richmond, Ky.
ESPN+
Live Stats
Match 10: EKU (3-4-1) at Austin Peay (2-3-2)
Thursday, Sept. 12 – 2 p.m. EST
Morgan Bros. Soccer Field – Clarksville, Tenn.
ESPN+
Live Stats
EKU enters play on Thursday coming off a 7-0 loss against Vanderbilt last week in the non-conference finale. As of Tuesday, the Colonels are fifth in the ASUN Conference standings after earning 10 points over the non-con slate and are set to play the current No. 1 and No. 6 squads this week.
Freshmen forwards
Ana Manning and
Ella Grode continue to lead the Colonels with a team-leading six points on the season. Both student-athletes have logged two goals and two assists through eight fixtures.
Midfielder
Maddy Murphy is the other Colonel with multi goals this season, scoring two in a road win at Northern Kentucky that garnished her the ASUN Player of the Week on Sept. 9.
Last match, EKU goalkeepers combined for 12 saves led by senior
Marah Krick, who tied her career-high value of eight in the loss. Freshman
Ruby Morgan had four saves in 20 minutes of action in the second half.
Scouting Lipscomb
Lipscomb is riding high entering play on Thursday after a 4-1 win on the road on Sunday over Ole Miss. The Bisons have won three of their last four matches over Ole Miss, Coastal Carolina, and Belmont – scoring three or more goals in each contest.
Reigning ASUN Player of the Week Kiara Pralle leads the club with six goals this season that includes a hat trick last time out against the Rebels.
History vs. Lipscomb
Thursday's match is the fifth meeting between EKU and Lipscomb. The Bisons lead the series 3-1 and winners of three consecutive matches over the Colonels.
Scouting Austin Peay
Austin Peay will travel to face Bellarmine on Thursday in Louisville before EKU comes to town over the weekend. APSU (2-3-2) jumped out to an early lead in the ASUN standings with wins over Western Kentucky, Chattanooga, and a draw against UT Martin.
Since Aug. 29, the Govs have lost three of their last four and are coming off a scoreless draw at home over Southern Indiana on Sept. 12. Senior midfielder Alec Baumgardt leads the team with three goals and has scored in two of her last three games.
History vs. Austin Peay
Sunday's rivalry match marks the 19th meeting between EKU and Austin Peay dating back to 2005. APSU narrowly leads the series 8-7-3, however, the Colonels have claimed the last two meetings by 1-0 and 3-2 results.
