NASHVILLE, Tenn. – After posting the best non-conference finish in program history, the Eastern Kentucky University women's soccer team opens Atlantic Sun Conference play this week on the road at Lipscomb and Austin Peay.
The Colonels will face Lipscomb on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET in Nashville in a rematch of last year's conference tournament final. They will then travel to Austin Peay on Sunday for a 2 p.m. ET kickoff. Both matches will stream live on ESPN+.
EKU (5-1-2) enters the weekend ranked No. 32 in the NCAA's latest RPI poll, the highest official ranking in program history. The Colonels recorded five wins and two draws during non-conference play, totaling a program-best 17 points in eight matches. They have played the nation's 31st-toughest schedule heading into league action.
Sophomore forward
Ella Grode, the reigning ASUN Player of the Week, leads the Colonels' attack. Grode has six goals and 14 points this season, tops in the conference. She scored three goals and tallied 10 shots in EKU's last two matches.
Three other Colonels have multiple goals this season: senior midfielder
Maddy Murphy, freshman midfielder
Emma Wolf and senior defender
Sydney Taylor.
Junior midfielder
Chiara Premoli leads the league and ranks seventh nationally with six assists. She was named ASUN Player of the Week on Aug. 25 after a two-assist performance against ETSU.
In goal, freshman
Jordan LeVasseur has started the last three matches, posting 25 saves and an 81.6 save percentage. The Michigan native recorded a career-high 18 saves in EKU's last outing, the most by a Colonel keeper since 2007.
As of Wednesday, EKU sits second in both the ASUN Gold Division and the overall league standings, trailing divisional rival Bellarmine.
Scouting Lipscomb
Lipscomb (4-3-1) has won two of its last three matches, defeating Middle Tennessee, Mercyhurst, and suffering a loss to Alabama on the road. Junior midfielder Hailey Johnson leads the club with three goals and is a one-time ASUN Player of the Week on Sept. 8.
History vs. Lipscomb
Thursday's conference opener marks a rematch of the 2024 ASUN finals, where the Bisons narrowly defeated EKU, 1-0, in Fort Myers, Florida. Lipscomb leads the all-time series, 5-1.
Scouting Austin Peay
Austin Peay (0-5-3) is searching for its first win hosting the top two teams in the league, Bellarmine and EKU this week. The Govs have tied their last two matches against Murray State and Western Kentucky via scoreless draws. Through eight games, APSU has yet to score a goal.
History vs. Austin Peay
Sunday's game in Clarksville marks the 20th meeting between the Colonels and Govs since 2005. Despite the series being tied 8-8-3 overall, EKU has won the last three meetings in the series and have shutout APSU, 1-0, in the last two seasons.
