CLARKSVILLE – Austin Peay State University women's soccer team closes out the 2014 campaign with a 7 p.m., Friday matchup against Belmont at Morgan Brothers Soccer Field.
No doubt the season will draw to a close sooner than the Lady Govs would have liked, with Sunday's loss at UT Martin also serving as an elimination from Ohio Valley Conference Tournament play. However, Friday's contest offers Austin Peay the opportunity surpass the Bruins in the standings and send out seniors Frankie Carbajal and Claire Pultz on a winning note.
Averaging a goal per game, Austin Peay's offense has seen its share of stops and starts in 2014. Aside from sophomores Gina Fabbro (24) and Mary Ruth Locastro (10), no other Lady Govs has reached double figures in shots on goal, and Austin Peay's .511 shots-on-goal percentage is its lowest since 2009.
Belmont (6-7-4, 3-4-2 OVC) is stingy on the defensive end, allowing just 1.41 goals per game, fourth in the OVC. The Bruins rely on Lindsey Espe in net, and she's rewarded them with four shutouts, fourth-best in the conference. Freshman Belicia Mendiola's six goals leads a balanced offense that features five players with at least two goals on the season.
Last Time Against This Weekend's Opponents
On a rainy afternoon in Nashville, Carbajal got the game-winner and Locastro and Andy Quiceno added goals of their own for a 3-1 win, Oct. 6, 2013. Nikki Filippone made four stops in net.
All-time, Austin Peay leads the series 5-1-2 and have won three in a row dating back to 2008, when Belmont was still a member of the Atlantic Sun.
Keep An Eye On…
- Fabbro has scored five goals in nine OVC contests (tied for fourth in the OVC during league play) and six overall in 2014. With one more goal, she will tie Jessica Hosse (2004-07) and Emily Perkins (2011-12) for fourth all-time with 14 career goals, and one more goal this season will give her seven, tied for sixth-best in a single-season in APSU history.
- With five more saves, Filippone will move into a tie for eighth on the single-season saves list with Carley Newman (2009) at 82.
- Junior Courtney Sheppard needs one assist and senior Claire Pultz needs two to break into the top-10 all-time. Pultz's next assist will tie her with a multitude of Lady Govs for ninth on the single-season lists with four helpers.
Lady Govs Online
Be sure to follow all the Lady Govs action at LetsGoPeay.com, and check them out on Twitter (@AustinPeaySocr) and by liking the Austin Peay's Official Athletics Facebook page. Live stats will be available during the match at LetsGoPeay.com, while a live stream of the match will be available on the OVC Digital Network. Postgame video from most home and select road events can be found at www.youtube.com/CultureofExcellence
