CLARKSVILLE – After exploding for five goals in the home opener against Chattanooga, Austin Peay State University women's soccer team will host Southeastern Conference foe Alabama in a 7 p.m., Friday contest before capping off their three-match homestand with a 7 p.m., Monday contest against Lipscomb.
After being held scoreless in both exhibition matches and their season-opening loss to Evansville, the Lady Govs broke through with a five-goal outing against the Mocs to earn their season's first victory. Sophomore Merritt Monger's two goals were the first of her career, and senior defender Claire Pultz netted Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors with a goal and an assist.
Pultz's honor was the first weekly defensive award for a Lady Gov since Shelby Olszewski won for the week of Sept. 17, 2013. Olszewski also won the first award for the 2013 season, making it four times in the last five seasons an Austin Peay player has won a weekly OVC honor in the first week of play.
Alabama enters play with a 1-1-0 mark after ranking 12th in the SEC's preseason poll. The Crimson Tide drubbed Kennesaw State 5-1 in the season opener before dropping a 2-1 decision to Memphis after the Tigers scored twice in the second half while playing a man down.
Lipscomb owns a 1-1-1 mark entering the weekend, and plays host to Middle Tennessee Friday evening. Freshman Natalie Duboise and sophomore Alesondra Colbert each scored twice in the Bisons 7-0 win against Alabama A&M, Aug. 24; it's the only one of Lipscomb's three matches where it has registered a goal in 2014.
Last Time Against This Weekend's Opponents
The Lady Govs dropped a 4-1 exhibition contest to the Crimson Tide; Gina Fabbro opened the scoring in the second period, but that would be all for the Lady Govs, who allowed four unanswered goals in the final two 30-minute periods.
Austin Peay won a 2-1 come-from-behind thriller at Lipscomb last season, with Fabbro driving home the game-winner in the 72nd minute to cap the comeback. The Lady Govs forced Lipscomb keeper Anna Buhigas into making seven saves in the losing effort.
This will be the first regular-season meeting between the Lady Govs and Crimson Tide. Austin Peay holds an 8-3-1 edge all-time against Lipscomb and has won three of the last four matches.
Keep An Eye On…
- After playing sparingly as a freshman, Monger made the most of her chances on Sunday. The Oak Ridge native became the first Lady Gov since Pultz to have a multi-goal outing in the same game she scored her first career goal.
- Austin Peay is 0-3-0 all-time against SEC opponents, with all three meetings coming against Arkansas.
- Sophomore Alyssa Plowman gets a chance to face her old school Monday against Lipscomb; Plowman was a reserve for the Bisons in 2013.
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 prior to the match at LetsGoPeay.com and postgame video can be found at www.youtube.com/CultureofExcellence.
