CLARKSVILLE – After a near-perfect senior weekend, Austin Peay State University women's soccer team will look to extend its three-game winning streak when it opens Ohio Valley Conference play against Eastern Kentucky, noon, Sunday.
The Lady Govs (4-4-0) torched Kennesaw State and Alabama State in back-to-back wins with 13 combined goals. Throughout the three-game winning streak, APSU has scored 20 goals, surpassing the final total from 2014. The 10 goals scored, last Sunday, was the highest mark the Lady Govs have posted at home in program history.
As a result, Austin Peay received two OVC Player of the Week recognitions. Freshman McKenzie Dixon earned Offensive Player of the Week after recording two goals and two assists, while junior Mary Ruth Locastro picked up the Defensive honor for her defending on the back line, along with scoring her first goal of 2015. It's the first time APSU has doubled up on weekly awards since 2013.
Junior Gina Fabbro is tied with Dixon for the team lead in goals with five, while junior Nicole Wojcik (four goals, one assist) and senior Shelby Olszewski (three goals, two assists) have helped pace the Lady Gov attack.
Eastern Kentucky (0-8-0) has started slow to begin the year after being selected to finish ninth in the OVC Preseason Poll. In their eight games, the Colonels have been outscored 24-6. Logan Harvey leads the team in goals with two, while Emmi Carroll and Cassie Smith each have one goal and one assist.
Last Time Against Eastern Kentucky
Austin Peay defeated EKU, 3-1, at Morgan Brothers Soccer Field, Sept. 26, 2014. It was a Fabbro-themed night as sisters Gina and Sophia Fabbro accounted for all three goals. Sophia scored her first collegiate goal in the match, while Gina split the defense for scores in the 16th and 80th minute. Senior Nikki Filippone played the full 90 minutes in goal, allowing just one goal with five saves.
Keep An Eye On
In the series, which is tied at 4-4-2, the home team has won the last five meetings dating back to 2010. In fact, the Lady Govs have never left Richmond with a victory.
Freshman forward Jennifer Smith continues to make an impact off the bench for the Lady Govs. Against the Hornets, the Canadian led the team in shots with six, and has now scored two goals over her last three games.
The depth head coach Kelley Guth has assembled remains strong. Most notably, sophomore defender Brooke Nigrin added an assist and nearly scored off the bench, Sunday, while freshman Emilee Howard netted her first collegiate goal.
Lady Govs Online
Be sure to follow all the Lady Govs action at LetsGoPeay.com and the Official Facebook page of Austin Peay Athletics. Live play-by-play coverage can be found on Twitter (@AustinPeaySocr), while all OVC matches can be streamed live and free on OVCDigitalNetwork.com.
