Little Rock Ready for #TrojanTailgate, Georgia State

Game 16: Little Rock vs. Georgia State
Date	Friday, October 14
Time	7 p.m.
Location	Little Rock, Ark.
Stadium	Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex
Stats	Statbroadcast
Video	Little Rock All-Access
Notes	Little Rock

LITTLE ROCK – The Trojan soccer team will begin its final home stretch of the season this weekend when they take on Georgia State on Friday at 7 p.m.
 
The game will be the team's annual #TrojanTailgate game featuring free food and drink for all in attendance. Fans are also encouraged to tailgate themselves, and fans can also play lawn games before kickoff. Free food and drink will begin at 6 p.m.
 
Little Rock is part of a jumble of teams in the Sun Belt Conference standings all sitting with 10 points. Little Rock is currently in a six-way tie for third place in the league. The Trojans, Georgia State, Louisiana, ULM, Texas State and Arkansas State are all knotted up.
 
With those standings in such a mess, every game for the rest of the year is crucial for conference tournament seeding. Little Rock has some momentum heading into this weekend, as the team is coming off a four-point weekend on the road in North Carolina.
 
Last Friday, the Trojans came from behind to defeat Appalachian State 3-2 in double overtime. Shannon Shields had the game-winning goal in the 109th minute, the latest goal ever scored in program history. The Trojans began that game in 2-0 hole before scoring three straight for the win.
 
On Sunday, Little Rock faced league-leading Coastal Carolina and came away with a 2-2 draw. The Trojans actually held leads of 1-0 and 2-1 before eventually tying with the Chanticleers. Fali Garuba and Arola Aparicio got goals in that game, and Aparicio had two total over the weekend.
 
As Little Rock's place in the conference standings rises, so too does the team's national RPI. The Trojans are up 13 more spots this week to No. 112.
 
Georgia State, Friday's opponent, is one of the teams tied for third in the standings with Little Rock. Georgia State is 5-3-6 overall this season and 2-1-4 in Sun Belt play. Most recently, the Panthers also had a four-point weekend, defeating Georgia Southern and tying with ULM. Brooke Shank and Alexis Thomas are the team's co-leaders in goal scoring with three apiece.
 
KICK OFF

• Little Rock had a four-point weekend on the road at Appalachian State, defeating the home Mountaineers in double overtime and tying league-leading Coastal Carolina as well.
• Friday's game against Georgia State will be home to the team's annual #TrojanTailgate. Free food and drinks will be provided to all fans in attendance.
• Arola Aparicio scored two goals for Little Rock over the weekend, doubling her career goal total as a Trojan.
• Doro Greulich and Shannon Shields each tallied a goal and an assist in the games, with Shields' goal being her first of the season and a game-winner with one minute left in overtime against App State.
• The Trojans are currently in a six-way tie for third place in the Sun Belt standings.
• Shields' game-winning goal against Appalachian State – scored in the 109th minute – is the latest game-winning goal in program history.
• The Trojans' RPI is up to 112 in the nation this week, its highest of the season, following a win and a tie last weekend.
• Little Rock has posted a 2-1-1 record all-time against Georgia State.