Trojans Ready for Sun Belt Semis vs. Coastal Carolina

Sun Belt Semifinals Game 21: #3 Little Rock vs. #2 Coastal Carolina
Date	Friday, November 4
Time	4 p.m.
Location	Foley, Ala.
Stadium	Foley Sports Tourism Complex
Stats	Statbroadcast
Video	ESPN3
Notes	Little Rock

LITTLE ROCK – The Little Rock soccer team made one step on its journey to a Sun Belt Championship on Wednesday, and the team hopes to take its next step on Friday afternoon.
 
No. 3 seed Little Rock is set to take on No. 2 seed Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt Tournament Semifinals at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex in Foley, Alabama, on Friday at 4 p.m. Little Rock will be attempting to advance to the Sun Belt Tournament Championship game for the first time since 2009.
 
The Trojans have gotten this far thanks to a 2-0 victory over ULM on Wednesday in the tournament's first round. The Trojans got first-half goals three minutes apart from Quin Wilkes and Doro Greulich, and the Little Rock defense held strong in allowing just three total ULM shots. Sara Small made two saves in earning her sixth full shutout of the season.
 
While Little Rock dominated against ULM on Wednesday, the team should not expect such a clear-cut result on Friday. When Little Rock and Coastal Carolina met during the regular season, the teams drew 2-2 after 110 minutes. That game was also played on a neutral site – at Appalachian State due to Hurricane Matthew – and Little Rock's shot advantage in that game was just 18-12.
 
Coastal Carolina reached Friday's semifinal with a 3-0 win over No. 7 seed Arkansas State on Wednesday. The Chanticleers boast a high-powered offense that has scored 35 goals on the year including nine from Daniella Famili. Famili and offensive partner Amber Adams both made the Sun Belt First Team, and goalkeeper Becca Austin made the second team thanks to her 1.00 goals against average and .812 save percentage on the season.
 
But Little Rock's offense and defense have been clicking as well as any team's at this point in the year. The Trojans are currently on a seven-game unbeaten streak against conference foes, scoring at least two goals in each of those seven games. Wilkes, Aparicio and Greulich each have at least 12 points on the season, providing a balanced offensive attack for Little Rock.
 
And goalkeeper Sara Small continues to be excellent in net, posting a 0.75 goals against average to this point and a .819 save percentage, both of which would be school records if the season ended Wednesday.
 
KICK OFF

• Little Rock claimed its first Sun Belt Tournament victory since 2009 on Wednesday with a 2-0 shutout of ULM.
• Little Rock's win against the Warhawks broke a program record for wins in a season with 12. Little Rock also set a new program record for conference wins in a season with six this year.
• Sara Small allowed just one goal in the last four games and now has a 0.75 GAA for the season. The team's 0.78 GAA and Small's individual 0.75 GAA are both single-season program records.
• Little Rock has not lost in its last seven games against conference foes, earning six wins and one tie in that span.
• The Trojans have scored at least two goals in the last seven games against conference foes.
• Little Rock's RPI reached No. 85 in the nation on Monday, the second-highest RPI in program history.
• The Trojans and Chanticleers have met just once, with the teams tying 2-2 earlier this year.