LITTLE ROCK – The Trojan soccer team is on a two-game winning streak, and they'll look to extend that streak to four with a difficult road swing this weekend. Little Rock first takes on Ohio Valley Conference preseason favorite Murray State on Friday at 3 p.m. before heading to Tennessee to take on Austin Peay on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Little Rock remained a perfect 3-0 at home this season with a 5-0 victory over Sam Houston State on Saturday evening. The Trojan offense showed up in force, scoring five goals for the first time since August 2016. That also marked the first time since August 2014 that Little Rock put up five goals in a game against a non-SWAC school.
| Game 7: Little Rock at Austin Peay |
| Date |
Sunday, September 10 |
| Time |
1 p.m. |
| Location |
Clarksville, Tenn. |
| Stadium |
Morgan Bros. Soccer Field |
| Stats |
Statbroadcast |
| Notes |
Little Rock |
The Trojan offense has been all about balance this season, as the team's 10 goals scored over five games have come from eight different players. Only
Doro Greulich and
Jaclyn Purvine have two goals. Six other Trojans have one goal apiece. Little Rock's eight different goal scorers is tied for the most among Sun Belt Conference teams.
Against the Bearkats, Little Rock celebrated Senior Night by getting all three of its seniors in on the scoring action.
Lisa Ryan scored her first career goal in the fourth minute, and
Fali Garuba added Little Rock's second goal later in the first half. Fellow senior
Quin Wilkes also got an assist on Garuba's header goal.
Little Rock will have a tough test ahead of it this weekend when it faces Murray State and Austin Peay in its first two-game road trip of the year.
Murray State is 4-0 on the season and has given up just four goals in those four games. The Racers defeated Marshall 2-0, Troy 2-1, defending Sun Belt champion South Alabama 2-1 and Northern Kentucky 3-2. Their biggest scoring threat is Harriet Withers and her six goals so far this year. In goal, Alex Steigerwald has made nine saves and has a 1.00 goals against average and has made 15 saves.
Austin Peay, meanwhile, is 3-2-0 on the year with wins over Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky and Lipscomb. The Governors lost games this season to Chattanooga and LSU. Kirstin Robertrson is their top scorer with three goals so far this year, and four other players on the team have one goal each. In net, Mary Parker Powell and Lindsey Todd have split time almost evenly. Powell has the better numbers with a 0.40 goals against average and a .800 save percentage.
KICK OFF
- Little Rock is coming off a huge 5-0 victory against Sam Houston State at home on Saturday. Five different Trojans scored.
- Saturday's game was the Trojans' Senior Night this year, and all three seniors (Fali Garuba, Lisa Ryan, Quin Wilkes) got on the scoresheet. Garuba and Ryan scored goals while Wilkes had an assist on Garuba's goal.
- Little Rock is 3-0 at home this season and 0-2 on the road. The Trojans are also 3-0 against teams with "Bear" as part of their mascot.
- The Trojans have eight different goal scorers so far this season, and only two Trojans have more than one goal.
- Seven different players have started all five games for Little Rock this year.
- Megan Swanson got her first career shutout on Sunday against Missouri State and is ranked fifth in the Sun Belt in save percentage and goals against average.
- The Trojan soccer team had its best-ever season in 2016 with a program-record 12 wins and six conference wins. The team finished third in the Sun Belt, its highest-ever finish.
- The Trojans were picked to finish third in the Sun Belt when the league released its preseason poll last week.
- Senior Quin Wilkes and junior Arola Aparicio were named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt team by the league's coaches.
