Game Notes (.pdf)
Program Preview: Evansville
Program Preview: Tennessee
Gameday Center: Evansville
Gameday Center: Tennessee
WKU Soccer on YouTube
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Looking to maintain momentum following a 2-2 tie at No. 14 Memphis to close the exhibition schedule, WKU plays host to Evansville and Tennessee to begin the 2012 regular season at the WKU Soccer Complex this weekend. The Lady Toppers finished the exhibition schedule with an 0-1-1 record, posting the 2-2 tie with No. 14 Memphis and a 2-1 loss at UT-Martin.
Having reached the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship game in two of the last four years, WKU begins the 2012 season looking to build on a successful 2011 campaign. WKU was recently picked by the Sun Belt Conference league's coaches to finish third in the league standings. It is the fourth time in five years that WKU has been picked to finish in the top three in the conference standings by the league coaches. The team returns 16 letterwinners from a 2011 squad that finished the year 13-6-3.
The first test for the Lady Toppers during an eight game non-conference schedule is Evansville.
The Purples Aces of Evansville return nine starters from a team that finished the year 4-12-4 under coach Krista McKendree but started the 2012 campaign with wins over APSU and Morehead State in the preseason. Freshman Abby Springer has led the Purples Aces during the preseason in scoring, notching three of the four goals scored by Evansville in two games. WKU leads the all-time series with Evansville 4-1, including a 1-1 record in Bowling Green. The teams last met in 2010, a 4-0 victory for the Lady Toppers in Bowling Green on Sept. 3. The Lady Toppers have won three straight in the series.
Kickoff is set for 6:00pm on Friday.
WKU welcomes the first of two Southeastern Conference teams to the WKU Soccer Complex when the Lady Vols of Tennessee come to Bowling Green on opening weekend.
Tennessee reached the NCAA Tournament last year after posting a 15-7-0 record, including a 7-4-0 record in the conference. The team doubled their opponents in scoring a year ago with 42 goals while allowing just 21. Now under first year coach Brian Pensky, the team welcomed back 16 letterwinners from their 2011 squad for the new 2012 campaign. The teams are meeting for just the second time and for the first time in Bowling Green. Tennessee won the only prior meeting between the teams 3-0 in Aug. 2010.
The game against the Lady Vols has been selected as "Faith and Family Day" at the WKU Soccer Complex. All fans who present a church bulletin at the ticket window will receive free admission to the Tennessee match. Additionally, the first 50 WKU students will receive a free pair of sunglasses.
Kickoff is set for 1:00pm on Sunday.
Single game tickets are available through the WKU Ticket Office by calling 270-745-5222 or 1-800-5-BIG-RED. Tickets can also be ordered online at www.wkusports.com. In addition, a game ticket package with nine vouchers that can be used for any game during the 2012 season are available for just $25 through the ticket office.
For complete coverage of WKU Soccer, visit the official website of WKU Athletics at www.wkusports.com.
###
