BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The WKU soccer team will face Xavier on Friday at the WKU Soccer Complex at 1:00 PM and then travel to Highland Heights, Ky. to play Northern Kentucky on Sunday at 3:00 PM (CT). The two games make up the exhibition schedule played before the regular season begins on August 21.
Admission is free for Friday's match at the WKU Soccer Complex.
"We are playing two quality opponents but we are more worried about getting on the field and seeing ourselves against somebody other than each other and see how we match up," said head coach Jason Neidell. "We use these games as a learning tool for our team."
The Lady Toppers have spent the past two weeks in preseason camp that included two practices for most days. They have worked on technique, schemes, team bonding, but it mostly serves as time for physical conditioning.
"I think the team came back in as good of physical condition as I've seen in my 15 years here. I'm really excited about the fitness level of our team," commented Neidell.
WKU concluded the 2014 season with a 10-8 record and a loss to eventual-champion Rice in the Conference USA Tournament. With only one senior, Allie Auscherman is the only starter not back with the team this season. Lauren Moats and Iris Dunn, the two leading scorers for the 2014 squad, are back for the Lady Toppers. The duo is poised to have a big season as upperclassmen after both moved into the top 10 career goals in program history last season.
Sophomore Allison Leone is coming off of a freshman season that saw her play every minute as goalkeeper for the Lady Toppers. Leone had 90 saves on the season which was the third-best single season record in program history. Seniors Chandler Clark and Alanna Clancey will look to aid Leone on the backline after the defense held seven teams scoreless last season.
"We'll do a lot of experimenting this weekend with combinations," added Neidell. "We want to see who works well with everyone. We'll also try to get some of our younger players some experience right away."
The freshmen class comes in with seven new faces, following the 2014 season that saw a freshman class of 10, meaning 17 of the 25 Lady Toppers are sophomores or freshmen.
Xavier is coming off of a 3-13-3 record in the 2014 season. The Musketeers lost five seniors, but return a major portion of their overall team. The match will serve as Xavier's first exhibition of the season.
NKU posted a 9-8-3 record last season and return all but two members of the 2014 team. The Norse defeated Louisville on Wednesday in an exhibition match, 1-0. Jessica Frey provided the only goal of the game in the fifth minute.
Season tickets are available online at wkusports.com or by calling the WKU ticket office at 1-800-5-BIGRED. A $25 flexible ticket package is available that includes all 10 home games against Xavier, Tennessee Martin, Miami Ohio, Valparaiso, Memphis, Rice, Louisiana Tech, FIU, Marshall and Florida Atlantic.
