Lady Toppers Open C-USA Play Saturday at Home Against Southern Miss

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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Amid the longest homestand in program history, WKU Soccer opens Conference USA play this weekend against Southern Miss at 4 p.m. CT Saturday at the WKU Soccer Complex.

Admission to the conference opener is free, as it is for all WKU home matches. The matchup will be streamed on Facebook Live via the Hilltopper Sports Satellite Network and will be free to watch at the following link: https://goto.ps/HSSNOnFacebook

The Lady Toppers (4-2-1) enter C-USA play coming off a pair of home victories last week that began a program-record, seven-game homestand. Their four wins are their most in a season before starting league action since 2016.

WKU took down Southern Illinois 3-0 on Sept. 13, then routed Alabama A&M 7-1 on Sunday behind 29 shots. That was the most goals scored by the Lady Toppers against a Division I opponent since the 2016 season opener against UT Martin.

WKU ranks fourth in C-USA in total goals and total points, and third in total assists. Nationally, they rank 12th in assists per game, 15th in points per game and 17th in shots per game.

The Lady Toppers have made just as much of an impression defensively, however, leading the conference with just five goals allowed through seven contests. They also rank 39th in the country in goals-against average.

WKU's five goals allowed are its fewest through seven matches since 2014.

Entering C-USA play, junior Ashley Leonard leads the Lady Toppers with four goals, but five different players have found the net multiple times.

Sophomore Ambere Barnett leads WKU in assists (5), points (11) and shots (34). She leads the league in both shots and assists per game, and is ranked ninth nationally in shots per game and 14th in assists per game.

Southern Miss (5-3) enters on a four-match winning streak, most recently picking up 2-0 decisions last weekend at Auburn and at home against Jackson State. Caitlin Pierce was named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week following the two shutouts.

The Golden Eagles have been stout defensively with just six goals allowed through eight outings. They've been led offensively by the trio of Hailey Pohevitz, Alice Campos and Jenny Caracheo with four goals apiece.

WKU holds a 2-1-1 all-time advantage in the series, although Southern Miss took last year's meeting 1-0 in Hattiesburg, Miss. The Lady Toppers claimed the only previous meeting in Bowling Green in 2016.

Lady Toppers Open C-USA Play Saturday at Home Against Southern Miss

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Players Mentioned

Ambere Barnett

Ashley Leonard