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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Off to its best four-match start since 2014, WKU Soccer will host a pivotal non-conference matchup against SEC foe Ole Miss on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. at the WKU Soccer Complex in the first match of a program-record seven-match homestand.
Thursday's match will feature free admission for all fans, as will all home matches for the Lady Toppers this season, and fans are also encouraged to wear black as WKU looks to black out the Soccer Complex to gain a home-field advantage. For fans unable to attend the match, a free live stream will be available through the Hilltopper Sports Satellite Network on Facebook.
WKU (2-1-1) is coming off a hard-fought 1-0 shutout victory at archrival Middle Tennessee last Sunday evening. In a special non-conference match due to league scheduling constraints, the Lady Toppers jumped in front on Ashley Leonard's 33rd minute goal and a stout defensive effort down the stretch held off the powerful attack of the Blue Raiders. Despite 19 shots on the night, Middle Tennessee placed just four on target; after previously scoring four or more goals in each of their first three matches, WKU held the Blue Raiders scoreless.
Avery Jacobsen and Christina Bragado have won back-to-back C-USA Defensive Player of the Week honors to start the season as the Lady Toppers have given up only one goal in the run of play. Despite surrendering three goals to Samford last Friday evening, two of those came as a result of corner kicks; in goal, Anne-Marie Ulliac has been strong, making 19 saves and surrendering only three goals across 384 minutes of action, good for a 0.70 goals against average.
Offensively, Ansley Cate and Leonard lead WKU with a pair of goals apiece through four matches, with four other players having notched one goal. Preseason All-C-USA pick Ambere Barnett currently leads the Lady Toppers with six points (one goal, four assists), and freshman Sydney Ernst has also tallied a pair of assists in her debut season on The Hill.
In Thursday's matchup, WKU will be seeking its first win over an SEC foe since Aug. 22, 2008, when the Lady Toppers knocked off the Rebels 2-1 in double overtime in Bowling Green. Earlier this season, WKU battled to a scoreless draw at Kentucky, taking its first point from an SEC matchup since the 2013 campaign.
Ole Miss (3-1) enters having won its last two matchups, with both coming in last week's Rebel Classic in Oxford. The Rebels defeated Southeast Missouri 2-0 on Thursday before a dramatic 3-2 double overtime win over Minnesota on Sunday afternoon. In that match, Gabby Little scored at the death for Ole Miss, netting the match-winner with only 26 seconds remaining on the clock.
Six different players have already found the back of the net for the Rebels through four matches, led by three goals from Channing Foster. Foster also leads the squad with 23 shot attempts, trailed closely by 18 from Mo O'Connor. Julia Phillips and Haleigh Stackpole have each notched an assist for Ole Miss to lead the team in the category.
In goal, Ashley Orkus has played every minute for Ole Miss this season, making 14 saves and giving up five goals for a 1.19 goals against average. Orkus has tallied a pair of shutouts, holding North Alabama and Southeast Missouri without a goal.
Following Thursday's match, WKU will be off for eight days before resuming its homestand next Friday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m. against first-year program Southern Illinois. That will be the first of two matches scheduled for next weekend, with the Lady Toppers also set to take on Alabama A&M on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 1 p.m. As with all matches at the Soccer Complex this season, admission will be free for both events.
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