With summer coming to an end most students will be hitting the books and returning to the classrooms, others will be returning to the field.
The KSU women’s soccer team will kick off its season with a home opener against Clayton State on Aug. 13.
The team will look to move forward after finishing last season 7-8-2. While the Owls played well at home, they struggled on the road and in conference play, finishing with a conference record of 3-5-1.
The Owls will look to come off a strong summer where many players made marks in other areas of the soccer world.
Senior Lexi Hastings turned heads with her play as a member of the Georgia Revolution, competing in the Women’s Premiere Soccer League, and was named the inaugural Women’s Premier Soccer League Southeast
All-Conference Team after leading the Revolution to a second place Southeast Conference finish.
“It was a really great growing experience,” Hastings said,“It was an honor to receive the award for my time with the Revolution.”
Sophomore Julia Nelson spent much time during her summer as a member of the U.S. Women’s National Deaf Team, where she won the gold medal playing in the 2nd World Deaf Football Championships in Ankara, Turkey.
Sophomore Katrina Frost was named Atlantic Sun Conference Preseason Player of the Year, and fellow teammate, sophomore Jewelia Strickland was also named to the Preseason All-Atlantic Sun Team. Strickland led the Owls in goals last season, finishing with 11 total.
“I’m very pleased for Katrina and the team, that she’s been named Preseason Player of the Year,” Head Coach Rob King said.
The Owls finished fourth in the Preseason Women’s Soccer Coaches Poll. Florida Gulf Coast earned the top position in the poll, and was also predicted as the 2012 tournament champions.
“We’re glad to be recognized as a team that’s in the hunt for the conference championship,” King said, “We will be working tirelessly to achieve our team goal.”
The Owls will open their season with exhibition games against Clayton State, Ala. and Alabama A&M.
