The Kennesaw State women’s soccer team played twice last week, relinquishing their four-match winning streak in a loss at Samford University before drawing against Mercer University at home.
After an impressive start to the season, the Owls concluded their non-conference play this weekend with minor setbacks.
For only the second time this season, the Owls failed to score as they lost 2-0 to the Bulldogs on Thursday, September 13. The Owls did not play like themselves on the night with sloppy defensive and offensive performances, allowing an 11-0 shot advantage for Samford at the half and an 18-1 advantage by the end of the match.
Samford took a 1-0 lead on 31 minutes on the first of two goals by Allie Sam. A pass was intercepted by the Bulldogs at the halfway line and an immediate counterattack ensued. Sam took one touch outside the box and buried it in the bottom corner.
As the Owls struggled in the closing minutes, a victory seemed further away from reach. Throughout the entire match, the only shot attempted by the Owls was by Sophomore Erin Harris who seemed to be the only hope in the game with a close-call shot in the closing minutes.
Sam swooped in again with a well-deserved goal to complete her brace after the endless pressure she was putting on the Owls throughout the night. She sealed the victory with a goal on 85 minutes.
“Full credit goes to Samford. They came out more prepared than we did and controlled the game,” said head coach Benji Walton. “Unfortunately, it was a game where we weren’t at our best and they took it to us.”
The Owls returned home to Fifth Third Bank Stadium to play Mercer on Sunday night.
Freshman striker Jenna Vollrath scored her third goal of the season on nine minutes making her joint top scorer this season with Erin Harris and Emely Sosa. Sosa provided the assist on the goal.
Mercer equalized on 81 minutes through Abigail Zoeller. The game went into overtime but remained scoreless and ended in a draw.
“Mercer is a good team. They are having a lot of success, leading the country in goals and doing a lot of good things that work to their style,” Walton said. “I think we had a little bit of trouble connecting passes and were our own worst enemy in the first half.”
The Owls were out-shot 18-12 and Tiffany Sornpao made eight saves.
With non-conference play concluded, the Owls now look to their Atlantic Sun Conference schedule.
“Being 7-2-1 in non-conference play is pretty good, we’ll take that,” Walton said. “We beat some real quality opponents and it was our toughest non-conference schedule since I’ve been here.”
The Owls begin ASUN Conference play this Friday, Sept. 21, at home against Liberty. The game will take place at Fifth Third Bank Stadium at 6:30 p.m.
