The Kennesaw State women’s soccer team clinched a spot in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament last week, defeating the New Jersey Institute of Technology 1-0 on Sunday, Oct. 20, and North Alabama 1-0 on Friday, Oct. 25.
On Sunday, the Owls faced the Highlanders in the first of two home matches to finish out the regular season.
The Owls attempted 15 shots with six on goal, while the defense was crucial in the win by holding NJIT to just nine shots and two corner kicks.
The Highlanders attempted three shots on goal, but none of the attempts escaped the hands of KSU junior goalkeeper Tiffany Sornpao, who ended the match with three saves.
Both teams were held scoreless throughout most of the first half, but the Owls seized momentum with a goal before the break.
Senior midfielder Carly Pressgrove scored the first and only goal of the match with a header on 42 minutes. Junior midfielder Kendall Hart assisted the goal by delivering a long cross into the box.
The match featured an aggressive playing style, resulting in 13 fouls by KSU and 10 by NJIT. The victory was crucial for KSU, who entered the match ranked fifth in the ASUN Conference, while the Highlanders were ranked sixth. Invites to the postseason conference tournament are sent to the top six teams.
The following Friday, KSU faced conference rival UNA for its final home match of the regular season, opening with a celebration of the team’s seniors and departing players.
Seniors included Pressgrove, Sydney Crowley, Isabella Contreras, Emely Sosa and Morgan Harrison.
“[The seniors] are a special group,” head coach Benji Walton said. “They brought so much passion, so much energy, and so much enthusiasm to what we’re trying to do here.”
After losing to the Lions in the 2018 ASUN conference tournament, KSU was determined to seize a win at home. The Owls won this year’s meeting 1-0, led by Sornpao’s seventh clean sheet of the season.
Freshman midfielder Becky Contreras scored the game-winning goal on 37 minutes, assisted by Crowley.
The Owls and the Lions played a close match, as both teams attempted four shots on goal. KSU totaled 10 shot attempts, while UNA had 11.
By winning on Friday, KSU clinched its own tournament spot and removed the Lions from postseason contention. With three consecutive victories to finish the season, the Owls finished fifth overall in the ASUN Conference.
The Owls will next play in the quarterfinals of the ASUN tournament on Friday, Nov. 1, facing off against the University of North Florida on a neutral field, as the match will take place at Florida Gulf Coast University.
