JACKSONVILLE -- Jacksonville State opens a two-game Ohio Valley Conference home stand on Friday night when Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky visit the JSU Soccer Field. Third place Morehead State is the first match on the weekend slate at 7 p.m. on Friday while second place Eastern Kentucky visits on Sunday at 1 p.m.

This weekend's matches have OVC Tournament implications riding on the results. The Gamecocks enter the weekend 5-8-3 overall and 2-3-1 in the OVC, holding the sixth and final tournament spot. If the Gamecocks win both matches, it increases JSU's chances of a first round bye or hosting a first round tournament game. A win and a tie or a win and a loss should keep JSU in the tournament mix while two losses could put post-season plans in jeopardy.

This will be the seventh meeting between JSU and Morehead State with the series tied 3-3-0.  The last three matches have been decided by one goal with the Eagles claiming 1-0 wins in the last two matches and JSU earning a 1-0 win in 2005.    

Freshman Chelsea Pelletier leads JSU with seven goals followed by Lindsay Boehmler with five and Kristi Pereira with four. Alyshia Madison has three assists while Pelletier and Pereira have two.  Kate Kelly has registered 88 saves this season and is ranked second on the school's all-time saves list with 255.

Morehead State is 6-8-2 overall and 3-2-2 in the OVC. Jillian Birchmeier and Erin Adams are the top goal scorers with eight and five goals, respectively. Devan Jordan leads MSU with four assists and is third on the team with four goals. Lily Meisner has played 12 games in goal and has 47 saves and Samantha Yocke has 38 saves in nine contests.

JSU and EKU will meet for the fourth time on Sunday with JSU holding a 2-1-0 lead in the series.  EKU won last year's meeting 3-1 while JSU captured 2-0 and 2-1 wins in 2005 and 2006.

Eastern Kentucky hosts new OVC member Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Friday before traveling to Jacksonville. EKU is 6-8-2 overall and 4-3-0 in the OVC going into Friday's match. Kayla Swearingen and Laura Caldon lead EKU with four goals apiece and Gabriella Wolf has a team-high three assists. Goalkeeper Stephanie Lynch has 94 saves in 16 games.

Friday's match is parents' appreciation night. The team will present their parents with gifts in recognition of their support throughout the 2008 season. Sunday's match is the final regular season home match for seniors Kate Kelly, Elsa Kurlychek and Kristi Pereira, who will be honored in pregame festivities.