JACKSONVILLE – Entering his seventh season in charge of the Jacksonville State soccer program, head coach
Neil Macdonald wants to find out where his 2019 club is as it heads into an exhibition contest with in-state foe UAB on Friday night at the JSU Soccer Field.
The friendly contest is set for 7 p.m. Admission is free to all JSU soccer matches.
After nine days of training sessions since the Gamecocks reported to campus on August 6, Macdonald is eager to see his club square off against a different side. JSU will open the 2019 season on Friday, August 23 on the road in Lorman, Mississippi against Alcorn State. The season opener will get started at 4 p.m. The Gamecocks' home debut will be on Sunday, August 23, hosting the Panthers of Florida International.
Macdonald returns the nucleus of his squad from a season ago with a veteran-laden team. The Gamecocks' roster features seven seniors with a plethora of experience that will be key with six freshmen and a pair of transfers.
Jax State will count on a trio of top performers from the 2018 club with seniors
Emma Meadows,
Nadia Plawiuk and
Rachel Blanding. The trio combined for 49 total shots as juniors. After injury shortened-seasons for
Danelle Lindo and
Kalea Romano, the two will be looking to return to form before the season-ending injuries.
Adrianna Karpa will help anchor the JSU defense, while
Cheyenne Carden will boost the Gamecock attack.
The 2019 campaign features nine home games, highlighted by a Thursday night tilt with the Crimson Tide of Alabama on the JSU campus. The Gamecocks will face the Southeastern Conference rival on the JSU Soccer Field on September 12. The match up with UA will start a season-long four-match homestand. JSU will host Ohio Valley Conference foes Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State, Austin Peay, Tennessee Tech and Murray State.
For more information on the JSU soccer team, follow the Gamecocks on Twitter (@JSUGamecocksSOC). For more on all Gamecocks sports teams, follow the official social media accounts of JSU Athletics on Twitter (@JSUGamecocks), Facebook (Facebook.com/JSUGamecocks), Instagram (@JSUGamecocks) and Snapchat (@JSUGamecocks).
