JACKSONVILLE – With The non-conference portion of the schedule in the books, the Jacksonville State soccer team turns the page to the Ohio Valley Conference slate, beginning this weekend against Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State at the JSU Soccer Field.
The Gamecocks (3-5) will open the 10-match OVC docket on Friday against the Colonels (2-6) of EKU before wrapping up the first weekend of league play on Sunday versus Morehead State (1-6). Match time on Friday night is set for 7 p.m., while Sunday's matinee is scheduled for 1 p.m. Admission is free to all JSU soccer matches. JSU will hand out free popsicles for Sunday's contest, courtesy of Johnson's Giant Food.
Both games will also be available on ESPN+, the online streaming platform of ESPN.
JSU will be looking to get back in the win column against EKU as they Colonels own a 10-3-1 record in the series and have won the last four meetings. EKU edged the Gamecocks, 1-0, in double overtime in Richmond last season. Jax State will also be looking to add a win over MSU on Sunday as the Eagles enter the match up with a 10-5-2 lead in the series between the two programs. MSU downed JSU, 3-1, on its home surface in 2018.
Friday's duel features two of the top-four teams in the OVC in total shots. EKU ranks second in the conference with 103 shots on the season, while JSU ranks fourth in the OVC with 91 through the first eight matches. The Colonels average 12.88 shots per match, while the Gamecocks have averaged 11.38 looks per outing.
Individually, JSU freshman
Cynthia Bagozzi ranks among the OVC leaders in shots per game. Bagozzi is listed sixth with 17 total shots. She also ranks in the top-10 in shots per match with just over two shots per match. Bagozzi shares the team lead in goals with senior
Emma Meadows as both have recorded three this season. Junior
Alicia Pallister enters conference play as the league leader in assists with three on the season.
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).
