JACKSONVILLE – After two weekends on the road, the Jacksonville State soccer team will be in the comfort of its own facility over the next three weekends beginning Friday against two in-state rivals.
The last weekend of non-conference action begins with a 7 p.m. contest with Alabama State, followed by the last non-conference test versus Troy on Sunday at 1 p.m. Admission is free to all JSU home soccer matches and both outings this weekend are scheduled to be streamed on ESPN+.
The Gamecocks (0-6) will be looking to shake off the travels over the last two weekends and earn the first winning result of the season. Last weekend, JSU dropped a pair of matches against Gardner-Webb and Georgia State. The Hornets of ASU will be JSU's third opponent from the Southwestern Athletic Conference this season. ASU will be looking for its first win of the season after starting the season 0-4-1 through the early stages of the season. Troy, who has been idle since Sunday, will bring an even 2-2-1 mark into Sunday's non-conference finale for both clubs.
Junior
Kylie Wells has led the Gamecocks' offensive charge through the first six matches of the season. Wells has tallied 13 total shots this season, which ranks second in the ASUN. Sophomore
Laleh Lonteen has a goal on the season and ranks second behind Wells in shots with nine. Lonteen's goal came in JSU's 2-1 setback at GWU.
The JSU defense has been sound throughout the non-conference portion of the campaign. It is anchored by senior
Briana Eads, who leads the team in time logged on the pitch. Freshman
Bailey Dean has stepped into the goalkeeping duties from the start of the season. Dean has compiled 24 saves on the season, ranking her seventh among the keepers in the league.
Friday's contest with the Hornets will be the 10th all-time between the two in-state programs. The Gamecocks have won all nine previous meetings, including a 5-0 win over ASU in Montgomery last season. Jax State has limited ASU to four goals combined in the nine previous wins. JSU topped the Hornets, 3-2, last time the two sides competed on the pitch at the JSU Soccer Complex.
Sunday's outing against Troy will be the 20th meeting between the two longtime in-state rivals. JSU and Troy have met in six of the last seven seasons. The Gamecocks will be looking to avenge a 2-1 loss last season in Troy. The series between the two sides dates back to the 1997 season as Jax State claimed the first nine outings with the Trojans. JSU and Troy played to a scoreless draw in 2016 and 2017.
Jax State will continue its five-match homestand next weekend as it begins ASUN Conference action. The Gamecocks will host Kennesaw State in the ASUN opener on Sunday, September 18.
