JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State soccer team will have one final tune up on Thursday before embarking on its first Conference USA slate beginning on Sunday.
The Gamecocks conclude the non-conference portion of the schedule with a trip to Montgomery, Alabama to face the Hornets of Alabama State. Kick off is set for 6 p.m. on the ASU campus. Following Thursday's contest, Jax State will host another CUSA newcomer, Sam Houston in the conference opener for both clubs. Sunday's CUSA lid lifter is set for 1 p.m. Admission is free to all home matches. The first-ever meeting with SHSU will be streamed on ESPN+.
Jax State enters the weeks activity at 4-4 through the first eight non-conference matches, while ASU stands at 1-5-1 heading into the last non-conference affair. The Gamecocks will be looking to extend a 10-game winning streak over the Hornets and aiming for their fifth win over ASU in Montgomery. Last season, Jax State claimed a 4-1 win over its in-state nemesis at the Jax State Soccer Complex. Former Gamecock
Cynthia Bagozzi highlighted the match with a hat trick to lead the home side.
Through eight matches under first-year head coach Sean Fraser, the Gamecocks have accumulated 26 goals and has limited the opposition to 13 on the season. Jax State ranks among the CUSA leaders and NCAA Division I Soccer leaders as conference play begins this week. The Gamecocks' goal total leads the league and is listed ninth in the national statistics. Jax State also leads CUSA in assists (24) and total points (76).
Individually, junior
Laleh Lonteen is listed among the CUSA offensive leaders. The Prosper, Texas native ranks second in the league in goals with six and near the top of the points-scored list with 16 on the season. The six goals scored so far this season for Lonteen is the most by a Gamecock in a single season since former Gamecock Danielle Monroe tallied seven goals on the season.
Defensively, goalkeeper
Bailey Dean has turned in three shutouts in eight matches on the season and ranks third in CUSA in saves per match with 4.13 stops per match.
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