Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Austin Peay
Soccer Opens OVC Championships Against Austin Peay
11/3/2010 3:34:51 PM | Women's Soccer
The Murray State women's soccer team returns to the site of its first Ohio Valley Conference Championships title as the sixth seeded Racers take on third seed Austin Peay in the quarterfinals Nov. 4 at 7:00 p.m. in Morehead, Ky.
The Racers clinched the final bid in this weekend's OVC Championships after a scoreless draw at Eastern Illinois and a loss by UT-Martin on the final day of conference play. Senior Tara Isbell stopped four shots on goal, including two in overtime, for her eighth shutout of the season and 25th in her career.
MSU will be looking to use the experience gained last season when it won all three matches at last season's tournament to clinch the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. The Racers defeated Eastern Kentucky, UT-Martin and Tennessee Tech by a total 6-0 goal margin last year in Morehead. They are 6-6 all-time in seven OVC Championship appearances.
“We know the tournament can be a bit of a free-for-all,” head coach Beth Acreman said. "The girls have to stay disciplined in order for us to survive and advance. Morehead had a fantastic year in OVC play not losing a game, the seeding was so close below them. Some people might say we scraped in, but being just two points away from the second seed, it's up for grabs for anyone to get into the championship game.”
The Racers played Austin Peay to a 0-0 scoreless draw in their lone meeting this season at Cutchin Field. The Lady Govs are 4-1 in their last five matches with three straight wins to close out the regular season. They are led on offense by freshman Tatiana Ariza with nine goals and four assists in 17 games this season. Austin Peay holds a 32-12 goal scoring advantage this season and has shut out its opponents 12 times in 2010.
The winner of Thursday night's match will advance to the semi-finals against second seed Southeast Missouri Nov. 5 at 7:00 p.m.
