Racers Carry OVC First Place Into Home Weekend

Friday, October 21

Cutchin Field

3 p.m.

Murray State

Jacksonville State

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

10/20/2016 11:07:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Game Notes OVCDN - JSU at MSU Game JSU at MSU Live Stats OVCDN - BEL at MSU BEL at MSU Live Stats

MURRAY STATE RACERS (6-4-3, 5-0-2 OHIO VALLEY)
Head Coach: Jeremy Groves (Kentucky, 2005)
Career: 33-18-3 (3rd season) • At MSU: Same • OVC: 22-3-2

JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS (5-10-1, 2-5 OHIO VALLEY)
Head Coach: Neil Macdonald (Augusta State, 1997)
Career: 235-179-29 (11th) • At JSU: 28-42-6 (4th) • OVC: 16-20-2

BELMONT BRUINS (5-6-4, 4-2-1 OHIO VALLEY)
Head Coach: Heather Henson (UNC-Greensboro, 1994)
Career: 148-206-41 (22nd Season) • At BEL: 38-50-15 (6th) • OVC: 31-42-14

The Murray State Racers come home for a pair of games at Cutchin Field when they host Jacksonville State Friday at 3 p.m. and Belmont Sunday at 2 p.m. in Murray, Ky. Blake Bernier and Ross Meloan have the call in both matches on the OVC Digital Network with free online streaming video.

Three straight shutouts in the last two weeks pushed the Racers into first place for the first time this season as MSU is pushing for a second-straight Ohio Valley Conference regular season title. MSU battled SIUE to a 1-1 draw last Sunday and kept their grip on first place in the OVC, but it's only a one point lead as they host the Gamecocks and Bruins this weekend.

The Racers carry a 18-game unbeaten streak (in OVC regular season games) into the week. Included in the streak is MSU's 10-0 perfect OVC championship run from 2015, the first in conference history. MSU hasn't lost since Oct. 26, 2014 at home to Belmont 2-0.

The numbers in the Coach Jeremy Groves era are certainly impressive. Since Groves arrived in 2014 as a rookie head coach, the Racers are 33-18-3 overall and 22-3-2 in OVC play. Additionally in OVC play, the Racers are 14-1 at home in OVC play with the only loss coming to Belmont nearly two years ago.

2015 OVC Player of the Year Harriet Withers continues to have a great junior season. She's tops in the OVC in shots and has scored seven goals to go with four assists. The MSU defense has kept the heat off of goalkeeper Alex Steigerwald who didn't need to make a save last week at EIU and made six saves to get the tie at SIUE on Sunday. She's second in the OVC with 70 total saves and fourth in league games with a goals-against-average of 0.63.

The Racers wrap up the regular season at Austin Peay next week (Oct. 27). Depending on how they fare this weekend, MSU could be celebrating the league title.