Racers Set for Pair of Crucial OVC Weekend Matches

Friday, October 18

Jacksonville, Ala.

7 P.M.

Murray State

Jacksonville State

Photo by: Dan Hasko

10/17/2019 11:19:00 AM | Women's Soccer

WATCH LIVE STATS OVC Standings Game Notes (PDF)

Dates: Oct. 18^th – 7:00 p.m. // Oct. 20^th – 1:00 p.m.
Site (Venue): Jacksonville, Ala. (JSU Soccer Complex) // Murray, Ky. (Cutchin Field)
Live Stream: https://es.pn/2MjjO0C // https://es.pn/2IWLCWq
Live Stats: http://bit.ly/2IWB4a1 // http://bit.ly/33C58iX
Murray State Record (Streak): 8-6-0, 5-1-0 (Lost 1)
Jacksonville State Record (Streak): 3-12-0, 0-7-0 (Lost 9)
Austin Peay Record (Streak): 3-7-3, 2-3-1 (Won 1)
Racers All-Time vs. Jacksonville State: 12-3-1
Racers All-Time vs. Austin Peay: 13-4-2
MSU Next Game: Oct. 25^th at Belmont
MSU Next Home Game: Oct. 27^th vs. Eastern Illinois

After a single game last week, Murray State women's soccer will play two crucial Ohio Valley Conference matches this weekend. After a Friday night contest on the road against Jacksonville State to conclude a four-game road trip, the Racers will return home to take on Austin Peay in a First Financial Bank Battle of the Border rivalry game on Sunday afternoon at Cutchin Field in Murray, Kentucky. Both games are available for fans to stream live on ESPN+.

Last Time Out:
The Racers are coming off a hard-fought 3-0 defeat on the road at Tennessee Tech in their last outing on Friday. Despite outshooting the Golden Eagles 18-8 while earning five corners in the attack without conceding a single corner kick opportunity defensively, Murray State endured their first loss of 2019 against OVC competition in Cookeville, Tennessee as they played their third-straight game away from home. Senior Miyah Watford led the Racers with five shots (three on target) in the contest.

Entering the Weekend:
After playing just one match last week, the Racers (8-6, 5-1) are sitting at 15 points with a 5-1 record in the OVC table, trailing just Southeast Missouri State who has earned 18 points with a 6-1 record, but have played one more game than Murray State heading into the weekend. However, both teams will have equal games played at the conclusion of Sunday, with the Redhawks having just one weekend contest – a road match against UT Martin on Sunday.

Averaging 2.5 goals per contest, the Racers offense ranks 12^th in the nation in that category, while their 35 total goals and 92 points is good for 14^th and 23^rd in the country respectively. Igniting the Murray State offense has been the trio of Miyah Watford, Abby Jones, and Rebecca Kubin. Watford enters the weekend with an OVC-leading 28 points on 12 goals and four assists through all contests, while Rebecca Kubin (seven goals, two assists) and Abby Jones (three goals, nine assists) round out an explosive Racer attack.

Scouting Jacksonville State:
Jacksonville State (3-12, 0-7) enters Friday's competition on a nine-game skid, having won their last contest on September 8^th in a 3-2 overtime result against Alabama State. Most recently, the Gamecocks are coming off a pair of close encounters, dropping a 1-0 contest against Tennessee Tech and a 3-2 double overtime match against Austin Peay at home last weekend. Selected to finish at the bottom of the table in the 2019 OVC Preseason Poll after a 2018 season that saw a 4-11-3 overall record with a 2-7-1 mark in the OVC, JSU is averaging 1.2 goals per game on the season, led by freshman forward Cynthia Bagozzi, who has posted a team-high five goals in 2019.

Scouting Austin Peay:
The Governors (3-7-3, 2-3-1) enter the weekend coming off a 3-2 double overtime victory on the road at Jacksonville State in their last outing. Currently with seven points in the OVC table, Austin Peay is fighting to reach the conference tournament after they were selected to finish 10^th in the 2019 OVC Preseason Poll after a 2018 season that saw them post an 8-8-1 record overall with a 3-6-1 mark against OVC opponents. Averaging just 0.92 goals per contest, the Governors are led by 2018 All-OVC Second Team selection Claire Larose, who has recorded a team-high seven points on two goals and three assists. They also return 2018 All-OVC Second Team defender Renee Semaan to anchor the Governor back line.

All-Time Series:
The Racers and Gamecocks will meet for the 17^th time on Friday when Murray State travels to Jacksonville, with the Racers holding the all-time series with a 12-3-1 record. The Racers have dominated the series as of late, having won 10 of the last 11 encounters, including seven straight, with the exception being a scoreless tie back in 2011 on the road in Jacksonville.

As for Sunday's First Financial Bank Battle of the Border contest with Austin Peay, the two sides will clash for the 20^th time with Murray State holding the all-time series with a 13-4-2 record against the Governors. The rivalry has favored Murray State in recent years, with the Racers earning victories in six of the last seven meetings, with the exception being another scoreless tie on the road in Clarksville in 2016.

Weather Forecast:
A crisp 61 degrees is expected to accompany cloudy skies at kickoff in Jacksonville, Alabama on Friday, with temperatures dipping into the upper 50's by the end of the match. Winds to the east are expected at around four miles per hour. Chance of rain: 5%

As for Sunday's competition in Murray, a partly cloudy 74 degrees in predicted at kickoff, with winds to the south/southeast at around six miles per hour. Chance of rain: 10%