Racers to Host Xavier in 2019 Season Opener

Thursday, August 22

Cutchin Field

2 P.M.

Murray State

Xavier

Photo by: Dan Hasko

8/21/2019 10:06:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Watch Live Stats Game Notes

Dates: Aug. 22, 2019 – 3:00 p.m.
Site (Venue): Murray, Ky. (Cutchin Field)
Live Stream: https://es.pn/2ZjMJVy
Live Stats: http://bit.ly/2KVtEE6
MSU Record (Streak): 0-0-0 (-)
Racers All-Time vs. Xavier: 0-0
Xavier Record (Streak): 0-0-0 (-)
MSU Next Game: Aug. 25 at Samford

Murray State women's soccer will open the 2019 regular season on Thursday afternoon when they host Xavier at Cutchin Field in Murray, Kentucky. The Racers, who meet the Musketeers for the first time in program history to open their 20^th season of competition, look to build on a 2018 campaign that saw them reach their second-straight NCAA Tournament after being crowned Ohio Valley Conference Tournament champions with a 2-1 victory over UT Martin in the final. Under second-year head coach Matt Lodge, the Racers have lofty goals for 2019 as they return the bulk of last year's championship roster.

Entering Thursday:
The Racers return 15 players from last year's roster, including seven that received consistent experience in the starting lineup in 2018. Among those seven are the top three goal scorers from a year ago in Miyah Watford, Rebecca Kubin, and Abby Jones that led a 2018 offense that ranked 2nd in the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring. The Racers also round out the 2019 roster with 12 talented newcomers as they look to compliment the strong core of returners.

Murray State, who was selected to the top spot in the 2019 OVC preseason poll, fell to Western Kentucky 2-0 in their lone exhibition match last Wednesday, but controlled much of the match – enjoying 58% of the total possession throughout the evening. Further, the Racers would fire 16 shots in total while Watford put three on frame to lead MSU. Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Jamie Skarupsky recorded five saves, including a penalty kick save in the 67^th minute, in her first action in a Racer uniform.

Scouting Xavier:
Under third-year coach Nate Lie, Xavier finished with a 10-8-3 record in 2018 that included a 4-3-2 mark against Big East competition. The 10 wins marked the winningest season since 2003, and the first season with a winning record since joining the Big East in 2013. The Musketeers enter Thursday's match after earning a 1-0 victory in their exhibition tune-up against Purdue. Of the returners, red shirt senior Samantha Dewey will lead a 2019 offense that finished second in the Big East in scoring just a year ago. Dewey, who was named the Preseason Big East Offensive Player of the Year, appeared in all 21 matches last season as she collected 25 points on a team-high nine goals and seven assists.

All-Time Series:
Thursday's match between Murray State and Xavier will be the first meeting between the two programs. In fact, the clash with the Musketeers will be the first time the Racers have ever faced a Big East opponent.

Weather Forecast:
A humid 86 degrees is expected for kickoff in Murray, Kentucky on Thursday afternoon. Winds blowing to the south are expected at around six miles per hour with a chance of catching a scattered thunderstorm. Chance of rain: 35%