Racers Set to Host Eastern Kentucky in Home Opener

Friday, March 5

Murray, Ky.

1 P.M.

Murray State

Eastern Kentucky

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

3/4/2021 10:42:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Live Coverage Links

MSU looks to extend OVC home winning streak after a perfect 5-0 mark in 2019

Date: March 5, 2021 – 1 PM
Site (Venue): Murray, Ky. (Cutchin Field)
Live Stream: ESPN+
Live Coverage Links: goracers.com/coverage
Murray State Record (Streak): 1-0 (Won 1)
Eastern Kentucky Record (Streak): 0-1 (Lost 1)
Racers All-Time vs. Eastern Kentucky: 10-4-3
MSU Next Game: March 9^th at UT Martin

Murray State women's soccer is set to make its 2020-21 home debut on Friday when they host the Colonels of Eastern Kentucky in their second of ten regular season OVC matches on this year's schedule. The match will be streamed on ESPN+, and live stats coverage will be available on goracers.com. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Cutchin Field in Murray, Ky.

All-Time Series:
Friday's contest will mark the 18^th all-time meeting between Murray State and Eastern Kentucky, with the Racers holding the advantage in the overall series with a 10-4-3 record. The Racers have gotten the better of EKU as of late, winning five and drawing once over the last seven encounters. The Racers prevailed with a 2-1 score line in double overtime victory in the last meeting, when Symone Cooper's headed goal in the 101^st minute gave the Racers the three points in Richmond.

A Look at the Racers:
The Racers showed a glimpse of why they were picked OVC preseason #1 in their first match of the season on Tuesday, cruising to a 3-1 victory behind 11 shots on the road over Morehead State. Rebecca Kubin, Chloe Barnthouse, and Saraya Young got on the score sheet, while sophomore goalkeeper Jenna Villacress made four saves for the Racers in the win.

For Barnthouse and Young, the goals would be the first of their collegiate careers.

Scouting Eastern Kentucky:
The Colonels were picked to finish 9^th in this year's OVC preseason poll, and fell to SIUE in their season opener on Tuesday by a score of 3-2. The match, which was supposed to be a home match, was actually played at the Louisville City FC training facility due to a flurry of inclement weather in Richmond. After going down 2-0, Kylie Fitzgerald and Katie Shaffer found the net within two minutes to tie the game at 2-2 before conceding what would be the winning goal in the 73^rd.

Notes:

Both Murray State and Eastern Kentucky saw freshmen score a goal in their first career matches, with MSU's Chloe Barnthouse and EKU's Kylie Fitzgerald finding the net on Tuesday.
The Racers haven't lost an OVC home game since October 21, 2018 when they fell to Eastern Kentucky 1-0, going a perfect 5-0 in OVC matches at Cutchin Field in 2019.
Junior Abby enters the match tied with Rebekah Clay (2005-2008) for the most assists in program history with 21 in her career.
Senior Rebecca Kubin continues to climb the Murray State all-time scoring list as she currently sits in 7^th with 23 career goals. Directly in front of her at #6 is Rebekah Clay with 24, and Jackie Thomas (2000-2003) with 25 at the #5 spot.
Dating back to last season, the Racers have scored a goal in six-straight matches
Now in his third season at the helm of the Racer soccer program, head coach Matt Lodge earned career victory #25 in Tuesday's 3-1 win over Morehead State.