Georgia, Auburn highlight 2009 slate
by Jessica Steadman
7/6/2009 2:52:51 PM
KENNESAW, Ga. – Head Coach Rob King and the Owls have released the 2009 schedule with a pair of matches against Georgia and Auburn highlighting this year’s slate.
“We have quite a challenging schedule this season,” said King. “Especially in the early portion of the year when we have Georgia, Auburn and Minnesota within the first two weeks.”
The Owls, who are coming off a second-place finish in the Atlantic Sun Conference last season, will battle the Bulldogs and the Tigers on the road in early season matches.
The Black and Gold will open up the season on August 21 in Athens, Ga. against Georgia and will then battle Auburn on Sept. 4 on the road. In between, Kennesaw State will host former Peach Belt Conference rival Francis Marion, before playing nationally-ranked Minnesota at the KSU Soccer Complex on Aug. 30, the Owls first-ever meeting against a Big 10 opponent.
“We are pleased that Minnesota will be coming here,” added King. “They finished last year ranked No. 15 in the nation and it will be good for us to play a high profile opponent at home for a regular season match.”
The A-Sun season begins on Sept. 12 with a battle against Mercer in a rematch of last year’s first and second place teams. The non-conference season will conclude with a pair of matches against Samford (Sept. 18) and Alabama A&M (Sept. 20) both at the KSU Soccer Complex.
“Playing Mercer to begin the A-Sun season is a difficult task and will be a crucial match in the early season,” commented King. “I do feel that our non-conference opponents will prepare us when league matches come around.”
The conference slate features five home matches beginning with Stetson on Sept. 25 and Florida Gulf Coast coming to town on Sept. 27 for a Sunday afternoon match. Lipscomb, and A-Sun tournament champions, Belmont, come to Kennesaw on the weekend of Oct. 9 with the Bisons and Owls battling on Friday evening and the Bruins hitting the pitch on Oct. 11 for a Sunday afternoon affair.
After the conference opener on the road at Mercer, the Owls will travel twice for conference road matches. Kennesaw State will travel to Florida to play North Florida on Oct. 2 and Jacksonville two days later on Oct. 4. USC Upstate and ETSU will conclude the road season in mid-October when KSU plays the Spartans on Oct. 16 and the Buccaneers on Oct. 18 in Johnson City, Tenn.
The home slate concludes on Senior Day, Oct. 24 when the Black and Gold will host the Campbell Camels.
In addition to the regular season schedule, the Owls will host the Mexican Women’s National Team in an International Friendly on Sunday, Aug. 23 at the KSU Soccer Complex.