Gameday Center: The Louisiana-Lafayette Game
Gameday Center: The Louisiana-Monroe Game
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Western Kentucky University (8-4-0, 3-1-0) completes a challenging four-game Sun Belt Conference road swing this weekend when the Lady Toppers travel to Louisiana-Lafayette (Oct. 5 at 7:00pm) and Louisiana-Monroe (Oct. 7 at 1:00pm).
The Lady Toppers are coming off a weekend that saw WKU split a pair of overtime games in the Sunshine State. Freshman Lauren Moats (Nixa, Mo.) scored a goal in the 94th minute against FAU to give WKU the win. Against FIU, the Panthers found the back of the net in the 95th minute to end a WKU defensive streak of nearly 700 minutes in Sun Belt Conference play without a goal allowed by the Lady Toppers.
The WKU defense continues to shine, having allowed multiple goals just twice in its last 22 outings.
Freshman Nikki Hall (Cincinnati, Ohio) has allowed just one goal in her last 506:09 in goal for the Lady Toppers. Hall has been supported in goal by a veteran backline that has limited the number of scoring opportunities by WKU opponents this season. Senior Ali Stahlke (Naperville, Ill.) and junior Torrie Lange (Florence, Ky.) have been part of the defensive unit that has allowed just 56 shots on goal this season. Excluding two games against Southeastern Conference opponents, WKU has a team GAA of 0.40, including no goals allowed in the first half this season.
Senior Amanda Buechel (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Moats have combined to score 12 of the Lady Toppers' 21 goals this season. Nine different players have scored for WKU this season.
Louisiana-Lafayette (7-6-0, 1-2-0) hosts WKU for the second consecutive season. WKU recorded a 1-0 win last year in Lafayette on Oct. 16. WKU is 10-1-1 all-time against Louisiana-Lafayette, including a 4-0-1 record in Lafayette. WKU has shutout the Ragin' Cajuns in four straight meetings. WKU has not lost to Louisiana-Lafayette in the last ten meetings between the teams, having won the last four matchups between the teams. The Lady Toppers have outscored Louisiana-Lafayette 5-0 in the last four meetings between the teams, including three straight 1-0 wins.
Louisiana-Monroe (4-8-0, 1-2-0) has had eight different players score the team's 12 goals this season. Freshman Karlea Fehr (Lakewood, Colo.) leads ULM is goal and assists this season with four of each. Last season, WKU won a 1-0 decision in Monroe, La. This year's meeting will mark the third time in four years for the Lady Toppers who are 6-0 all-time against the WarHawks and 2-0 in Monroe, La. WKU has outscored ULM 6-0 in the last two meetings between the schools and 19-3 all-time.
WKU next's home match is Oct. 12, 2012 against South Alabama at the WKU Soccer Complex. First touch is set for 6:00 p.m. Single game tickets are available through the WKU Ticket Office by calling 270-745-5222 or 1-800-5-BIG-RED. Tickets can also be ordered online at www.wkusports.com. In addition, a game ticket package with nine vouchers that can be used for any game during the 2012 season are available for just $25 through the ticket office.
For complete coverage of WKU Soccer, visit the official website of WKU Athletics at www.wkusports.com.
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