LAKELAND, Fla. - The Southeastern women's soccer team is set for its first road trip of 2016, as they will play two games away from the SEU Soccer Field this weekend. SEU is off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2010. The Fire have shut out all opponents thus far, most recently earning a 1-0 victory over NCAA Division II Eckerd College on Tuesday night. This is the first time SEU has started off the season with three shutouts since 2009, when the team blanked opponents for the first six games of the season.
GAMES: Southeastern (3-0) vs. Montreat College (1-3) | Friday 5 p.m.| Southeastern (3-0) vs. Middle Georgia State University (2-2) | Sunday 1 p.m.
COVERAGE:
THE DYNAMIC DUO: Sophomore midfielder
Shayna Cole and senior forward
Alyssa Kaminski have been the catalyst for the Fire offense so far this season. The two are responsible for eight of the ten team goals and are the leading scoring duo in The Sun Conference thus far. Cole has already eclipsed her season total of two goals from 2015 and Kaminski is certainly on pace to pass her SEU career-best of seven goals in a season.
ROAD CONFIDENCE: In 2015, the Fire posted its first winning away record (6-5) since 2009. SEU outscored opponents 26-19 in road games last season. The Fire will look to carry over confidence from last year's successful road campaign to this season.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: This will be the first time the Fire have faced either programs since joining the NAIA.
THE CAVALIERS: After a winless 2015 campaign (0-15-1), Montreat has looked to get back on track this season. They picked up their first program win since 11/4/14 in a 1-0 victory over Rio Grande on September 3
rd. The Cavaliers are led by Second Team All-AAC sophomore midfielder Alanna Castenada, who led the team in scoring last season as a freshman. Other key players include junior goalkeeper Jordan DeVaan, who has 54 saves in three starts this season, and lone senior Kelly Limon, who has started all four games this season on defense. The Cavaliers are coached by Courtney Nash, who is in her sixth season with the program.
THE KNIGHTS: Middle Georgia improved in their second year of NAIA play, posting a 12-7 record and reaching the Southern States Athletic Conference semifinals. This season, the team has already dropped games to Grand View University and Georgia Gwinnett College, but picked up their first win of the season in a 2-1 victory over Thomas University. The Knights are led by junior forward Sam Silva, who led the team in scoring with 19 goals last season and has already netted one score in 2016. Junior goalkeeper Brooke Best is also a key player, as she recorded 139 saves in 17 starts last season and has already posted 29 saves through three starts in 2016. The Knights are coached by Vinny Gill, who is in his 10
th season with the program.
Be sure to follow @SEUFireWSoccer to keep up with all the action.
