Friday, August 19, 2005

AUBURN, Alabama - August 19, 2005 – As the Owls prepared to play the No. 19-ranked team in the country, and their first Southeastern Conference opponent, in Auburn University, Kennesaw State’s preseason opener was supposed to be a daunting task.

Even though they played without three starters and Jenae Gzehoviak limited to just the first half, Kennesaw State jumped out to a 1-0 lead at intermission before falling to the Tigers 2-1 at the AU Soccer Complex in the Owls first match as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference.

With one game already under their belts (a 0-0 tie against West Florida), the SEC Western Division preseason favorites were dominated early by the visiting Owls. Kennesaw State was able to attack the Tigers defense early in the match and had multiple chances to score before getting on the board in the 32nd minute when Mandy Nolin. beat Auburn goalkeeper Anna Fiser to the left side.

The Owls lone goal of the evening came after Nolin had doubled back after the Tigers took control of the ball. Nolin intercepted an errant pass that floated over the Auburn defense and delivered the goal.

“We played very well tonight against a top-notch squad,” said head coach Rob King. “In the first half we have took control of the game and were aggressive. Considering the health of our starters, I was extremely pleased with our effort.”

Playing without starting defender Rebecca Hall and leading scorer Laura Tucker, the Tigers rallied with a pair of second half goals. In the 64th minute, Auburn dalland leading scorer Lauraefender Ronda Brooks scored the game-tying goal after a missed header off a Jenny Zarzour corner kick.

In the 69th minute, Kristin Stewart was served a ball from Ashley Willis and beat an attacking Jessica Marek to the left for the deciding goal.

The Owls will play their final exhibition match of the season on Sunday evening when they host West Georgia at 7:00 p.m. at the KSU Soccer Complex.