Thursday, September 11, 2008

MACON, Ga. - Belmont's women's soccer team attempts to improve its strong start by hosting Western Kentucky in the Atlantic Sun Women's Soccer Game of the Week. The Bruins and Lady Toppers meet for the first time at the Mafiaoza's Women's Soccer Invitational in Nashville, Tenn.

Belmont slated fifth in the preseason poll, the highest preseason ranking the Bruins have ever received since joining the A-Sun in 2001, had its four-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday by a 1-0 loss to Evansville.

Last year's Cinderella team of the A-Sun, Belmont upended Jacksonville, the 2007 league champion in the opening round before being edged by second-seeded Mercer on penalty kicks after a double-overtime tie in the semifinals. The Bruins finished the regular season with a program-best 13 victories, six of which came against A-Sun opponents, another program record.

Sophomore Annie Musacchio, who paces the A-Sun in goals with five, leads the offensive attack for the 4-2 Bruins. Sari Lin, who shares the conference lead in saves with 33, also has two shutouts to her credit.

In 2007, Western Kentucky won its first regular-season Sun Belt championship and claimed the number one overall seed in the league's tournament. The Lady Toppers went 14-3-3 last season, posting a 8-1-2 mark in conference action. Morgan Thomas earned on spot on the 2008 preseason all-Sun Belt Conference squad while the coaches picked the Lady Toppers picked third in the preseason poll.

WKU opens the Mafiaoza's Invitational against Murray State. Belmont will face off against the University of Louisiana at Monroe in the team's home opener on in the second match of the day.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.