Eagles Welcome No. 4 GVSU, Ferris State This Weekend

The Ashland University women's soccer team carries a four-game winning streak into its first full weekend at Ferguson Field of the season.

The Eagles (6-3-1, 3-0 GLIAC) welcome No. 4 Grand Valley State (8-2, 3-0 GLIAC) for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff on Friday (Oct. 6). The Lakers lost their first two games of the season, but have since won their last eight contests. GVSU has played in seven of the last eight national championship games, winning five titles in that stretch. The Lakers defeated the Eagles, 3-0, earlier this season in a nonconference match in Allendale, Mich.

Following that game, the Eagles will play host to Ferris State (6-5, 2-1 GLIAC) on Sunday at noon at Ferguson Field. The Eagles defeated the Bulldogs, 1-0, in a nonconference game earlier this season in Big Rapids, Mich.

The Eagles have ridden a balanced offensive attack through their four-game winning streak, scoring nine goals overall from six different players. Five players have assists during the winning streak, including five from senior Kelsey McKernan, who entered the week ranked first in the GLIAC and 11^th in the nation with six total assists.

Senior Morgan Bittengle was named the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week for her play in three games last week. The forward scored three goals, one in each game, including game-winners in both conference games. Her overtime golden goal gave the Eagles a 3-2 win at Davenport last week and she scored the opening goal in a 4-0 win over Purdue Northwest on Sunday.

The Eagles have surrendered just three goals in their four-game winning streak, including two clean sheets. AU ranks fourth in the GLIAC in goals against average (1.16). Freshman Abby Lampe has taken the reigns at goalkeeper and sits fourth in the conference in save percentage (.818).

AU

WSOC/BB