DAYTON — The Wright State women's soccer program continues its early season road slate against Eastern Kentucky on Sunday, September 4, at EKU Soccer Field. The non-conference match will start at 1 p.m. and stream on ESPN+. Live stats will also be provided.
MATCH INFORMATION
Sunday, September 4 - 1 p.m. -
Watch -
Live Stats
LAST TIME OUT
The Raiders had their shutout streak end against Butler last Thursday, falling 7-0 on the road. WSU was limited to a season-low four shots in the loss.
Lauren Borchert led the attack by tallying two shots, including one on goal. In the first half, goalkeeper
Jessika Seward allowed five goals, compared to two saves.
Kiera Sarka replaced Seward in goal for the second half, notching two saves while allowing two goals.
SCOUTING THE COLONELS
EKU Is 1-2 overall with losses to Northern Illinois and Kentucky and a win against Chattanooga. Myla Sharpless has led the Colonels with team-high marks in points (4), goals (2), shots (5), and shots on goal (4). Goalkeeper Lauren Seedlock has made three starts, tallying 14 saves while allowing 2.33 goals per contest.
A season ago, Eastern Kentucky went 9-10 overall and 4-5 against ASUN opponents. The Colonels knocked off No. 2 seed Liberty 1-0 in the ASUN Tournament quarterfinals before falling to top-seeded Lipscomb in the following round.
HISTORY VS. EKU
The Raiders hold a 3-1-1 advantage versus EKU in the all-time series. Last season, WSU dropped a 3-0 decision to the Colonels at home.
Lauren Borchert and
Michelle Rings both tallied two shots for the Raiders in the loss, while
Jessika Seward notched six saves on the other end.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jessika Seward earned Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in her collegiate career after leading WSU to back-to-back shutouts. In Wright State's 1-0 victory at Miami (OH), she notched five saves, including four in the second half to preserve the shutout. The Navarre, Fla. native added three saves, all in the first half, in the Raiders' 3-0 win against Central Michigan at home.
PRECISION AT ITS FINEST
As a team, the Raiders rank 20th in the country and first in the Horizon League in shot accuracy (.609).
Michelle Rings is 3-for-3 on the year in shot-on-goal attempts, while
Lauren Borchert has compiled a team-leading seven shots on frame.
HL LEADERS
The Raiders top the Horizon League in assists (6) and saves (24) through five matches. Six different Raiders have tallied an assist, while
Jessika Seward has corralled a team-best 18 saves.
Kiera Sarka has added six saves over 91 minutes of action in goal.
SHOWING OFF DEPTH
Nineteen Raiders have appeared in all five games, including seven newcomers.
Kaylee Pham, a freshman out of nearby Springboro, has logged a team-best 441 minutes over five starts.
CAREER LEADERS (at Wright State only)
Goals
Josie Krupp - 10
Michelle Rings - 6
Olga Massombo - 5
Assists
Josie Krupp &
Michelle Rings - 6
Olga Massombo - 5
Lauren Borchert,
Maddie Mitchell, &
Makaylee Zuercher - 2
Points
Josie Krupp - 26
Michelle Rings - 18
Olga Massombo - 15
Saves
Jessika Seward - 121
Erin Baker - 27
Kiera Sarka - 6
Games
Josie Krupp - 67
Michelle Rings - 49
Kaylin Helinski - 47
Starts
Michelle Rings - 36
Kaylin Helinski - 31
Olga Massombo - 30
PRESEASON PREP
Exhibition contests against Michigan State, Western Michigan, and Morehead State served as tune-ups for the 2022 season. Wright State concluded preseason play with a 3-0 victory over Morehead State at Alumni Field.
Josie Krupp,
Elise Canter, and
Annika Samborski found the back of the net in the victory, while
Jessika Seward and
Hanna Hargrave combined for the shutout in goal.
RETURNING TALENT
Wright State returns 10 players who logged nine or more starts and 700-plus minutes, including a pair of All-Horizon League performers in
Olga Massombo and
Olivia Mace. The trio of
Madison Keller,
Taylor Lauck, and
Josie Krupp are in the midst of their fifth year with the Raiders.
Massombo, Krupp,
Maddie Mitchell, and
Michelle Rings found the back of the net multiple times a season ago, while
Lauren Borchert tied for second on the team with two assists. Mace was the lone Raiders to appear and start in all 18 matches, totaling a team-leading 1,578 minutes.
Jessika Seward is in her third season as WSU's goalkeeper, where she has tallied 121 saves and three shutouts in 26 career starts.
MEET THE COACHES
The Raiders are led by second-year head coach
Travis Sobers, a longtime assistant coach at WSU, before taking reigns on the sidelines last summer. The former Wright State men's soccer standout player helped the Raiders to victories over Marshall, Akron, IUPUI, Cleveland State, and UIC in 2021. Assistant coach
Abbey Frail joined the Raiders in January 2022 after two seasons on the staff at her alma mater Wingate University. Last fall, as interim head coach, she guided the Bulldogs to an 11-6 overall record.
WELCOME TO THE FAM
WSU welcomes 10 first-year students and two transfers to this season's squad.
Marcella Sizer joined the Raiders after three seasons at fellow Horizon League school Youngstown State, where she totaled 23 points on 10 goals — two game-winners — and three assists over three seasons.
OHIO STRONG
Wright State's 2022 roster features 20 players from Ohio. Three Raiders in
Elise Canter,
Ashley Vaughn, and
Heidi Orloff came to WSU from nearby Beavercreek High School. Another three individuals in
Annika Samborski,
Brandi Greenlee, and
Olivia Mace prepped at Centerville High School.
PRESEASON POLL
The Raiders were picked sixth in the annual Horizon League preseason poll, which the league's 11 head coaches voted on. Oakland topped the conference poll while defending HL tournament champion Milwaukee was close behind in the second.
NEXT UP
After EKU, the Raiders will conclude their non-conference schedule against Kentucky on Thursday, September 8, at 7 p.m. The match will streak on SEC Network Plus.
