Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech soccer returns home after a four-game road trip to open Conference USA play against Western Kentucky Thursday, Sep. 15 at 7:00 at The Mack in Ruston, La.
MATCH INFORMATION
Date/Time: Thursday, Sep. 15 | 7 p.m.
Location: Robert Mack Caruthers Field (Ruston, La.
Live Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Live Stream: CUSA.TV
Series: Tied 2-2-0
ABOUT LA TECH (2-5-1)
Louisiana Tech returns to The Mack after spending the last four matches on the road with a pair of SEC tilts against No. 12 Ole Miss, and Mississippi State, followed by Sam Houston and Little Rock.
After posting a 2-2-1 start to the season at home, Tech has dropped the last four matches while struggling to score despite an increase in scoring chances the last two weeks. Tech posted back-to-back double-digit shot efforts for the first time since the first two matches of the season last week.
Sydnee Korchak tied a career-high with eight saves at Ole Miss and has registered 33 saves on the season with a .717 save percentage. She has posted at least four saves in six of her seven starts.
LA Tech is led offensively by Kalli Matlock and Flavie Dube. Dube leads the team in goals scored (2), while Matlock leads the team in shots (10) and shots on goal (7) while adding a goal scored and an assist. Sophie Fijneman leads the backline and has played all but 34 minutes this season and has gone the distance in six of her eight starts.
Tech has dealt with their fair share of injuries creating a lot of shake up in the lineup so far this season. The Techsters have used 18 players in a starting role in 2022 and had only five players start all eight matches.
Tech will be searching for the program’s 40th all-time Conference USA win. Tech is currently fifth among active C-USA members in wins, one win behind Charlotte.
Tech is 27-11-4 in conference play at home since 2013 and holds a 1-2-1 conference mark at The Mack heading into the facility’s second season.
ABOUT WESTERN KENTUCKY (3-3-2)
Western Kentucky comes into the 2022 conference season after picking up their first road win of the season at Arkansas State on Sunday, Sep. 11, 1-0. WKU now sits at 1-3-1 on the road this season.
The Hilltoppers have outscored their opponents 9-6 on the year for 1.13 goals per game average and have outshot opponents 93-79.
They have assisted on seven goals, with all seven assists coming from different players. They have had eight players score goals in 2022, led by sophomore forward Kayla Meyer, with two, who owns one of the three game-winners.
In goal, redshirt senior Alexis Bach has started all eight matches, seeing all but 45 minutes of action. Bach has registered 22 saves for a .786 save percentage while giving up six goals against a total of 78 shots-faced. She has posted three clean sheets, all in the last four matches, earning Conference USA Goalkeeper of the Week for a pair of shutouts against Kentucky and Belmont.
THE SERIES
Thursday’s matchup will be the fifth meeting of all time between the Techsters and the Hilltoppers and just the first meeting since the 2019 season. The series is tied a 2-2-0, with the home team taking each match.
Tech won the first meeting in 2014 in Ruston, 1-0, before falling to WKU in Bowling Green, 0-1, the following season.
The pair would meet again in Ruston in 2018, which led to a 2-1 victory for the Techsters. In 2019 with Tech previously unbeaten on the year, the Hilltoppers pulled out a 2-1 double overtime win on a penalty kick in the 106’.
The all-time goals mark is tied, 4-4.
Tech and WKU have had one common opponent this season in now, top-10 ranked Ole Miss. Ole Miss beat Tech 5-0, which included three goals scored in the final four minutes of each half, while WKU fell in Oxford 2-1.
TICKETS
Single-game tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for youth (ages 4-17). All tickets are general admission in the new facility with stands comprised of bleacher-style seating with backs.
Tickets can be purchased now at LATechSports.com/tickets or by calling the LA Tech Ticket Office at (318) 257-3631. Single-game tickets can also be purchased on a walk-up basis with gates opening one hour before the matches.
STADIUM POLICIES/PARKING
Clear bags are required at all Louisiana Tech athletic events. Fans must sit in the stands and cannot be on the field, on the grass hill, or on the sidewalks.
Parking is free and available alongside Stadium Blvd. as well as west of Dr. Billy Bundrick Field. To access the field, fans will enter the main entrance of the Soccer/Softball complexes and go up the steps on the southwest corner of Robert Mack Caruthers Field. An elevator is available for ADA fans or those who do not believe they can get up the stairs. Fans are encouraged to read the Gameday A-Z Guide and review the Clear Bag Policy for any questions regarding the gameday experience.
