Sept. 16, 2009

The Florida Atlantic University women's soccer team concludes non-conference play this weekend against two Southeastern Conference opponents following the Owls' three-match unbeaten home streak. FAU will host the University of Arkansas on Friday, September 18 at 7 p.m. at FAU's soccer stadium, before playing regionally-ranked University of Mississippi on Sunday, September 20 at noon.

FAU has a 2-1-1 record on its home pitch this fall and has outscored its last three home opponents by a 6-1 margin. The latest victory came over Cal Poly with a score of 2-0 on September 13. The team also recorded a triumph over Ball State University with a score of 3-0 on August 30, and tied the University of North Florida with a score of 1-1 on September 11. Overall, the team has a 2-4-1 record.

Arkansas is unbeaten on the season at 5-0-1 and enters the match with consecutive 3-0 victories over Stephen F. Austin University on September 13 and Oral Roberts University on September 6. The Razorbacks have shut out five of their six opponents and outscored their opposition by a 14-2 margin.

Mississippi, with a 5-1-1 record, is ranked seventh in the South Region, according to the most recent National Collegiate Soccer Association of America national poll. The Rebels have posted a school-record five consecutive shutouts this season, including an 8-0 victory over the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on September 13. After losing the season opener at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, the team has defeated Morehead State University, Jackson State University, the University of Memphis, East Tennessee State University and Arkansas-Little Rock.

The game with Mississippi will mark the second ranked team that FAU has faced this season. The Owls fell at the University of Georgia 3-0 on September 5.

FAU Head Soccer Coach Brian Dooley doesn't shy away from challenging his team during the non-conference season, striving to get his players prepared for the rigors of Sun Belt Conference (SBC) action, which begins on Friday, September 25 at Western Kentucky University. The Owls also are striving for a top finish in the conference standings and qualifying for the SBC postseason tournament, which FAU is hosting on Wednesday, November 4 through Saturday, November 7. "Our philosophy has always been to challenge ourselves in the non-conference portion of the season. It pays off when we get to league play," said Dooley. "I would rather play tougher opponents and struggle against them than winning matches that did not challenge us."

Preseason All-Sun Belt Candidate Ashley Mannarino, a senior forward, leads FAU in scoring with three goals and seven points on the season. Freshman goalkeeper Ashley Lantes has shown progress throughout her inaugural collegiate campaign, recording a shutout in the September 13 victory over Cal Poly. She has stopped 15 of the last 16 shots toward the Owls' net.