By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: JD Cavrich
HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Juniata College men's and women's soccer teams will host King's College (Pa.) this Saturday in the first doubleheader of the season. Both Juniata teams are undefeated on the year. The women's team squares off first on Saturday at 1 p.m. with the men following up at 3:30 p.m.
The women enter the matchup with King's at 4-0, after their match against Pitt.-Bradford was cancelled due to weather. The Eagles have scored 20 goals in their first four games and only allowed their opponents three scores. The potent Eagle offense ranks 14th in the country in scoring offense, averaging five goals a game. A solid defending core has held Juniata opponents to a combined seven shots on the year.
Senior Paula Pryor (Westbrookville, N.Y/Burke Catholic) leads the team with 11 points, four goals and three assists. Junior Lauren Liacouras (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) and sophomore Michaela Lacek (New Tripoli, Pa./Northwestern) each have seven points in the first four games from three goals and one assist a piece. The trio rank second, third, and fourth in the Landmark Conference and the team in total points.
The Lady Monarchs won three close games to start the 2013 season before dropping a 3-0 decision to Alvernia University last Wednesday. King's opened the year with a 2-1 overtime victory against Susquehanna. The win was the first season debut victory for the Lady Monarchs since 2008. King's followed up with two more one-goal wins over Penn State Berks and Elmira. The loss to Alvernia came courtesy of a hat trick by Crusaders freshman Bri McGrath.
"King's plays a very different style," said head coach Scott McKenzie. "They are known for always being very athletic. They play a fast paced game and we are going to have to figure that out. It'll probably be the quickest team we've faced so far this year. We're a little banged up from our no contest with Bradford, but that gives us a chance to display our depth."
Last year, the Eagles and Lady Monarchs battled hard for 110 minutes and came away with a 0-0 tie. At the time, the Eagles were undefeated on the year at 5-0. Juniata holds a slight edge historically King's with the overall series standing at 3-2-1 since 1996.
Follow Your Eagles! Stay up-to-date on your Juniata College Eagles by following us on twitter (@JuniataEagles) and on Facebook (Juniata Eagles)
