The East Central University soccer team will be playing a rare Thursday match and will wrap up their non-conference schedule in two matches this week.  The Lady Tigers will first host Southern Nazarene, Thursday, Oct. 3 at 4 p.m.  ECU will then travel to face No. 13 Central Missouri, Sunday Oct. 6 at 1 p.m.

Match Notes

The Coverage
Fans who can't be at the game can find links to live stats and live video (if available) on ECUTigers.com.  Go to the soccer schedule page.

Scouting Southern Nazarene
The Crimson Storm are 5-3 overall and 1-1 in the Great American Conference after earning a 4-0 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State in their last outing.

SNU has tallied nine goals on the season and allowed 10, but they have a clear advantage in shots on goal at 52-31.

Bekah Stewart and Tatiane Carvalho lead the team in points after scoring two goals and adding an assist each.  The Crimson Storm have a total of six players with goals, and three with two this season.

SNU has two goalies that have split time in net this season.  Yoli Zamarripa has allowed four goals, recorded 10 saves and has a 0.92 goals against average.  Natasha Fuentes has allowed six goals, garnered 11 saves and has a 1.64 GAA.

Against the Crimson Storm
Last year the teams battled to earn wins on their home fields.  Senior Ashley Bradford, junior Katie Glutz and senior Stephanie Flores all earned goals for ECU, while Glutz added an assist.

Bekah Stewart and Sherri Collins each tallied a goal for the SNU returners.  Yoli Zamarripa played in both matches in net, allowing four goals and recording 13 saves.

The Series
Thursday's meeting will be the sixth in the all-time series.  The Lady Tigers earned their first win against the Crimson Storm in the last outing (3-2; OT) and trail 1-4 in the all-time series.  Last year's game at Lady Tiger field in the only previous match played in Ada.

Scouting Central Missouri
The Jennies are currently ranked No. 13 by the NSCAA and are 5-1-2 overall and 3-0-1 in the MIAA after playing to a 0-0 tie with Emporia State Sunday.  UCM will play Southwest Baptist on the road Friday before hosting the Lady Tigers.

The Jennies have a strong 16-6 goal advantage and have taken 55 shots on goal to 25 by the opposition.

Hannah Moran leads the team with six goals, having taken just six shots on goal this season.  There are three other players on the team with two goals each and four that have tallied one goal.

Morgan Hartzler is the starting goalkeeper for UCM.  She has allowed five goals, stopped 20 shots and has a 0.66 goals against average.

Against the Jennies
In 2012, the Jennies and the Lady Tigers meet at Lady Tiger Field, with UCM earning a 0-3 win.  Junior Katie Glutz was the only ECU player to record a shot on goal in the game, while Cindy Lackey is the top returner for the Jennies, with one goal.

The Series
The meeting in 2012 was the only meeting between the teams in the all-time series.  Sunday's match will be the first on the road for ECU against the Jennies.

Lowe Earns Recognition
Redshirt-freshman Taylor Lowe had a strong game in the net for the Lady Tigers in their first win of the 2013 season and was named the GAC Goalkeeper of the Week for Oct. 1.  Lowe earned her first career shutout with a 2-0 win over Northwestern.  She stopped all five shots sent her way.

Ranking in the Nation
The NCAA has released their latest set of national soccer statistics and ECU is currently ranked tied for 32nd in saves per match (7).  The Lady Tigers are the top team in the conference in the category and freshman Lexi Hurley is No. 59 in the nation in saves per game (5.6).

Southwestern Match Postponed
Due to officiating scheduling conflicts the match against Southwestern Oklahoma State, originally scheduled to be played Sept. 29 was forced to be postponed.  The match is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 5.  Watch www.ecutigers.com for more information.

Lady Tigers Picked Fourth
After finishing third in the Great American Conference standings in 2012, the ECU soccer team has been picked to finish fourth in the 2013 GAC Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches.

The Lady Tigers earned 13 points, with 2012 champion Southwestern earning first (25 points/five first-place votes), Southern Nazarene second (19 points), Ouachita Baptist third (17 points/1 first-place vote), Harding fifth (11 points) and Northwestern sixth (five points).

Returning Depth
In 2012 ECU struggled with key injuries, especially after losing both goalies for a large portion of the season.  However, the Lady Tigers will return six of 11 starters, including three All-GAC picks from a year ago.

Ashley Bradford will return for her senior season after earning All-GAC First Team and NSCAA All-Region Third Team honors as a junior.  Juniors Margaret Glutz and Katie Glutz are also all-conference selections from 2012, with Margaret earning first team honors and Katie claiming second team accolades.

Also returning from the starting line-up are senior Stephanie Flores and junior Jessica Stibbens.  Other key returners include Susana, Galvez, Taylor Graves, Katelyn Harper, Kourtney Holleman, Krista Kahl, Taylor Kennedy, Laiken Knight and Hunter Malcom.

Heavy Home Schedule Early
This season those wishing to see the Lady Tigers in action at home will have to come to Lady Tiger Field early, as the season is lopsided on home and away matches.  ECU will play all of its eight home matches by Oct. 13, with the first home contest scheduled for Sept. 10 against Northeastern State at 4 p.m.  The Lady Tigers will play their final home matches Oct. 11 (Harding) and Oct. 13 (Ouachita Baptist) before finishing the season with six straight road matches.

Up Next
The Lady Tigers will return home for the final two regularly scheduled home matches of the 2013 season.  ECU will face Harding, Friday, Oct. 11 and Ouachita Baptist, Sunday, Oct. 13 for Senior Day.