LADY STATESMEN SOCCER GAME NOTES - WEEK 2 (PDF)
CLEVELAND - The Lady Statesmen soccer team heads into the second week of the season with a pair of games on the lineup for the weekend; a conference test against transitioning Gulf South Conference member Shorter University and a non-conference match against fellow GSC school The University of Alabama in Huntsville.
The Lady Statesmen come into the weekend 1-2 after a win against Belhaven University (2-1) and a pair of losses to Valdosta State University (1-0) and the University of West Georgia (2-0)
ELLING BEING A STRONG DEFENSIVE LEADER
While the Lady Statesmen are off to a 1-2 start, the high level of play of sophomore goalkeeper
Kelsey Elling has still been a cornerstone for the defense.
Through three games, Elling's save percentage is at 87 percent, up from 80 percent last season. The San Diego, Calif. native has allowed in fewer goals, carrying a 1.33 Goals Against Average. Last season, Elling finished with a GAA of 1.79.
BENSON WITH A WINNER
Lady Statesmen midfielder
Charlotte Benson capped off the first game of the season with a go ahead goal late against Belhaven that proved to be the eventual game-winning goal. The goal was Benson's second game-winning goal as a Lady Statesmen and helped lead Delta State to its first ever win over the Lady Blazers of Belhaven.
The London, England natives goal was also her fifth goal as a Lady Statesmen which puts her in a tie with fellow junior
Payten Pearson for the active lead.
TUCKER MAKES GRAND ENTRANCE
Erin Tucker needed less than 11 minutes to make her mark for Delta State. The freshman from Tupelo, Miss. made a quick splash for the Lady Statesmen, scoring a header in her first game for the green-and-white when she headed home a corner kick to put Delta State up 1-0 early on against Belhaven.
The speedy winger has played large amounts of time in all three games for head coach
Paul Babba, with two starts, and has been a key part of the Lady Statesmen's attacking presence.
AGAINST THE STATES
While the Lady Statesmen have never played Shorter University, Delta State is 1-9-0 all-time against the state of Georgia. The Lady Statesmen are 0-2-0 against the “Peach State” in 2012.
The Lady Statesmen are facing a team from Alabama for the first time in 2012. Overall, the Lady Statesmen are 5-21-1 against Mississippi's border state to the east.
A NEW LOOK GSC
The make up of the Gulf South Conference will look a little different this season. With the additions of Union University and Shorter University to step into one of the premier conferences in Division II, the number of schools participating in the GSC will be 10.
With 10 schools in the conference, teams will play a home-and-away series with four GSC schools (regionally based) and play the other schools once, creating a 13-game conference schedule. The second game in the home-and-away series and the other five games will count toward the conference standings.
In total, six teams will qualify for the newly expanded GSC Tournament in Pensecola, Fla. come November. Shorter and Union will not be eligible, as they go through their mandatory transition years, leaving a tight battle between the remaining eight schools for the six slots.
