SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State soccer team opens Lone Star Conference play this weekend on the road against No. 22 Midwestern State and No. 12 Abilene Christian. The Rambelles play at 7 p.m. on Friday at Midwestern State and at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Abilene Christian.

“We have to do a lot more than just show up and take shots” ASU junior Lauren Carnes said. “These will be two of the best teams we face all year. We have to push hard the entire game and win the ball from them on every possession. We can't take a second off against either one of them if we want to win.”

GAME NOTES

The Rambelles finished their non-conference schedule with a 1-3 record after dropping a pair of games to Colorado State-Pueblo and Adams State last weekend in Colorado. ASU's other loss came in a 2-1 loss to No. 2-ranked St. Edward's University in Austin. The Rambelles won their only home game with a 5-0 win over the University of Texas-Permian Basin.

“We need to respond after the Colorado trip,” ASU head coach Travis McCorkle said. “I think we have a very good team. It's a matter of good defending for us. It always starts with good defending for us. This weekend we have to put away our chances.”

Midwestern State, which was the preseason selection to win the LSC, is 2-0-1 on the season while Abilene Christian comes into the weekend with a 4-0 start.

The MSU Mustangs' wins came over Truman State and Southwest Baptist, while their draw came against Nebraska-Omaha. Emily Saville and Kelsey Hill lead their team with two goals each, while goalkeeper Mallory Whitworth has seven saves as the only Mustang to play in goal this season.

Abilene Christian, which ended the Rambelles' season last year in the NCAA tournament, has beat Dallas Baptist, Texas A&M-International, Central Oklahoma and Truman State. The Wildcats open their LSC action on Friday against Incarnate Word. Andrea Carpenter leads the Wildcats with four goals, while Krysta Grimm has added three goals.






Coaches and Player Quotes

Head coach Travis McCorkle
On this weekend's games against Midwestern State and Abilene Christian:
We need to respond after the Colorado trip. I think we have a very good team. It's a matter of good defending for us. It always starts with good defending for us. This weekend we have to put away our chances.


Lauren Carnes: Junior midfielder from Amarillo
On the start of Lone Star Conference play:
We have to do a lot more than just show up and take shots. These will be two of the best teams we face all year. We have to push hard the entire game and win the ball from them on every possession. We can't take a second off against either one of them if we want to win.

On what kind of team the Rambelles will face in Wichita Falls:
They are very fast and have a great offensive team that can score in a lot of different ways. We have to focused on defense and not allow them to move the ball the way they want to.


Megan Schaffer: Senior defender from New Braunfels
On bouncing back from two losses last weekend in Colorado:
We have to regroup, play our game and be a whole lot more physical to win every battle.

On playing two top-25 teams to open Lone Star Conference play:
It's exciting to start off with them. They are both really great teams and are going to challenge us to play our best.

On what ASU needs to do to win the first two games of conference play:
It is all mental now that we are in conference. We can physically match anybody, but we have to be there mentally in these games. We can't let a goal scored on us effect the rest of the game. We have to be strong and keep pushing to score.

On what the Rambelles will face on Sunday when they take on the ACU Wildcats:
They are extremely fast and move the ball as well as anybody. They are smart and play within themselves all the time. We have to read what they are trying to do and be able to stop them.


Jordan Benfield: Sophomore defender from Oak Point
On what the Rambelles need to do this weekend as they start LSC play:
We need to come out strong and play as a team. We played a little shaky last weekend and we know we can't do that this weekend.

On the challenges of playing two top-25 ranked teams:
We have to play stronger and smarter than them. We need to get off to a fast start and stay focused the entire game.


Live stats will be provided for the Midwestern State game at http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=2011. Live stats will be provided for the Abilene Christian game at http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=2029.


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