Soccer gears up for first place battle at Jayne

MOREHEAD, Ky. - Currently sitting in second place in the OVC with a 4-1 conference record, Morehead State soccer is set to face No. 1 Murray State on Thursday night at 7 p.m. The Racers gallop into Jayne Stadium with a 5-0 conference record.
 
Inside the friendly confines of Jayne Stadium, MSU is undefeated against conference opponents (2-0) this season. Under the guidance of head coach Warren Lipka, the Eagles are 16-7-3 in conference play at home.
According to Lipka, the home environment could play a vital role on Thursday.
 
"This is a game where we need people to come and support," he said. "The girls need and deserve the support. It doesn't guarantee a victory, but it certainly helps."
 
Since Lipka took the reins of the MSU soccer program in 2009, his teams have gone an impressive 7-1 against Murray State, including a 3-0 mark at Jayne Stadium. The lone loss coming last year in Murray, but the Eagles returned the favor, taking down the Racers in the OVC Tournament.
 
The connections between the two schools do not stop at No. 1 versus No. 2. Racers' head coach Jeremy Groves is a former assistant under Lipka at both Morehead State and the University of Kentucky. Now in his second season at Murray State, Groves has quickly turned the program around, leading them to the OVC Tournament last season for the first time since 2011.
 
"Murray (State) is 5-0, sitting at the top of the table," said Lipka. "I knew Jeremy (Groves) would be successful when he left here and he's doing a great job. On top of it all, he has a great attacking team so we have to be ready for what they present to us."
 
In their last five matches, the Eagles are 4-1 and in each of those five matches they haven't allowed more than one goal.  Prior to those five matches, the Eagles allowed two or more goals in five straight.
 
"When we put Kelsey Gomez in the back, then added Teig (Palmateer), KP (Kelsey Patera), and Karen (Hilt) in the back, those four plus Murph (Kaitlynn Murphy) have done an outstanding job of keeping the ball out of the back of net, starting quality attacks, and just being a great unit," said Lipka.
 
Matching the lights out play of the MSU defense has been the attack of freshmen forwards Abby Timm and Dani Wilson. For the second time this season, Wilson was named OVC Offensive Player of the Week after recording two assists and a game-winning penalty kick goal in back-to-back road wins. Timm currently leads the team, and is second in the OVC, with eight goals scored. During their three-game winning streak, Wilson or Timm have been involved, by either scoring or assisting, on five of seven goals.
 
Adding to the excitement of Thursday's 7 p.m. contest, the first 100 students will receive free Fazolis' breadsticks and MSU logo towels will be distributed to fans in attendance.
The match can be seen live on the OVC Digital Network. Live stats will be available at MSUEagles.com.
 
Following the match with the Racers, the Eagles head to Austin Peay to face the Governors at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.