Boca Raton, FL - The Florida Atlantic University women’s soccer team will open its Sun Belt Conference (SBC) home schedule this weekend with a pair of matches against top league contenders Western Kentucky University (WKU) and Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU).  This begins a key stretch in which the Owls play five of their next eight games at the FAU Soccer Stadium, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus.

FAU hosts WKU on Friday, September 28, at 7 p.m. before battling MTSU on Sunday, September 30, at 12:30 p.m.  Both opponents bring 2-0 records from the first weekend of league play.

The Owls split a pair of road conference matches last weekend, defeating Troy University 2-0 on Friday, September 21, before losing a hard-fought 1-0 match at the University of South Alabama on Sunday, September 23.  Overall, the team stands 3-6 on the season and is 1-1 in home matches this season, defeating UAB 4-3 in its most recent home game on Sunday, September 16.

FAU freshman midfielder Claire Emslie ranks fourth in the SBC with five goals and is eighth in the league with 12 points. The Scotland native is third in the conference with 3.22 shots per match and fourth by averaging 1.33 points per match.

Junior midfielder Brittney Nash also ranks among the league leaders, standing fourth with four assists so far this season.

Western Kentucky stands 7-3 on the season after home league victories last weekend over Arkansas State University, 2-0, and University of Arkansas-Little Rock (UALR), 5-0. Amanda Buechel paces the Hilltoppers with a SBC-leading seven goals.

Middle Tennessee also swept home matches over Arkansas State and UALR, and bring a 7-3 record into the weekend. Leading the Blue Raiders’ offense has been Paige Goeglein, with seven goals, and Whitney Jorgenson, with five goals. MTSU defeated FAU 2-1 last year.

Live statistics of both matches this weekend can be found at www.fausports.com. For tickets contact the FAU Ticket Office at 1-866-FAU-OWLS.