LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University women's soccer team will square off with Eastern Kentucky in Atlantic Sun Conference action for the second straight weekend when the Knights welcome the Colonels for a 1 p.m. (ET) contest Sunday.

Bellarmine (8-3-2, 2-3 ASUN) will be looking for a significant turnaround against EKU (8-2-3, 3-1-1 ASUN). The Knights dropped a 5-1 decision last weekend in Richmond that marked their most lopsided loss in an ASUN game in the Division-I era. The Colonels scored in the sixth minute and followed with a successful penalty kick in the 24th minute, with things snowballing on BU from there.

The ASUN instituted intra-divisional play only in the regular season this year, with divisional teams playing each other twice in a home-and-home format, and that triggered a scheduling quirk with the Gold Division counterpart Knights and Colonels playing back to back.

ABOUT EASTERN KENTUCKY
Five different Colonels accounted for last weekend's goals against Bellarmine as EKU extended its unbeaten streak to four, including 1-0 wins over both Austin Peay and Central Arkansas. Ella Grode has compiled a team-high six goals for EKU, which is in second place in the Gold Division.

KNIGHTS NOTES
• Eastern Kentucky holds a 3-1-1 series lead over Bellarmine in the D1 era. The Colonels are 1-0-1 against the Knights in Frazier Stadium, following a scoreless draw in 2022 with a 1-0 win in 2023.
• This contest marks the start of the second round of games between Gold Division opponents. The Knights will follow at Central Arkansas (3-1 UCA win first game) and North Alabama (1-0 BU win first game) before wrapping up the regular season by hosting Lipscomb (2-0 LU win first game) and Austin Peay (2-1 BU win first game).
• Four teams from each division will qualify for the ASUN Tournament. Bellarmine (6 pts) is fourth in the Gold Division. EKU (10 pts) is second behind Lipscomb (16 pts) and North Alabama (8 pts) is third. Central Arkansas (5 pts) is behind the Knights in fifth and Austin Peay (2 pts) is sixth.
• Despite a rough patch of goals allowed in the last few games, Bellarmine's defense still ranks third in the ASUN in goals-against average (1.15) and total goals allowed (15). The Knights' offense ranks fourth in the conference at 2.0 goals per game.
• Sophomore forward McKenzie Carle is tied for third in the ASUN in goals (seven), is third in total shots (44), is fifth in points (17) and is tied for sixth in shots on goal (15). The reigning ASUN Freshman of the Year's 13 career goals are a D1-era program record.
• Carle and redshirt senior defender Sidney Rigsby were both Preseason All-ASUN Team selections. Rigsby scored BU's lone goal in last weekend's matchup against EKU and is tied for third on the team this season with three goals.
• Senior forward Lucy von Stefenelli is tied for second in the ASUN in game-winning goals (three), is tied for third in shots on goal (20), is fourth in total shots (43) and is tied for eighth in goals (five).
• Redshirt freshman Anna Jenkins is tied for second in the ASUN in shutouts (four), is fourth in save percentage (.797) and is fifth in GAA (1.25). She is a two-time ASUN Goalkeeper of the Week this season.
• Rigsby (1,125), sophomore midfielder Brynn Severance (1,110) and freshman defender Abigail Fike (1,082) are BU's first three field players to break 1,000 minutes this season.

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