Sixth-year JSU Head Coach Julie Carlson Davis returns nine starters off last season's squad that posted an 8-10 mark. The Gamecocks look to ride the momentum of the final two matches of the 2009 season as they topped Ohio Valley Conference foes Tennessee Tech and Austin Peay to close out the season. Senior Alyshia Madison leads a trio of seniors this season, as the Cheney, Wash.-native earned 2009 Second Team All OVC honors as a junior. Junior Chelsea Pelletier, who posted four goals and dished out five assists, while earning CoSIDA Academic All-American status in 2009. Davis welcomed four newcomers to the JSU campus – Amy Meehan (Kennesaw, Ga.), Francesca Fitzgerald (Huntsville, Ala.), Katelyn Hartrampf (Kennesaw, Ga.) and Alison Gonzalez (Roswell, Ga.).

The Gamecocks tested Kennesaw State last Saturday in exhibition play before falling 1-0 to the Owls of KSU. The match was the first collegiate match in the new KSU Stadium. The 8,300-seat facility is also home to the Atlanta Beat of the Women's Professional League. The Red and white finished with nine shots, seven on goal. Junior Chelsea Pelletier and sophomore Nathalee Lariviere paced the JSU offense with three shots each.

Friday's duel between the Gamecocks and the Runnin' Bulldogs of GWU will be the second all time meeting between the two former Atlantic Sun Conference members. Jax State claimed a 1-0 decision during the 2002 season. 

GWU returns seven starters off last season's 12-9 club that finished second in the Big South Conference. The Runnin' Bulldogs put together a 6-3 mark in league matches. 

 
JSU continues its season-opening weekend on Sunday, Aug. 22, hosting Georgia State. Match time is set for 1 p.m. at the JSU Soccer Field. Admission is free to all JSU Soccer matches.