JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State soccer team will close out the non-conference schedule this weekend, hosting in-state rival Troy on Friday evening before trekking to Ruston, La. on Sunday to face Louisiana Tech. The JSU-Troy duel is set for 6 p.m. at the JSU Soccer Field.

JSU (2-5-1) picked up its first win on the home turf as it thumped Southern (La.) University, 7-0, in the final game of the JSU/Adidas Gamecock Soccer Classic last Sunday. Jax State finished the weekend 1-1 after falling to Southeastern Louisiana 2-1 on Friday night. The Trojans march into Jacksonville after recording a 1-1 draw with Sam Houston State in the Port City Classic in Mobile, Ala. Troy blanked Georgia State 2-0 last Friday in the event and enters the weekend 3-2-1 on the season.

Friday's meeting with Troy will be the 11th all-time on the pitch between the long-time rivals as JSU has had the upper hand in the series with nine wins dating back to the 1997 season. The Trojans topped JSU 3-2 in an overtime contest during the 2008 campaign. Sunday's match with the Lady Techsters (7-2) will be the first contest between the two schools on the pitch. Tech is the midst of playing three matches in five days as it claimed a 3-2 overtime win over Tennessee Tech on Wednesday and will travel to Murray State on Friday before hosting the Gamecocks.

Live stats of the Louisiana Tech match will be available at www.JSUGamecockSports.com.

For the third-straight week, a member of the JSU squad has garnered Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week accolades. Senior defender Alyshia Madison was selected as the defensive award after a stellar weekend. Madison logged 171 minutes on the field and matched her career-best for assists in a game with two against Southern. Goalkeeper Ali Koenig and Emily Bielaga were tabbed OVC top performers the previous two weeks.

Junior forward Chelsea Pelletier is tied for the conference lead in goals with five on the season. Morehead State's Erin Adams has also registered five on the season. Keeper Ali Koenig ranks among the league leaders in saves (39;3rd) and save percentage (.796;4th). As a team, Jax State ranks fourth in the OVC in goals with 14 on the season.

After this weekend's activity, JSU will open OVC play at home against Southeast Missouri State and Eastern Illinois on Sept. 24 and 26 respectively.