JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State soccer team will open Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend as the Gamecocks host Southeast Missouri on Friday before clashing with Eastern Illinois on Sunday. Friday's match is set for 6 p.m.

The OVC opener with Southeast Missouri will be the tenth meeting between the two conference foes on the pitch. The Redhawks own a 5-2-2 advantage in the series and claimed last year's meeting in Cape Giradeau, 1-0. The last time these two squads faced each other at the JSU Soccer Field in 2008, Jax State topped the Redhawks 2-1. JSU's other win in the series came during the 2006 season.

JSU will be looking to snap a two-match losing skid as it closed out the non-conference slate with setbacks to Troy and Louisiana Tech last weekend. Offensively, Jax State was limited to six shots combined on the weekend. Tech handcuffed the Gamecocks out-shooting them 25-1 in the contest. The Redhawks of Southeast Missouri enter conference play 4-4 on the season after snapping a three-match losing skid with a 1-0 win over Arkansas State last Sunday.

As the OVC begins league play this weekend, JSU ranks among the top three in saves with 48 (4.80 per game) and has posted 14 goals, which ranks third in the OVC. Individually, junior forward Chelsea Pelletier ranks among the conference leaders in points (5th) and 2nd in the OVC in goals scored with five on the season. The Fort Worth, Texas native is just three shots away from the century mark and has accumulated 16 goals in two-plus seasons at JSU. She currently ranks 6th all-time at JSU in that category.

Sunday's match with the Panthers of EIU will be Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Day at the JSU Soccer Field. JSU invites all participants of the local organization's soccer program to the 1 p.m. match. Teams associated with the parks and recreation program will be recognized at halftime of the JSU-EIU match.

Admission is free to all JSU soccer matches.