KENNESAW - Kennesaw State is getting exposed early, and that's exactly what coach Rob King wants.

The Owls knew Mexico's national team was highly experienced, and that's why the Owls wanted to scrimmage. In Sunday's exhibition against KSU, Mexico was sound at passing, anticipating and distributing the ball up the field, making it difficult for the Owls to defend. KSU thwarted many of Mexico's shot opportunities, but not all of them, and had to settle for a 5-0 loss at the KSU Soccer Complex.

The Owls were in the game at halftime -trailing by two goals - but three goals during a 15-minute span late in the second half dashed any hopes of a comeback.

Kennesaw State had difficulty possessing the ball. The Owls managed just five shots at goal and were held to two in the second half.

Prior to the Sunday exhibition, the Owls lost their season opener, 6-0, Friday at Georgia.

"There's a lot of learning that comes with the schedule we put together," King said. "It was very important that we played these two teams. They've seen their mistakes and we have it on video. We need to tighten things up defensively, and then hold on to the ball. (Mexico) has very experienced players and very technical players. They don't necessarily outrun you, but they can outthink you."

Kennesaw State kept the visitors off the scoreboard for nearly 36 minutes until Monica Ocampo finished a Leticia Villalpando assist. Two minutes later, Monica Vergara finished a header into the top left corner of the goal that was out of the reach of Kennesaw State goalkeeper Staci Pugh.

The Owls settled afterwards and started possessing the ball better. They ended the first half with Lauren Ruffini and Caitlin Dingle shot attempts, and Shelby Cosby took a shot early in the second.

The opposing team regained possession and momentum, and the Owls held them off until Ocampo stole the ball from defender Sadjr Williams and finished an unassisted goal.

Mexico's national team scored its fourth and fifth goals came off a corner kick and a free kick, respectively.

"(Mexico) was a quick team, but we know that will help us for (Atlantic Sun) conference play," defender Thais Gibson said. "When the ball was coming in, we didn't want them facing us because of their technicality, so it helped us to win balls in the air."

The Owls (0-1) will play their home opener against Francis Marion on Friday before hosting University of Minnesota on Sunday.

? No answer for UGA's Patterson: Georgia's all-time leading scorer Carrie Patterson compiled a hat trick against the Owls in their contest against the Bulldogs on Friday.

Patterson scored two goals in the first 23 minutes to give Georgia command and capped the scoring with 13 minutes to play in the second. Former Harrison standout Jamie Pollock also had a goal for Georgia on an assist by Rebekah Perry, a former Kennesaw Mountain player.

The Owls failed to get a shot on goal until Cosby made an attempt with less than a minute left in the first half. They were limited to three in the game.

"Georgia had a lot of depth and were very well coached," King said. "We had players playing for the first time and we had players playing in different positions because of injury."

? Austin out for the season: Defender Caroline Austin, who led the Owls with 10 assists last season, suffered a season-ending leg injury against Georgia on Friday. Specifics of the injury was undisclosed. Gibson switched from midfield to take Austin's place.

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