SFA Enters SLC Tournament as the Two Seed
11/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 5, 2003
NATCHITOCHES, La. - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer team will be in Natchitoches, La., over the weekend competing in the Southland Conference Championship Tournament. SFA enters the tournament as the league's No. 2 seed after a record-setting regular season. SFA finished the season with a 13-4-2 overall record. The Ladyjacks earned a first-round bye and will play the highest-remaining seed Friday at 11:30 a.m. The championship game will be Sunday at 11 a.m.
Record-Setting Season The Ladyjacks won a school-record 13 games during the 2003 season. The Ladyjacks' record was a six-game turnaround from the previous season.
Rewriting the Record Books A trio of Ladyjack sophomores had outstanding seasons in 2003. Kendra Cannon rebounded from an injury that sidelined her during the 2002 season to lead the team in points (30) and goals (13). Both marks list second on the school's single-season top-10 list. Cannon set the record her rookie season with 32 points and 14 goals. Natascia Michalezki finished the year with a school-record 11 wins. She also recorded 122 saves which is the second-best single-season mark in school history. She set a single-game school record with her 24 saves in the victory over Texas-El Paso. Sara Hernandez led the Ladyjacks with eight assists. Hernandez's eight assists set a new single-season school record.
Conference Recognition Ten Ladyjacks earned All-Southland Conference honors and Nicole Nelson was named SLC Coach of the Year. Kim Gray was team's lone first-team selection, while Kendra Cannon, Natascia Michalezki and Alicia Reese earned second-team honors. Six Ladyjacks were named to the All-SLC honorable mention team. The Ladyjacks were also recognized by the league coaches for their accomplishments throughout the season as well. SFA received nine Southland Conference Player of the Week awards during the 2003 season, led by Michalezki, who received the honor four times.
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