Stephen F. Austin
Southeastern Louisiana
SFA Headed to the NCAA Championships
11/9/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Nov. 9, 2003
NATCHITOCHES, La. -
For Immediate Release Nov. 9, 2003
NATCHITOCHES, La. - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer team is headed to the NCAA Championships for the first time in school history after defeating SLC regular-season champion Southeastern Louisiana, 1-0, Sunday morning in the Southland Conference Championship game. SFA will enter the tournament with a 15-4-2 (.762) overall record.
The game was scoreless through the first 25 minutes of action until junior Sophia Pantazis netted her seventh goal of the season at the 25:07 mark. Sophomore Sara Hernandez was credited with the assist. The Ladyjacks went into the intermission with the one-goal lead.
SFA head coach Nicole Nelson turned the game over to her defense in the second half and they came through holding the Lady Lions to only 18 shots. The lone goal would be all the scoring goalkeeper Natascia Michalezki and the Ladyjack defense would need. Michalezki went the distance for SFA recording nine saves in the shutout victory. It was the team's ninth shutout of the season.
"We're ecstatic to be the first team from SFA headed to the NCAA Soccer Championships," said SFA head coach Nicole Nelson. "Southeastern Louisiana is a good team and they played a tough game today. I want to commend them on a good season. I thought our girls fought hard today and they deserve this win. We are looking forward to competing in the NCAA tournament."
Five Ladyjacks were named to the 2003 SLC All-Tournament team, led by tournament MVP Natascia Michalezki. Juniors Kendra Cannon and Sophia Pantazis, sophomore Kim Gray and freshman Andrea Ramirez also received all-tournament honors.
-SFA-
