SFA Soccer Opens 2003 in Oklahoma
8/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 27, 2003
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer team kicks off the 2003 season against Tulsa. The game is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start. The Ladyjacks will remain in Tulsa Saturday to face Oral Roberts. The game against the Golden Eagles is scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m.
Preseason All-SLC Three Ladyjacks were named to the 2003 Preseason All-Southland Conference team. Sophomore goalkeeper Natascia Michalezki (Calgary, Alberta) and junior midfielder Christie Mestayer (Houston, Texas) received first-team recognition while sophomore defender Kim Gray (Spring, Texas) was named to the second team.
Fresh Faces Ladyjacks fans will see plenty of new faces in 2003 as head coach Nicole Nelson has brought in 10 freshmen. The 10 newcomers are Sarah Butler (midfielder), Vanessa Callaway (goalkeeper), Lesley Driscoll (goalkeeper), Patricia Foster (forward/midfielder), Amber Gonzales (forward), Shahin Pabani (forward/midfielder), Andrea Ramirez (forward/midfielder), Alicia Reese (midfielder), Jill Robison (Defender) and Mary Surkein (defender/midfielder).
Anticipated Return In addition to the newcomers, Nicole Nelson will also have the luxury of knowing sophomore Kendra Cannon and junior Sophia Pantazis return to the line-up this year. Cannon was the 2001 SLC Freshman of the Year and Pantazis was one of the team's leading scorers that same season. Between the two, they have netted 17 goals, dished out five assists and scored 39 points for SFA.
Record Setters The Ladyjacks 2003 roster is filled with names that appear throughout the school's record books. Sophomore Kendra Cannon is the school's single-season and all-time leader in goals and points. Cannon is also among the school's all-time assist leaders. Juniors Christie Mestayer and Sarah Johnson are among the school's all-time leaders points and goals. Mestayer is the SFA all-time assist leader. Sophomore goalkeeper Natascia Michalezki set the school record for saves in a season (154) last year and is currently third all-time with that total.
Up Next... The Ladyjacks return to Nacogdoches to open the home portion of their schedule Friday Sept. 5th against Tennessee-Martin. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., from the SFA Intramural Complex.
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