SFA Soccer Opens League Play
9/21/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 21, 2004
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer team looks to make it two wins in a row as it kicks off the 2004 SLC schedule Wednesday in Lake Charles, La. The game against McNeese State is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. The Ladyjacks will return to Nacogdoches Friday for a 7 p.m., game against Nicholls State. SFA will close out the short two-game homestand Sunday afternoon with a 2 p.m., game against Southeastern Louisiana. Both home games will be played at the SFA Intramural Complex.
No Sophomore Jinx: The Ladyjacks are coming off a dominating performance over Tulsa that saw them score a season-high four goals in the victory. SFA was led in the game by sophomore Shahin Pabani who is off to another strong start. Pabani recorded a career-high two goals in the 4-2 win over the Golden Hurricane.
Record Breaker: Junior goalkeeper Natascia Michalezki recorded 13 saves in the team's 3-2 overtime setback to nationally ranked St. Mary's last Friday night to become the school's all-time saves leader. Michalezki now has 351 career saves. In just two and half years, Michalezki has pulled off a goalkeeper hat trick of sorts setting the school's career (351), season (154) and single-game (24) save records.
SLC Openers: SFA is looking to move to 3-0 all-time in Southland Conference openers under third year head coach Nicole Nelson. The Ladyjacks have recorded wins over McNeese State each of the last two seasons in league openers, outscoring the Cowgirls, 6-1, in those meetings. The previous conference openers were played in Nacogdoches.
The Skipper: SFA head coach Nicole Nelson is in her third season at SFA. She has a 24-17-7 (.573) overall record as a head coach. Nelson was named the 2003 SLC Coach of the Year after leading the Ladyjacks to a program-best 15-5-2 (.727) record, an SLC Tournament title and the school's first-ever berth in the NCAA Championships.
Up Next ... The Ladyjacks will kick-off their longest road swing of the season when they travel to Louisiana-Monroe on Friday Oct. 1. SFA will then be in Natchitoches, La., Sunday afternoon to face the Lady Demons.
-SFA-
