SFA Caps Ladyjack Classic with Win
9/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 18, 2005
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Freshman forward Amanda Alders scored three goals and assisted on a fourth in Stephen F. Austin's match against The Citadel Sunday, leading the Ladyjacks to a 4-0 victory and a co-championship in the 2005 Ladyjack Soccer Classic. SFA won both its matches in the weekend tournament to tie for first place with Southland Conference foe Texas State.
Alders finished with four goals in the two-day tournament and was named co-Tournament MVP for her performance. She shared the top All-Tournament honors with Texas State's Natalie Holder, who scored a goal in each of the Bobcats' victories and assisted on one other goal.
Ladyjack senior defenders Camren Norris and Kim Gray joined Alders on the All-Tournament team. They helped post a pair of shutout victories.
"I was very pleased with our play this weekend, especially in the first game," SFA head coach Jaime Frias said. "The team showed a lot of determination and fight. We did a good job of winning our individual battles and the 50-50 balls."
Alders opened the scoring in Sunday's match with an unassisted goal on a breakaway at the 16-minute mark. Senior goalkeeper Natascia Michalezki recorded three first-half saves to take the Ladyjacks to the break with a 1-0 edge.
SFA got back on the attack quickly after halftime when Alders scored again in the 52nd minute, this time from close range on a nice assist from freshman Amanda Lackey.
Junior Mary Surkein took a cross from Alders and buried the ball in the back of the net for her first goal of the season just five minutes later.
Surkein returned the favor two minutes later, assisting on Alders' fourth goal of the season to set the final score.
The Ladyjack (5-3) defense held The Citadel (2-5) to just one shot in the second half to secure the win.
Michalezki finished with 10 saves for the tournament.
Texas State followed the Ladyjack win with a 2-0 victory over Louisiana Tech to wrap up the tournament.
"We raised our level of competitiveness this week," Frias said of his team. "We're looking good going into conference next week."
The Ladyjacks will host Grambling State Wednesday in a 7 p.m. contest. SFA opens Southland Conference play Sunday, Sept. 25, on the road against Northwestern State.
2005 Ladyjack Soccer Classic
Results: 1. Texas State (2-0); 2. Stephen F. Austin (2-0); 3. Louisiana Tech (0-2); 4. The Citadel (0-2) * Ties broken based on goal differential.
Co-Tournament MVPs: Natalie Holder, Texas State, F, JR; Amanda Alders, SFA, F, FR.
All-Tournament Team: Natalie Holder, Texas State, F, JR; Paige Perriraz, Texas State, GK, JR; Kristy Collison, Texas State, D, JR; Delayna Spivey, Texas State, MF, JR; Amanda Alders, SFA, F, FR; Camren Norris, SFA, D, SR; Kim Gray, SFA, D, SR; Kodi Bethay, Louisiana Tech, F, FR; Savanna Russo, Louisiana Tech, D, FR; Miriam Crawford, The Citadel, F, SR; Lauren Merchant, The Citadel, F, SR.
-- SFA --
