SFA Soccer Set for SLC Opener
10/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 4, 2007
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer team will open Southland Conference play Friday against Sam Houston State. The matchup with the Bearkats is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. at the SFA Soccer Complex. SFA comes out of non-conference play with a 4-3-1 record and ranked third in the SLC standings. Sam Houston enters the week sixth among league teams with a 2-5-0 non-conference mark.
Last Week: Playing with a short bench Sunday, the Ladyjacks gutted out a hard-earned 4-1 home win over Grambling State. Junior midfielder Lauren Fricks scored the game's opening goal, while sophomore forward Erika Palmacci tallied the next two, and sophomore midfielder Kelli Wilson added the final score for the Ladyjacks. Wilson earned an assist on Palmacci's first goal, while freshman Brittney Barker lent a hand on her second. The win gives SFA a 3-0 edge over Grambling in a series that began in 2005.
SFA vs. the Bearkats: Since Sam Houston's inaugural soccer season in 2003, the Ladyjacks are 5-1-0 all-time against the Bearkats. After opening the series with four straight wins -- the first three by shutout -- SFA dropped its first game against the Bearkats in the 2005 SLC Tournament. The Ladyjacks recorded their fifth series win and fourth shutout victory last season, when they defeated Sam Houston, 2-0, in Huntsville, Texas.
The Coaches: Jaime Frias is in his third year as head coach of the Ladyjack soccer team. He carries a career record of 27-15-2 (.636), including a 12-2-1 (.833) mark against Southland Conference foes. Sam Houston State is coached by Marcia Oliveira. She holds a 16-65-2 record in her fourth year with the Bearkats.
Next Week: SFA will make its first Southland Conference road trip of the season. The Ladyjacks kick the weekend off by traveling to San Antonio, Texas, to take on Texas-San Antonio on Friday. The game is set for a 7 p.m. start. Sunday, SFA will come back east a bit to meet Texas State in a 1 p.m. match in San Marcos, Texas.
-- SFA --
