Ladyjacks Soccer Releases 2012 Schedule
6/20/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
June 20, 2012
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – On the heels of one of the greatest seasons in school history, the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks will face a challenging schedule in 2012 as they look to repeat as Southland Conference champions.
SFA head coach Tony Amato, the reigning Southland Conference Coach of the Year, announced an 18-game schedule on Wednesday, which includes seven matches at the SFA Soccer Complex and 11 road contests.
“We are very excited about the 2012 schedule,” SFA head coach Tony Amato said. “It is going to be very challenging, but I know our team is hungry and wants to compete against the quality of opponents we will face this season. Our goal is to continually improve our RPI. Having finished last season at 45, we know it will take this type of schedule, plus getting some results in order to take the next step. I know our program is ready for the challenge and I am looking forward to leading the team into the 2012 season.”
The Ladyjacks open the season Aug. 17 at home against Conference USA foe Houston, marking the first time that SFA will face off against the Cougars since the Ladyjacks 1-0 victory in Houston in 2010.
SFA will then embark on a five-game, non-conference road trip that will stretch from Aug. 19-Sept. 2, beginning with a trip to Jackson State. The Ladyjacks defeated Jackson State 11-0 last season in Nacogdoches, earning Amato his 100th career victory and setting a school-record for most goals in a single game.
The Ladyjacks then travel to Fort Worth to take part in the TCU Invitational, where they will face both Texas Tech (Aug. 24) and the Horned Frogs (Aug. 26). Following the tournament, Amato’s squad heads to LSU on Aug. 31 to face the defending SEC Western Division champions and SEC runners-up Tigers. SFA is 0-3 all-time against LSU and hasn’t played the Tigers since the 2004 season.
The long road trip will finally come to an end on Sept. 2 when SFA will play future conference opponent Houston Baptist. The Ladyjacks will then have two more non-conference road games, which includes former conference rival Texas State (Sept. 14) and last year’s NCAA Tournament qualifier Baylor on Sept. 23. Mixed in between those matches are home games against Rice (Sept. 7) and Arkansas Pine Bluff (Sept. 21).
The Ladyjacks open Southland Conference play Sept. 28 against Southeastern Louisiana and two days later will play host to the conference’s newest member, Oral Roberts Sept. 30. SFA then goes on a three-game conference road swing through Central Arkansas (Oct. 5), Northwestern State (Oct. 7) and McNeese State (Oct. 14).
The always-anticipated Sam Houston State game will be in Nacogdoches Friday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.
SFA will honor its senior class and conclude the home schedule at the SFA Soccer Complex on Oct. 21 versus Lamar at 1 p.m. The regular season will conclude Oct. 26 at Nicholls State.
The Southland Conference Tournament is set for Nov. 1-4 in Lake Charles, LA on the campus of McNeese State.
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