Game 18: Stephen F. Austin (13-2-1, 9-0-0 SLC) vs. Incarnate Word (2-11-3, 2-4-3 SLC)
Sunday, Nov. 2 (1:00 p.m.) - SFA Soccer Field
• Live Stats | SFA All Access
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack soccer team looks to continue their perfect run both in Southland Conference play and at home, hosting two league opponents to close out the regular season. SFA will play Texas A&M - Corpus Christi for "Senior Night" on Halloween, before wrapping up with Incarnate Word on Sunday.
The Ladyjacks claimed no worse than a share of the regular season title last Friday, downing Central Arkansas 3-0. Already the No. 1 seed for the SLC Tournament next weekend in Beaumont, Texas, SFA can claim the championship outright with their next win or tie, or a loss or tie by Sam Houston State.
"We go into our last Friday night game at home for `Senior Night' with a chance to claim the championship outright," head coach Wally Crittenden said. "It is a great position to be in having already secured the top seed for the conference tournament with two matches to go. Now that we've done that, we can just go into this weekend with our focus to being to play well and to make sure we grow and improve in areas that we feel will help change games.
"Corpus Christi and UIW will both come to Nacogdoches highly motivated to get the first win for the opposition at the SFA Soccer Field this season. Our focus against them will be to make sure we play well, stay focused and hungry, and just represent ourselves. Friday night will be a very special moment for our seniors, being recognized before the match in front of the home crowd, and then closing out the regular season on Sunday with a chance to be undefeated in conference and at home is fantastic opportunity for this program to share with the fans and community."
The Ladyjacks enter Friday's match 13-2-1 overall and a perfect 9-0 in league action, also 6-0 at home this season. SFA is riding an 11-match win streak, currently tied with the 2005 Ladyjack squad for the second best win streak in program history.
Before Friday's match, SFA will recognize seniors Megan Dunnigan, Morgan Glick, Christie Hinojosa, Chelsea Raymond, Christa Robinson and Zuri Prince.
NOTES:
• Ladyjacks vs. TAMUCC - SFA and the Islanders will be meeting for just the second time on the pitch when the two teams face off on the SFA Soccer Field on Friday night. The Ladyjacks will look to pick up their second consecutive win over TAMUCC, a program in their second season of competition. SFA defeated the Islanders 5-0 last season to clinch a share of its third consecutive SLC regular season title. Senior Chelsea Raymond also took over the Ladyjacks career goals record with the 39th of her career in that match.
• Scouting TAMUCC - The Islanders enter Friday's match 4-7-3 overall and 3-5-1 in SLC play. Currently eighth in the conference standings, TAMUCC is on a two-match losing streak, falling in consecutive 2-1 decisions to Sam Houston State and Houston Baptist at home. Prior to their recent streak, the Islanders had a four-match unbeaten streak with wins over Central Arkansas (2-0), Lamar (4-0), Abilene Christian (2-1) and a 1-1 double overtime tie at Incarnate Word.
Sophomore Yvette Franco currently leads the team with 10 points on the season. The forward has scored five goals across TAMUCC's 14 matches (all contests started), as seven different Islanders have scored at least one goal across the season. Senior Aulona Velaj leads the team with three assists. In goal, redshirt freshman Megan Delaney has played every minute between the posts. Delaney has posted a 4-7-3 record, recording 87 saves and surrendering 19 goals across 1,318 minutes played. Delaney ranks second in the SLC in shutouts (5), tied for second in saves (87), fifth in save percentage (.821) and sixth in goals against average (1.30).
As a team, the Islanders ranks fourth in shutouts (5) and goals allowed (19), fifth in goals against average (1.30), sixth in saves (6.21), tied for ninth in assists (13), 10th in points (43), 11th in goals (15) and corners (45), and 12th in shots (144).
• Promotion(s) vs. TAMUCC - Fans are encouraged to come show their SFA spirit and wear their Halloween costumes on Friday night for the team's annual "Kick Or Treat" match. SFA Athletics will give out free candy and have a costume contest with the winner receiving a gift card to Barnes & Noble Bookstore.
• Ladyjacks vs. UIW - SFA and the Cardinals will be meeting for just the second time on the pitch when the two teams face off on the SFA Soccer Field on Sunday afternoon. The Ladyjacks will look to pick up their first-ever win over UIW after settling for a 1-1 double overtime draw with the Cardinals last season. SFA tie with UIW to close out the regular season helped the Ladyjacks claim their third consecutive SLC regular championship outright.
• Scouting UIW - The Cardinals enter Sunday's match 2-11-3 overall and 2-4-3 in conference play. Currently ninth in the table, UIW is riding a three-match unbeaten streak, defeating McNeese State 2-0 in the middle of 1-1 and 0-0 draws to Abilene Christian and Lamar. The Cardinals' other SLC win came in a 1-0 triumph over Central Arkansas.
Senior Sarah Johnson leads UIW with eight points through 13 matches (all contests started). Johnson has three goals and two assists, with 33 total shots and 20 on goal. Junior Megan Baker joins Johnson as the team-leaders with two assists, while six different Cardinals have registered at least one goal. Junior Heather Kowalik has posted a 2-3-3 record in goal for UIW this season, appearing 12 games with six starts. Kowalik is one of three keepers used by the Cardinals, as redshirt freshman Haley Nelson and junior Karly Brightwell have spent time in the net. Kowalik is tied for sixth in the SLC in shutouts (3), ranking ninth in goals against average (1.42) and 10th in save percentage (.755). She has made 40 saves, while surrendering 13 goals.
As a team, UIW ranks ninth in saves (78), tied for ninth in shutouts (3) 11th in shots (175), goals against average (2.10), goals allowed (35) and corners (39), and 12th in points (29), goals (10) and assists (9).
• Promotion(s) vs. UIW - Fans are encouraged to come show their SFA spirit on Sunday afternoon for the team's annual "United Way Day" match. SFA Athletics will give out free t-shirts sponsored by Tudor Doctor, as United Way will distribute water to those in attendance.
• Looking Ahead - Following Sunday's match against UIW, SFA will begin preparation for the upcoming Southland Conference Tournament in Beaumont, Texas, at host Lamar University from Nov. 6-9. The Ladyjacks, already the No. 1 seed, will enjoy a bye in the first round, will play the winner of the fourth and fifth seeds in a 7 p.m. match on Friday, Nov. 7. The SLC Tournament Championship match will be held on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 1:05 p.m. with the winner earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
• SFA In The Rankings - The Ladyjacks currently possess the ninth best win percentage (.844) and save percentage in the country (.873), also tied for 11th in shutout percentage (.625). SFA is 18th in scoring offense (2.38) and 20th in goals against average (.610), sitting 71st in the RPI (72nd last week), the team's highest rank of the season and highest of any team in the Southland.
In the SLC, the Ladyjacks rank first in fewest goals allowed (10) and goals against average (0.61), second in points (101), goals (38), shutouts (10) and shots (258), tied for second in corners (72), third in assists (25) and 10th in saves (69).
Senior forward Zuri Prince is first in the league in game-winning goals (5), second in points (22), tied for second in goals (8) and assists (6), and eighth in shots (42). Fellow senior Chelsea Raymond leads the league in shots (53), tied for second in goals (8), third in points (20), tied for fifth in game-winning goals (3) and tied for sixth in assists (4). Freshman Hanna Barker is tied for seventh in points (15) and tied for ninth in goals (6). In goal, senior keeper Morgan Glick leads the league in shutouts (7), ranking second in goals against average (0.57) and save percentage (.887) and sixth in saves (63).
• No Place Like Home - SFA owns a 110-41-12 (.712) all-time mark at home, but it has been their recent success in Nacogdoches that stands out. The Ladyjacks have posted a 37-4-0 (.902) record over last four-plus seasons at the SFA Soccer Field.
• Glick, Dunnigan Named Capital One Academic All-District - Seniors Morgan Glick and Megan Dunnigan were named to the Capital One Academic All-District 15 teams announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Thursday, Oct. 30. Glick was named to the first team, while Dunnigan garnered second team recognition. The academic all-district honor is the first for Glick and second for Dunnigan, who was named to the Capital One Academic All-District VII first team as a sophomore.
• Climbing In Assists - Seniors Zuri Prince and Chelsea Raymond continue to climb the record book in assists. Prince entered the season with 13 assists and has since added six through the 11 matches of the season to sit third place all-time with 19 in her career. Raymond has 16 career assists, good enough for fourth all-time.
• Raymond In The Record Books - Senior Chelsea Raymond, already the all-time goals leader (48) and shots leader (296) at SFA, became the all-time career points leader with a goal against Southern (9/14). Raymond scored her second goal of the season at Louisiana-Monroe (9/12) to tie the all-time mark of 96 points, before striking on a one-on-one opportunity in the 53rd minute against SU to hold the points outright with 98. Raymond has since added five more goals to move her career points total to 112 (48 goals, 16 assists). She also sits fourth all-time with 16 assists in her career.
• Raymond Named SLC Offensive POW - Senior forward Chelsea Raymond, after helping the SFA to a 2-0 record on the weekend, was named the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday, Oct. 21. The native of Irving, Texas (MacArthur HS), recorded her first multi-goal match of the season and ninth of her career, scoring two goals for the Ladyjaxks in their 3-1 win at Nicholls. Raymond scored the first goal of the match in the 20th minute on a deep ball, before adding another in the 61st minute off a cross from freshman Hanna Barker. Raymond then assisted on the SFA's third goal against the Colonels, recording the 15th assist of her career to move into a three-way tie for fourth place all-time in program history. The offensive recognition was the second overall and second consecutive for the Ladyjacks this season, after senior Zuri Prince garnered the offensive honor one week prior.
• Ladyjacks Sweeps SLC Player of the Week Honors - SFA swept the Southland Conference Player of the Week honors, with Zuri Prince, Brooke Dunnigan and Morgan Glick picking up offensive, defensive and goalkeeper awards, the league office announced Tuesday, Oct. 14, after the Ladyjacks picked up a pair of 1-0 victories to remain undefeated in SLC play, downing both McNeese State in overtime and Abilene Christian on the road. The honor was the third of the season for Glick, as she became the only keeper in the conference to win the award three times this season. Prince's recognition marks first offensive honor of the season for both her and SFA this season. Dunnigan's honor was the first of her career and marked the third defensive credit given to the Ladyjacks. Brooke Dunnigan and her older sister Megan Dunnigan have combined for all three of the defensive honors for SFA this season.
• Dunnigan SLC Defensive Player of the Week - Senior Megan Dunnigan took home her second Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week honor of the season, after helping the Ladyjacks to a 0-0 double overtime draw at LSU on Monday, Sept. 8. The native of Round Rock, Texas (Vista Ridge HS), captained the SFA back line, playing 99 minutes of lock-down defense in holding the Tigers scoreless to pick up the first tie of the season for the Ladyjacks.
• Glick SLC Goalkeeper of the Week - Senior Morgan Glick took home her second Southland Conference Goalkeeper of the Week honor of the season, after helping the Ladyjacks to a 0-0 double overtime draw at LSU on Monday, Sept. 8. The native of Boerne, Texas (Champion HS), anchored SFA, playing all 110 minutes in the net. The keeper made 10 saves and did not allow any goals across 26 shots faced from the Tigers.
• Dunnigan SLC Defensive Player of the Week - Senior Megan Dunnigan took home the first Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week honor, after helping the Ladyjacks to a 1-1 start to the 2014 season. The native of Round Rock, Texas (Vista Ridge HS), captained the SFA back line to a 2-0 shutout of Oregon State for the program's first-ever win in program history and followed by limiting No. 9 Texas A&M to just one goal. Dunnigan played all 180 minutes and took two shots.
• Glick SLC Goalkeeper of the Week - Senior Morgan Glick took home the first Southland Conference Goalkeeper of the Week honor, after helping the Ladyjacks to a 1-1 start to the 2014 season. The native of Boerne, Texas (Champion HS), anchored the SFA back line to a 2-0 shutout of Oregon State for the program's first-ever win in program history and followed by limiting No. 9 Texas A&M to just one goal. Glick, playing every minute in goal, made 10 saves across 39 shots faced, with eight coming against the Aggies.
• Entering The Season - The Ladyjacks enter the season looking to continue the success that was achieved under Crittenden in his first season. In 2013, SFA became the first three-peat conference champions in Southland history. Along the way, the Ladyjacks matched the best regular season game win total with 15 wins, setting a new shutout record with 14 blankings of the opponent. SFA also posted its first undefeated season on the road with a 9-0-3 mark. Last season, the stout Ladyjack defense led the SLC in goals allowed (12) and shutouts (14) while offense ranked fourth in goals (44) and assists (28). SFA, which at one time led the nation in both respective statistical categories, ended the season ranked ninth nationally with a .636 shutout percentage and 10th nationally with a .520 goals against average.
• Picked To Click - SFA was picked to win the 2014 regular-season crown in polls conducted by the league's coaches and sports information directors, the conference office announced Thursday, Aug. 14. The Ladyjacks received 11 first-place votes from the coaches and nine first-place nods from the SIDs to earn a total of 121 points in the coaches' poll and 119 in the SID poll.
• Preseason All-SLC - The Ladyjacks placed six on the 2014 preseason all-conference teams, including a league-high four on the first team, the Southland Conference office announced Wednesday, Aug. 13. Senior forwards Chelsea Raymond and Zuri Prince and sister defenders Megan Dunnigan, a senior, and Brooke Dunnigan, a sophomore, made up the first team, while junior defenders Rachel Owens and Chantal Curry each earned a spot on the second team.
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