4Peat
1/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The 2014 Stephen F. Austin women's soccer team sent out their senior class the same way their Ladyjack careers started, as champions.
The 2014 season had high expectations as they chased something no other soccer program in the Southland Conference had ever done - win four straight regular season titles.
Since the beginning of SLC soccer in 1997, only one team had won three in a row, SFA.
With the groundwork laid before them, the Ladyjacks recorded one of the most successful seasons in program history with more hardware won to break the precedent, multiple individual honors bestowed and a sweep of conference honors achieved for the first time in the league's history. Head coach Wally Crittenden looks back on his second year at SFA, no doubt another one for the books...
"When I came here two years ago, depending on whom you asked, you would get varying answers as to the expectations of the program moving forward," Crittenden said. "Amidst a coaching change, a very talented graduating class and a new staff arriving, I understand why even our most supportive fans were guarded with their expectations."
Fast forward two years and two championships and many honors have been bestowed on a program currently riding one of its most successful two-year periods in program history with a 32-6-4 (.809 winning percentage). It has been a very special two years with the accomplishments on the field and in the classroom with a team GPA of 3.38, and both seasons are ones that each team will talk about for many years to come.
"The opportunity to play for four championships, league and conference tournament, in the past two years has been really special," Crittenden said. "Our kids have embraced the fact that past results are only indicators of potential. You have to have urgency and rededicate yourself everyday on the training ground to have a chance to play in big games with titles on the line. That has been one of the most impressive observations throughout this year as our kids have remained focused and collective as we prepared for each game."
As each outcome was decided, so was an unprecedented fourth consecutive Southland Conference championship, the first for the program and the SLC. The program achieved the 4-Peat going undefeated in Southland play (11-0), boasting both a top 10 defense and a top 30 offense in the country. The 11-game win streak also led the country in consecutive conference wins, and at one point, the Ladyjacks led the country in the longest overall win streak at 14 games.
"While you are in preparation for each of these games, you know something special is happening, but you don't really understand what it is," Crittenden said. "We don't avoid talking about it, but we don't focus on it either for the main reason, you don't have enough time in the day with all that you have to address for the next opponent. As you disconnect, and begin to reflect on the team awards and the player recognition, it is remarkable."
The individual honors for this season were highlighted by Zuri Prince being named the Southland Conference Player of the Year, Hanna Barker named the Freshman of the Year, Christa Robinson as the Newcomer of the Year, and Wally Crittenden as the Coach of the Year, marking the first time a team has swept all four SLC individual honors.
Chelsea Raymond continued her record-setting ways, as she became the new SFA career points leader with 115, and Morgan Glick was named Capital One Second Team Academic All-American as well as the Southland Conference Student-Athlete of the Year.
"No doubt, we will talk about the special moments from this year moving forward, but work has already begun in preparation for the next chapter in our program's story," Crittenden said. "With the talented senior group we had successful in leaving a legacy of their own, our returners are now focused on exceeding those expectations and raising the profile of our program on a national level. To do that, you don't have time to reflect too long as there is a lot to be done."
A special thank you to our 2014 seniors in Chelsea Raymond, Morgan Glick, Zuri Prince, Megan Dunnigan, Christie Hinojosa, and Christa Robinson, for all you did for the program. You leave the program in a great place...Thank you!
2014 Ladyjack Soccer Benchmarks/Awards Achieved
Team Benchamarks
• 4-peat as Southland Conference champions for first time in both program and conference history
• Matched best seven-game start in program history
• Matched best 14-game start in program history
• Ended the year team national rankings:
- 6th in shutout percentage (.650)
- 7th in in save percentage (.876)
- 10th in in win percentage (.825)
- 11th in goals against average (.588)
- 19th in the country in scoring offense (2.25)
• Morgan Glick ended the year ranked fifth in country in save percentage (0.884) and 12th in goals against average (0.569).
• Zuri Prince ended the year ranked 14th in the country in game-winning goals (6)
• Completed perfect 11-0 run through league play, ranking second in the country behind Illinois State's 18 straight.
• Led country with 11 consecutive conference wins
• One of five schools that went undefeated in conference play
• Finished undefeated at home for third time in last four seasons (2011; 2012; 2014)
• Ranked as high as 71 in the RPI
• Made fourth consecutive appearance in SLC Tournament championship game
• Held the nation's longest active overall win streak at 14 straight wins entering SLC Tournament championship match
• Broke program record for most consecutive wins (14)
• First win over PAC-12 program
Individual Awards
• Program Record
- Chelsea Raymond set new career points total (115)
• Southland Conference Honorees
- First Team - Zuri Prince, Chelsea Raymond, Morgan Glick, Megan Dunnigan, Brooke Dunnigan
- Second Team - Amanda Doyle
- Honorable Mention - Hanna Barker, Christa Robinson, Rachel Owens, Chantal Curry
- Individual Honors:
Player of the Year - Zuri Prince
Freshman of the Year - Hanna Barker
Newcomer of the Year - Christa Robinson
Coach of the Year - Wally Crittenden
First soccer program to sweep individual honors in SLC history
• Southland Conference All-Tournament Team
- Chelsea Raymond, Christie Hinojosa, Zuri Prince, Megan Dunnigan and Hanna Barker
• 2014 NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Women's All-Central Region
- First Team - Zuri Prince
- Second Team - Chelsea Raymond
- Third Team - Megan Dunnigan
• Capital One Academic All-America
- Second Team - Morgan Glick
• Capital One Academic All-District 15
- First Team - Morgan Glick
- Second Team - Megan Dunnigan
• 2013-14 NSCAA College Women's Team Academic Award recipient
• Southland Conference Academic All-Conference
- First Team - Morgan Glick, Megan Dunnigan, Brooke Dunnigan
- Second Team - Amanda Doyle
- Student-Athlete of the Year - Morgan Glick
-SFA-
