SFA Heads to Lamar, McNeese This Weekend
10/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Stephen F. Austin (3-6-1, 2-0-1 SLC) at Lamar (6-6-0, 2-1-0 SLC)
Friday, October 2 • 7:00 p.m.
LU Soccer Complex • Beaumont, Texas
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Stephen F. Austin (3-6-1, 2-0-1 SLC) at McNeese State (4-5-0, 1-2-0 SLC)
Sunday, October 4 • 1:00 p.m.
Cowgirl Field • Lake Charles, Louisiana
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NACOGDOCHES, Texas – After five straight games at SFA Soccer Field, the Stephen F. Austin women’s soccer team will hit the road for three consecutive Southland Conference tilts, starting this weekend with Lamar and McNeese State. The Ladyjacks will first clash with the Lady Cardinals in Beaumont on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. and then make their way to Lake Charles, Louisiana for a test against the Cowgirls on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
SFA has had the luxury of playing at home since September 11th, going 3-1-1 during its only home stint so far in 2015. The Ladyjacks will be road warriors over the final stretch of the regular season as six of their final eight games will be decided away from Nacogdoches.
“First of all, we’re excited to get back on the road,” said head coach Wally Crittenden. “We love playing at home and this five game homestand came at a great time to really get our feet under us. We’ve played really well on the road and we’ve played good teams on the road. I think our road routine is something that we have set over the type of games that we’ve played early in the year.
“We should be very comfortable in the settings that we will see this weekend and from there, I know we can make a statement and do something special. This is the next step in what could be a really exciting story when it’s all said and done.”
The Ladyjacks will have some momentum on their side when they depart for Lamar on Friday afternoon. After only scoring two goals in seven non-conference bouts to begin the year, SFA has bounced back with six tallies over the last three SLC games. The uptick in offensive production has been a team effort but it stems from junior midfielder Amanda Doyle, who has scored five times while adding one assist during the stretch.
“It’s refreshing and exciting that we’ve been able to see our identity continue to be settled over the first two weeks of conference play,” said Crittenden. “You see that identity really taking shape now, not because of any work rate, shape shifting or personnel changes, but because we are scoring goals. And scoring goals does a lot for a team.
“Our back half has been tested throughout the year and they are very proven and ready to grind away in different games. But now with the front half doing what they’re doing and executing in the final ten yards or so, it helps with the confidence that our defenders play with. I think that the more our front half continues to perform the way they are performing and the back half remains disciplined, we will continue to really be formalized heading into the back stretch of conference play.”
NOTES
SFA vs. Lamar: The Ladyjacks have never lost to the Lady Cardinals since the two teams first played each other in 2007. SFA is a perfect 9-0-0 in the series, most recently knocking off Lamar 2-1 in overtime last year at home on Sept. 26. Senior forward Chelsea Raymond provided the game-winner just 1:04 into the first overtime period, launching a perfect strike over the LU keeper.
Scouting Lamar: The Lady Cardinals enter Friday’s matchup with a 6-6-0 overall record and a 2-1-0 league mark in 2015. Lamar beat Nicholls 1-0 and Northwestern State 3-1 to start its SLC slate, but most recently fell to Central Arkansas 6-1 last Sunday. Thanks in part to some lopsided contests against teams from the SWAC, the Lady Cardinals currently lead the nation in total goals scored (37) and points (100), rank fourth in scoring offense (3.08 goals/game) and sit fifth in points per game (8.33). Individually, sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Lovejoy is third in the country this season in total saves (81) and senior forward Mari Olastuen ranks seventh with seven assists. Sophomore forward Alexus Aviles owns the conference lead in goals (8) overall on the year.
Crittenden on Lamar: “I think the girls will be ready to play on Friday. We are playing a Lamar team that has been up and down this season. When they are up, they are very good and there is no doubt they will be up for our game Friday night. I expect nothing but their best effort. We will be sure that we are prepared and that we are able to give them our best effort as well. And then from there, the players will decide the outcome on the field. From a physical standpoint, we are in a great position and from a mental standpoint we are in a great position. Lamar will be a good test and it’s a game that we are excited to play.”
SFA vs. McNeese: The Ladyjacks are 23-6-3 all-time against the Cowgirls since the series started in 1996. Over the last nine years, SFA has won nine straight in the set, including a thrilling 1-0 overtime victory last year on Oct. 10 in Lake Charles. Senior Zuri Prince scored the golden goal in the first overtime period off a Brooke Dunnigan corner.
Scouting McNeese: Going into the weekend, McNeese State owns an overall record of 4-5-0 with a 1-2-0 mark in SLC action. All three of the Cowgirls’ league matches to-date have been decided by one goal with two going into double overtime. McNeese dropped games to Southeastern Louisiana (1-0) and Central Arkansas (2-1, 2OT) before beating Northwestern State 2-1 in double OT last Sunday. Prior to playing SFA this Sunday, McNeese will host Sam Houston State on Friday night. The Cowgirls are led offensively by junior midfielder Bettina Brulhart, who has a team-high three goals and seven points in eight games played. Sophomore forward Gabi D’Alesandro has a pair of goals and assists this year in nine starts. Senior Lauren Sestak (3-5-0) handles the bulk of the goalkeeping duties, averaging 1.41 goals against per game.
Crittenden on McNeese: “McNeese is a team that is very athletic, very physical and they will be intense. We played a great game against them last year that required an overtime goal at their place. I would expect the same high intensity atmosphere there again this year. They have a great surface to play on. One that is cut tight and plays fast, which suits our style and the way that we like to play.”
Last Time Out: SFA used two goals from Amanda Doyle to upend Houston Baptist 2-1 last Sunday afternoon at SFA Soccer Field. The junior midfielder got the Ladyjacks on the board in the 32nd minute on an assist from freshman Bailey Bosley, and then finished off a cross from sophomore Hanna Barker in the 81st minute to secure the win. Doyle also paced the ‘Jacks with two goals last Friday night in a 3-0 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Southland Dominance: SFA has dominated the Southland soccer scene over the last four seasons. The Ladyjacks have a 40-1-2 league record during the span with four consecutive SLC championships to show for it. SFA, who went 11-0-0 last year, has only lost to a conference opponent once since 2011. That day came nearly two years ago on Sept. 21, 2013 when Oral Roberts won in overtime, 2-1. The Ladyjacks haven’t dropped a conference game in the 25 contests since.
Doyle Rules: Junior captain Amanda Doyle is off to a sensational start to Southland Conference play, leading the league in both goals scored (5) and total points (11) after three games. She has had a hand in each of SFA’s six conference goals, adding an assist to her handful of goals – which resulted in the game-winner against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. A native of Carrollton, Texas, Doyle also scored twice against the Islanders and put in two more against Houston Baptist. Her first goal of the year came in a 1-1 draw against Northwestern State in the SLC opener on Sept. 18. She has already surpassed her goal total (4) from 2014.
Doyle Named SLC Player of the Week: After playing a role in each of SFA’s five goals in two SLC wins against Corpus Christi and HBU last week, Amanda Doyle was named the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week, as announced by the league office on Tuesday. It is the first SLC weekly soccer honor for SFA in 2015.
Spreading the Wealth: A different Ladyjack has assisted on five of SFA’s six goals during SLC play this season. Amanda Doyle, Hanna Barker, Ashton Norman, Chloe Fowler and Bailey Bosley have each offered a helping hand on goals over the last two weeks. Bosley and Fowler’s assists marked their first collegiate points at SFA. Barker currently leads the Ladyjacks in assists this year with two and Kelly Ann Craig also recorded a helper earlier in the non-conference season.
Among the League’s Best: The Ladyjacks currently rank among the best in the SLC in several statistical categories after three league games. Here’s a breakdown of some notable rankings:
Goals – 3rd (6)
Assists – 2nd (5)
Points – 3rd (17)
Shots – 3rd (54)
Goals Allowed – 2nd (2)
Goals Against Average – 2nd (0.62)
Back Line Mainstay: Junior defender Brooke Dunnigan is the only Ladyjack to have played every minute of the 2015 season so far, staying on the pitch for a total of 920 minutes over 10 games. Senior midfielder Rachel Owens has played 915 out of 920 possible minutes. Dunnigan led the team in minutes played in 2014 with 1,781. She was the only Ladyjack to start all 20 games.
Preseason All-SLC: The Ladyjacks were well represented with the release of the 2015 Preseason All-Southland Conference teams, earning five selections between the first and second squads. Junior defender Brooke Dunnigan and senior defender Chantal Curry were each named to the first team with sophomore forward Hanna Barker, senior midfielder Rachel Owens and junior midfielder Amanda Doyle representing SFA on the second team.
SFA Picked to Win Fifth Straight SLC Title: SFA was picked to win the 2015 Southland Conference regular season championship in polls conducted by the league's coaches and sports information directors, the conference office announced on Wednesday, August 12. The Ladyjacks claimed 116 points with eight first-place votes in the coaches' poll and 119 points with nine first-place votes in the SID poll.
Looking Ahead: The Ladyjacks will play just one game next week, making the long journey up to Conway, Arkansas for a game against Central Arkansas on Friday, October 9th. Play will begin at 7:00 p.m.
-SFA-
