Ladyjacks Hit Road for Games at UIW, ACU
10/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Stephen F. Austin (7-6-2, 6-0-2 SLC) at Incarnate Word (3-11-2, 1-5-2 SLC)
Sunday, October 25 • 10:00 a.m.
Gayle & Tom Benson Stadium • San Antonio, Texas
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Stephen F. Austin (7-6-2, 6-0-2 SLC) at Abilene Christian (7-7-2, 6-1-1 SLC)
Tuesday, October 27 • 3:00 p.m.
Elmer Gray Stadium • Abilene, Texas
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NACOGDOCHES, Texas – With just three games remaining in the regular season, every result will carry a little more weight as teams jockey for position in the Southland Conference standings. The Stephen F. Austin women’s soccer team is in control of its own destiny but has two key road matchups against Incarnate Word and Abilene Christian in the offing.
After anticipated rainfall moved Friday’s match with ACU to Tuesday, the Ladyjacks will start their next road stint with a trip to San Antonio for a 10:00 a.m. game against UIW on Sunday. From there, SFA will journey to Abilene for a pivotal contest against the Wildcats on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.
SFA entered the weekend one point ahead of ACU and two points clear of Houston Baptist for first place in the league. However, head coach Wally Crittenden and the Ladyjacks know there is still plenty of work that needs to be done.
“It’s great to be in first place but it’s a little premature to think that will dictate anything moving forward,” said Crittenden. “But you know that you’re in that position because you’ve performed, you’ve executed, and because you’ve played well, and it’s good for our team to be in that situation.
“From here, we just have to keep doing what we do. We’ve got a very strong identity right now and I think the resiliency of this group is very high, so I’m excited to see what challenges and tests will be thrown at them next because they’ve responded to every one so far. We want to make sure we put ourselves in the best possible position to win every single game we play. That’s our philosophy here and it has been for three years.”
NOTES
SFA vs. Incarnate Word: In a very short all-time series history between the two programs, the Ladyjacks are currently 1-2-1 in four previous meetings with the Cardinals. Last season, SFA beat UIW 1-0 in the final game of the regular season to finish the year with a perfect 11-0-0 league record.
Scouting Incarnate Word: The Cardinals enter Sunday’s game with a 3-11-2 overall record and a 1-5-2 mark in Southland Conference action. The squad is currently at the bottom of the league table but has been competitive in just about every game. UIW has lost three conference games by one goal and tied two opponents, most recently picking up one point in a 1-1 decision last Sunday against Lamar. The lone win of the SLC slate came on Sept. 27 against Nicholls on the road (2-1). The Cardinals have been outscored 39-12 this year but have seen good production from both Abigail Koenigs and Emani Stewart offensively as each player has four goals in 2015.
SFA vs. Abilene Christian: In another relatively new series, the Ladyjacks enter Tuesday’s game at ACU with a 2-0-0 advantage all-time since 2013. SFA most recently came away with a 1-0 victory on the road last year on Oct. 12.
Scouting Abilene Christian: After starting SLC play with a 1-1-1 record, the Wildcats have won five straight games to improve to 6-1-1 in conference and move into second place behind the Ladyjacks. After watching a 2-0 lead vanish in the final 2:35 of regulation last Sunday at McNeese, ACU was still able to pull off a 3-2 win in double overtime on a penalty kick goal. The Wildcats have a balanced attack offensively as four players have between nine and 13 points this year: Dylan Owens (4 goals, 5 assists), Sophie Standifer (5 goals, 2 assists), Lindsey Jones (4 goals, 2 assists) and Maria Gomez (3 goals, 3 assists). Sydney Newton has been the rock in goal for the ‘Cats, allowing 1.55 goals per game in 1,045 minutes played between 12 games.
Last Time Out: The Ladyjacks had two big team performances in the final home weekend of the season. Last Friday evening against Nicholls, Madison Hall, Hanna Barker, Amanda Doyle and Breanna Moore all found the back of the net in a 4-0 victory. The trend continued on Sunday afternoon against a quality Southeastern Louisiana side, as Doyle and Moore each scored again in a 2-0 shutout victory. Doyle chipped the keeper at the 7:58 mark of the game and Moore closed things out with a goal in the 82nd minute.
Drive To Five: Because Friday night’s game against Abilene Christian was moved to Tuesday, the Ladyjacks have played one fewer game than the majority of the conference. Houston Baptist beat McNeese on Friday to leapfrog SFA for first place by one point but the Ladyjacks are still in the driver’s seat in the SLC. With three games remaining, SFA can clinch its fifth straight league title by winning every game. A title can be within reach as soon as Tuesday night with two wins over the next four days and an HBU loss to Lamar on Sunday afternoon.
Goose Eggs: The SFA defense has been superb over the last two games, coming off back-to-back shutouts of Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana. The Ladyjacks haven’t conceded a goal in over 200 minutes spanning the last three games – the team’s longest shutout streak of the year. SFA has as many shutouts (4) as goals allowed (4) this season and leads the league in both categories.
Offensive Outburst: The Ladyjacks netted six goals between their last two home wins last weekend. Friday night’s 4-0 thumping of Nicholls marked the most goals scored by SFA in a single game this season. The scoring spree came from a variety of players as seven different Ladyjacks registered at least one point between the two matches. Breanna Moore (2 goals, 1 assist) and Hanna Barker (1 goal, 3 assists) led the way with five points apiece, Amanda Doyle tallied four points off two goals and Madison Hall scored a goal to come away with two points. Rachel Owens, Kelly Ann Craig and Jasmine White each chipped in one assist.
Southland Dominance: SFA has dominated the Southland soccer scene over the last four seasons. The Ladyjacks have a 44-1-3 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 30 contests since.
SLC Player of the Week: Junior defender Kelly Ann Craig was named the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week last Tuesday after helping the Ladyjacks post shutout victories over Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana. She also aided in the attack, taking four shots and notching one assist. The SLC weekly honor is the second of the season for SFA. Amanda Doyle earned offensive accolades on Sept. 29.
Doyle Rules: Junior captain Amanda Doyle is having a breakout year for the Ladyjacks. She currently leads the league in points (16), goals (7) and is tied for eighth in assists (2). She had a hand in each of SFA’s first seven conference goals and has scored in the last two games.
Among the League’s Best: The Ladyjacks currently rank among the best in the SLC in several statistical categories after eight league games. Here’s a breakdown of some notable rankings:
Goals Allowed – 1st (4)
Goals Against Average – 1st (0.47)
Shutouts – 1st (4)
Shots – 2nd (155)
Goals – 3rd (16)
Assists – 2nd (14)
Points – 3rd (46)
Defensive Anchor: 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 1,395 minutes over 15 games. Dunnigan led the team in minutes played in 2014 with 1,781. She was the only Ladyjack to start all 20 games.
Up Next: The Ladyjacks will wrap up the regular season next Friday with a rivalry game at Sam Houston State. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m. The Southland Conference Tournament will begin on Nov. 5 in Conway, Arkansas.
-SFA-
