SFA Picked to Win Fifth Straight SLC Title
8/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
SLC Release
FRISCO, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin women’s soccer team has been 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 afternoon.
The Ladyjacks, who won an unprecedented fourth consecutive SLC title with a perfect 11-0 record in league play last season, claimed 116 points with eight first-place votes in the coaches’ poll and 119 points with nine first-place votes in the SID poll.
SFA enters the 2015 season with a total of nine regular season conference crowns – four more than the next closest SLC member. Since taking over as head coach prior to the 2013 season, Wally Crittenden has elevated the program to an even higher level, turning in the best two-year period in SFA history with a combined record of 32-6-4 (.810 winning percentage), including an impressive 16-3-1 mark overall in 2014.
Last season, the Ladyjacks ranked among the best teams in the country, sitting sixth in the nation in shutout percentage (.650), 10th in winning percentage (.825), 11th in goals against average (.588) and 19th in scoring offense (2.25 goals per game). Crittenden’s squad ranked first in just about every defensive category at the conference level and ended the year ranked second in goals (45) and assists (29).
The Ladyjacks return a strong core group in 2015, including 2015 Preseason All-Southland Conference selections Brooke Dunnigan, Chantal Curry, Rachel Owens, Amanda Doyle and Hanna Barker. A total of 11 players who started a game last year will suit up in purple and white again this season.
Barker, the 2014 SLC Freshman of the Year, and Doyle, a Second Team All-SLC selection last year, are SFA’s top two returning goal scorers with seven and four goals respectfully. Dunnigan, Curry and Owens will anchor an SFA defensive unit that is shaping up to be just as stingy as a year ago.
The Ladyjacks will have one more tune-up before opening the regular season at Arkansas on Friday, August 21. SFA will travel to Fort Worth on Sunday, August 16 for an exhibition against TCU starting at 7:00 p.m.
Coaches' Poll
Team (First-Place Votes), Points
1. Stephen F. Austin (8), 116
2. Sam Houston State (4), 112
3. Houston Baptist, 100
4. Southeastern Louisiana, 92
5. Abilene Christian, 68
6. McNeese State, 65
7. Nicholls, 64
8. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 47
9. Lamar, 46
T10. Central Arkansas, 31
T10. Northwestern State, 31
12. Incarnate Word, 20
SID Poll
Team (First-Place Votes), Points
1. Stephen F. Austin (9), 119
2. Houston Baptist, 103
3. Sam Houston State (3), 102
4. Southeastern Louisiana, 87
5. Abilene Christian, 76
6. Nicholls, 72
7. McNeese State, 56
8. Lamar, 46
9. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 43
10. Northwestern State, 34
11. Central Arkansas, 33
12. Incarnate Word, 21
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