Lumberjack Soccer Captures First SLC Title Since 2015 with Rousing 2-1 Rivalry Win

Sunday, April 11

Nacogdoches, Texas

12:00 PM

Stephen F. Austin

10-5-2, 8-3-0

Sam Houston State

5-5-1, 5-5-1

Sam Houston

Stephen F. Austin

Lumberjack Soccer Captures First SLC Title Since 2015 with Rousing 2-1 Rivalry Win

4/11/2021 6:48:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- The SFA Lumberjack soccer team seized the moment presented to it on Sunday inside the The Chopping Block, coming away with a 2-1 victory over Sam Houston State to secure the Southland Conference regular season title outright. The victory moves SFA to 10-5-2 and 8-3-0 on the season, and completes a stellar regular season in which SFA had been pegged to finish as low as eighth in the conference standings. The title for SFA is also the program's first since 2015 and the first for first-year coach Anthony Minatta.

Restarting the contest at 0-0 after Friday night's match was ruled incomplete due to inclement weather, the Lumberjacks ceded the lead to the visitors in the 21st minute, when a blocked Bearkat shot carried high and over the outstretched hand of Madeline Talbot and into the net for a 1-0 lead. Fighting to earn an equalizer, the Lumberjacks got numerous scoring chances following the initial goal, but it was Sam Houston who found themselves poised to score the game's second goal, as a penalty in the box earned SHSU an attempt from the spot. Instead, Talbot came through with a stellar diving save in the 43rd minute on the penalty kick, keeping the deficit at one goal heading into the halftime intermission.

Opening the second half with a renewed urgency, the 'Jacks got three consecutive looks at goal and three more corner kicks. Finally, in the 51st minute, Jamie Jezierski was brought down in the box by the Bearkat goalkeeper, earning an attempt from the spot by senior Katelyn Termini in her final home match at SFA Soccer Field. Termini's try was good, evening the game up at 1-1. Mere minutes later, the Bearkats received another penalty kick try, but came up short again as the shooter missed wide.

Finally, in the 67th minute of play, a foul by the Bearkats earned SFA a free kick on the opposing side of the field. Lauren Prentice launched a perfect service into the box, and Caylon McMillan leapt up for a clinical header to put SFA ahead, 2-1. The 'Jacks kept Sam Houston at bay the rest of the way to seal the victory and secure the program's first title since 2015.