Thirteenth Southland Tournament Begins Thursday
Texas State earned the top seed for the 2009 Southland Conference Soccer Tournament, which gets underway Thursday at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex in Natchitoches, La. The Bobcats, which have not lost a regular-season conference match since 2007, claimed their second consecutive regular-season championship and fourth overall.
Southeastern Louisiana (6-1-1) earned the No. 2 seed. Both Texas State and Southeastern have a first-round bye.
The tournament's first match will pit No. 3 Stephen F. Austin and No. 6 McNeese State, Thursday at 4:30 p.m. McNeese won its last four games, including a road win at Nicholls last weekend to make the tournament. The winner will advance to play Southeastern Louisiana Friday at 4:30 p.m. SFA finished 6-2-1 and McNeese finished 4-4.
The second match will be between No. 4 Sam Houston State and No. 5 UTSA, Thursday at 7 p.m. The Bearkats finished 5-4 and the Roadrunners were 4-3-2. UTSA is 0-3-2 in its last five regular season matches. The top-four finish for Sam Houston is the highest in school history. The winner advances to play Texas State Friday at 7 p.m.
The winners of the two Friday matches will play for the tournament championship Sunday at 1 p.m., with the winner earning the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The championship match will be televised by the Southland Conference Television Network.
This will be the fifth time Northwestern State has hosted the event. The tournament was most recently held in Natchitoches, La. in 2007. This is the first time the Lady Demons have hosted and not been eligible for the tournament. The tournament was held in Lake Charles, La. last season.
Tournament ticket prices are $10 for a single day and $15 for a two-day pass. Championship tickets are $8 for an adult and $6 for youth. Tickets are available online at nsudemons.org.
Southland TV to Televise Championship
The championship game Sunday at 1 p.m. will be televised by the Southland Conference Television Network. Doug Anderson will call play-by-play and Chelsea Orton will serve as the color analyst. All five matches of the 2009 tournament will be streamed for free on SLC NOW on Southland.org, the Southland Conference Web site. Former Northwestern State football kicker Robert Weeks will describe the action to the online listeners the first four matches of the tournament.
Curry Named Player of the Year
After leading Texas State to its second consecutive regular season championship, junior forward Britney Curry was named the Southland Conference Player of the Year. A native of Cypress, Texas, Curry tied for the league lead in multi-point games with six and finished the regular season at or near the top of every league offensive category including first in points (38), points per game (2.00), goals (16) and game-winning goals (5). Curry, the only repeat first-team selection from 2008, became the all-time leading goal scorer for Texas State this season with 37 career goals. Additionally, Curry's numbers rank in the top 10 in the NCAA in points per game (8th, 2.00), and goals per game (7th, 0.842).
King Named Top Newcomer
Stephen F. Austin sophomore Jordan King was named the newcomer of the year. Stephen F. Austin finished the season as the No. 3 team in the conference. The defender from McKinney, Texas, started all 18 games at the back for the Ladyjacks and had three shots on goal. King, a transfer from Oklahoma, played an integral role in the Stephen F. Austin defense.
Louw Honored as Best Freshman
Stephen F. Austin's Kylie Louw was named freshman of the year. Louw made an immediate impact in the league this season. A native of South Africa, Louw led SFA in points with 19 and started all 18 games for the Ladyjacks. Louw had nine assists and five goals to her name. She was also honored as a first-team all-conference selection.
Conner Named Coach of the Year
Texas State head coach Kat Conner was voted the Southland Conference Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. In her 10th year at the helm, Conner led Texas State to its fourth overall regular-season title and third No. 1 seed. Connor's team has not lost a match to a conference opponent since 2007.
A Look at the 2009 Field...
No. 1 Seed Texas State
The reigning Southland Conference Tournament champion, Texas State is making its 10th appearance in the league tournament. The Bobcats have won the tournament four times, have finished as runners-up once, have a 14-5 record all-time, and have the best tournament winning percentage of .737. Head coach Kat Conner has been with Texas State since their beginning and has led her team to 10 tournament berths in 11 seasons. Conner is the reigning back-to-back Southland Conference Coach of the year. Texas State is the only school to win a tournament championship game in a penalty shootout (1999). The Bobcats were tied for the league lead with six all-conference selections. First-team selections include 2009 player of the year Britney Curry, defender Jessica Elting and midfielder Kelsey Bernard. Curry finished the regular season at or near the top of every league offensive category including first in points (38), points per game (2.00), goals (16) and game-winning goals (5). Curry, the only repeat first-team selection from 2008, became the all-time leading goal scorer for Texas State this season with 37 career goals. Additionally, Curry's numbers rank in the top 10 in the NCAA in points per game (8th, 2.00), and goals per game (7th, 0.842). Elting started 18 of 19 games for Texas State and played more minutes than any of her teammates, 1,535. Bernard started 17 of 19 games for the Bobcats and played in over 1,300 minutes. Bernard took 16 shots with eight of them falling on goal.
No. 2 Seed Southeastern Louisiana
Southeastern Louisiana is making a conference record 12th appearance in the tournament. The only year Southeastern did not make the tournament was 2005. SLU has won the tournament once (1998) and has a record six runner-up finishes. The Lady Lions are 10-10 all time in conference tournament play and have the third best winning percentage (.500). Head coach Blake Hornbuckle is making his twelfth appearance in the tournament. Southeastern was tied for the league lead with six all-conference selections. The Lady Lions had a league-high five first-team selections. The first-team selections include forward Maiya Cooper, midfielder Natalie Santana, midfielder Candice Wallace, defender Dana Mayer and goalkeeper Lacey Bockhaus. As a team, Southeastern concluded the 2009 regular-season ranked nationally 10th or better in scoring offense (fourth, 3.12), goals against average (10th, .522), and shutout percentage (10th, .647). Cooper was second in the league in points (30) and goals (13). Santana ranked first in the conference in assists (10), and her assists per game mark (0.59) ranked 10th in the NCAA. Wallace finished just behind Santana in assists (9) and assists per game (0.53). Wallace also ranked fifth in points (21) and eighth in points per game (1.24). Mayer led an SLU defense that allowed only nine goals this season. Bockhaus is second in the Southland in goals against average (0.528) which is good for 13th in the NCAA.
No. 3 Seed Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin is making its 10th appearance in the Southland Conference Tournament. The Ladyjacks have won the tournament twice (2003, 2007) and finished second one time. SFA's all-time tournament record is 5-8. Head coach George Van Linder is making his second tournament appearance in as many years with the Ladyjacks. Stephen F. Austin lost in the first round of the 2008 tournament in a penalty shootout. SFA earned four selections to the 2009 All-Southland Conference Soccer teams and took two superlative honors. Megan Cash and Kylie Louw were each named to the first team, and Louw took freshman of the year honors to go along with Jordan King's newcomer of the year award. Kim Kimmel and Kelli Barnes landed slots on the second team. SFA's four selections to the first and second teams are the third-most in the conference this season and the most for the Ladyjacks since putting seven players on the all-conference teams in 2007. Cash is making her third straight appearance on the All-Southland list and first as a first-teamer. The senior forward is tied for the team lead with seven goals and has posted three assists - both career highs. Cash was an honorable mention selection last season and took second-team honors as a sophomore in 2007. With her team-leading 19 points, Louw has posted one of the best freshman seasons in Ladyjack history. The South Africa native has scored five goals, and her nine assists are tied for second in the Southland. She is the third SFA player to take freshman of the year.
No. 4 Seed Sam Houston State
Sam Houston State is making its third Southland Conference Tournament appearance in the program's seven year history. The Bearkats have never won the tournament but have finished as runners-up once (2005). Sam Houston State has only played four postseason games and has a record of 2-2. Head Coach Tom Brown directed his second Bearkat soccer team to the program's highest league finish, placing fourth in the 2009 Southland regular season race. The Bearkats' 5-4 conference record is Sam Houston's first winning league mark. The previous high for Southland victories in a season was a 4-5 record in both 2007 and 2008. If the Bearkats can win their first round match against UTSA, they will equal their school record for overall victories in one season. Last year, Brown's first Sam Houston squad gave the program its first winning season with a 9-7 mark. Sam Houston has produced a 17-16-2 record in Brown's two years. The Bearkats' record during the first five years of the soccer program was 20-71-2. The 2009 Bearkats have featured a young line-up with as many as eight or nine freshmen on the field at a time. Three freshmen are the team's top scorers with Kirby Zak (9 goals), Shelby Grissett (6 goals) and Leah Snelson (4 goals). Junior goalkeeper Jenny Pence has been a true leader for the Kats. A two-time Southland Conferece Goalkeeper of the Week selection, Pence has six shutouts to her credit.
No. 5 Seed UTSA
UTSA is making its fourth appearance in the Southland Conference Tournament in the program's four year history. The Roadrunners have yet to play in the tournament championship game but made semifinal appearances in all three seasons. Head coach Steve Ballard has taken the Roadrunners to the semifinals of the Southland tournament in all four seasons. The Roadrunners have finished second in the regular season twice and third once. UTSA totaled five all-conference selections in 2009. Senior defender Ezinne Okpo was named first-team All-Southland Conference for the second time in her four-year career, while juniors Allison Dillon and Chelsea Zimmerman picked up second-team honors and sophomore Taylor Padia and freshman Dacia Webb collected honorable mention accolades. Okpo, who is a three-time all-conference performer, picked up her second first-team honor in three years. Okpo anchored a Roadrunners defense that has posted six shutouts this season. She has seen action all 20 matches (19 starts) and leads the squad with 1,599 minutes this fall. Dillon, who was an honorable mention choice a year ago, was tabbed second team after leading the Roadrunners with 15 points and five assists this season. Dillon also tops the squad with three game-winning goals and stands second with five winners. Zimmerman, who missed most of the 2008 season due to injury, earned her third all-conference award. Zimmerman has played in all 20 matches, including 19 starts this season. She ranks second on the team with four assists and is tied for third with four goals.
No. 6 Seed McNeese State
McNeese State is making its ninth appearance in the Southland Conference Tournament. The Cowgirls won the tournament, in 2006, and have finished second twice before. McNeese State's tournament record is 6-8. Head coach Scooter Savoie is leading McNeese, who has played in the last three tournament championship games, back to the conference tournament. In 2006, when the Cowgirls won the tournament, McNeese was the No. 6 seed going into postseason play. The Cowgirls had just one all-conference selection this season. Repeat second-teamer Alana Clark started every game for the Cowgirls and ranks second in the Southland in shots (64), third in shots per game (3.56), sixth in goals (eight) and eighth in points (19). Clark posted one multi-point game. Honorable mention selection Megan Rogers ranks eighth in assists (6) and assists per game (0.32). Defender Erin Leighton also received an honorable mention selection. Leighton started all 19 games in the backline for McNeese State. Sophomore Goalkeeper Cassandra Read ranks sixth in the conference in goals against average (1.29), seventh in save percentage (0.778) and saves (63).