2012 A&M-COMMERCE SOCCER SEASON RECAP
The 2012 Lion soccer season started off promising with an opening night win over Ouachita Baptist and a road win at eventual conference champ West Texas A&M. But some key injuries and inconsistent offense prevented the Lions from stringing together victories to move up in the conference standings. Unfortunately the season ended with four straight losses leading the Lions to miss the conference tournament for the first time since 2002.
Memorable moments
A&M-C 2, OBU 0: The Lions opened the 2012 season at home in front a packed Lion Soccer Field crowd hosting the Tigers of Ouachita Baptist. Freshmen defender Sydney Lawthers wasted no time in scoring her first career goal on her second shot in a Lion uniform. Eva Brutto was not going to be out done when she connected on a shot in the 25 minute that gave the Lions a 2-0 lead. The Lions controlled the ball control and the pace of play to open the season with a 2-0 shutout.
A&M-C 2, WT 0: Anitra Wright broke a 1-1 tie in the 74th minute with her second goal of the season to give the Lions an important road win, against the eventual conference champion. This win came on the heels of back-to-back losses and got the Lions back to.500 on the season at 2-2. The win also was A&M-C third win in their last five trips to Canyon.
A&M-C 3, TWU2 OT: The Lions once again jumped out to an early lead thanks to Wright and Tareyn Blanton tallying goals in the first 20 minutes. Texas Woman's came back with one in the first half and one in the second to tie the game force overtime. Just two minutes into overtime Cadie Annett ended the game with her goal with the assist from her sister Callie.
A&M-C 3, ENM 0: As in the Texas Woman's game the Lions wasted no time getting on the board. Wright and Cadie Annett put goals on the board in the first ten minutes of the game. In the second half Callie Annett added a second insurance goal to make it 3-0 in favor of the Lions. The win did give the Lions the ability to control their own destiny to make the conference tournament.
Even with the tough season as a team there were some individual bright spots for the Lions in 2012.
Brionna Minde LSC Academic Player of the Year
Minde was selected as the best among her peers in the classroom, earning Academic Player of the Year honor. She was an Academic All-LSC selection in 2011 as well as first team All-LSC. This season, Minde led the Lions in both points (13) and assists (7), leading the Lone Star Conference in assists and sitting sixth in points. She was second on the team in goals (3) while starting all 17 games for A&M-Commerce in her junior season.
Lion Duo Land on All-Academic Team
Callie Annett joined her teammate Brionna Minde on the Academic All-Lone Star Conference team. Callie notched her first career assist on her sister Cadie's game winning goal against Texas Woman's in overtime and scored her first career goal in a 3-0 victory over Eastern New Mexico.
Callie Annett Makes Capital One First Team All-District
The sophomore defender was named to the Capital One Academic All-District VI first team, announced today by the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). She was one of four players from the Lone Star Conference to earn first team honors.
All-LSC Honors for Brutto and Wright
Eva Brutto concluded her junior season with receiving First Team All-LSC honors. Brutto finished the season six points on two goals and two assists. She was a leader on the Lion defense that finished fifth in LSC in goals against. Freshmen forward Anitra Wright was a bright spot for the Lions is this season. The freshmen earned Second Team All-LSC after leading the Lions in goals (5), including two game winners, added an assist to finish with 11 points in her first season in a Lion uniform. She ranked ninth in the Lone Star Conference in points and tied for seventh in goals.
With no seniors on the 2012 roster the Lions will boast a very experienced line-up heading into 2013.