BETHANY, OKLA. - Lions soccer (10-5-0 overall) will take a brief sojourn from Lone Star Conference play this Monday to hit the road for the program's first-ever visit to Southern Nazarine University (8-7-0 overall).

If this game preview inspires a sense of deja vu, that's because this game was originally scheduled to take place two weeks ago. However, the day before the contest, it was announced that things would be postponed due to inclement weather in Oklahoma. At the time of the previously scheduled match, the Crimson Storm found themselves struggling, sporting a 4-7 overall record after a three-game losing streak. Ever since dodging the Lions though, Southern Nazarene rattled off four straight conference-wins, jumping to the top of the Great American Conference (GAC) with an 8-7 overall record. Suddenly, A&M-Commerce stands before a daunting opponent with momentum in spades.

"They're a good team. They've got some really good players, and it's a big regional game for us," said Lions coach Neil Piper, remarking on a Southern Nazarine team only two years removed from being Runners-Up in the 2012 NCAA National Tournament.

SNU's head coach Julie Duncan and the rest of the Crimson Storm have compiled a close goal-differential in 2014, narrowly outscoring opponents 29-27 while nearly doubling opponents' shots 281-153. Offensively, SNU has relied on the services of senior forward Mallary Pineda (9G, 5A) and Hannah Robinson (6G, 1A) to put balls into the back of the net, while also getting help from senior midfielder Bekah Stewart (1G, 6A) in the form of setting up opportunities.
 
They will be tasked with outdoing Lions sophomore forward and LSC-leading goal-scorer Savannah Henderson (11G, 4A), as well as fellow forward Jade Bell (6G, 6A), who just netted her second game-winner of the season earlier this weekend against Texas Woman's. Failing them, A&M-Commerce has found goals from five other Lions in 2014, including forwards Vicky Back and Julia Hernandez, midfielder Callie Annett, and defender Ashley Phillips, all of whom have booted home game-winners.

Between the pipes, Southern Nazarine has relied on sophomore keeper Natasha Fuentes, who has played all 15 games for the Crimson Storm thus far. She's earned a GAC-leading four shutouts on the year by virtue of making 60 saves for a save percentage of .690. Across the field, A&M-Commerce's Courtnie Northern is putting together quite the season heading into Monday's contest, having earned shutouts in two consecutive games, her fifth and sixth of the season. She's made 89 saves on the year, which is good for a conference-leading .890 save percentage.

The game is set to get underway Monday, October 27 at 3:00 p.m. at the Wanda Rhodes Soccer Complex. After that, the Lions will look forward to next weekend, where they will wrap up their season on the road against West Texas A&M and Eastern New Mexico.