COMMERCE – Just three matches remain in the regular season for the Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team in its first Division I season. The Lions head on the road this weekend for two key battles in the Southland Conference standings with seeding implications for the SLC Tournament.
LIONS' WEEKEND SCHEDULE
THICK IN THE SLC RACE
With three matches remaining, the Lions are fifth in the conference standings with 13 points, tied with McNeese. The Lions defeated the Cowgirls on the road earlier this season and meet again in Commerce to close out the regular season next weekend.
Houston Christian and A&M-Corpus Christi are tied for third place with 16 points, the Lions have defeated both teams at least once this season and take on the Huskies once again this weekend. The top seven teams make the SLC Tournament on Nov. 2-6 in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE LIONS
The Lions took on the top two teams in the SLC standings last weekend, falling to Lamar, 2-1 at home, and dropping a tough 1-0 setback at Northwestern State. Lamar scored its two goals in a span of five minutes, while Northwestern State scored its goal in the third minute of the match. The Lions are 4-8-2 overall and 4-4-2 in conference play.
WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE LIONS
The Lions close out the regular season at home against McNeese on October 28 at 7 p.m.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
The Cardinals are 3-8-3 on the season and 2-5-3 in conference matches, though the two wins have come in the last three matches. Two of its three wins this season have come at home.
Incarnate Word is averaging 1.07 goals per match, taking 11.3 shots per match. Keeley Ayala has six goals on the season as well as two assists, while Sierra Wannamaker has four goals. Margaret Kofron has played 13 matches, logging 1170 minutes, and recorded 54 saves. She has two shutouts on the season.
This is the first meeting of the season between the two teams. The two teams have played 18 times prior to Friday with UIW holding a 13-3-2 record in the all-time series.
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
Houston Christian, who fell 4-1 in Commerce earlier this season, has won two in a row and is 5-7-3 in conference matches and 5-3-1 in the Southland Conference. The Huskies host SLC-leading Lamar on Friday, before hosting the Lions on Sunday.
With an average of 1.13 goals scored per match, the Huskies are holding their opponents to an average of 1.27 goals per match. Katie Marker had 11 points for Houston Christian, scoring five goals and adding an assist. Mia Salas has three goals and two assists, while Ryan Ford has two goals and two assists. In goal, Chloe Bagshaw is the reigning SLC Goalkeeper of the Week. She has played 14 matches and is 5-6-3 on the season with 56 saves and a goals-against average of 1.14.
MITCHELL AND SHOFFIT MAKE HISTORY
Mya Mitchell (Dallas – Mesquite Horn) and
Mindy Shoffit (Wichita Falls – Rider) became the first two players in A&M-Commerce history to earn Southland Conference Player of the Week awards on October 4. Mitchell earned the offensive player of the week award, while Shoffit earned the defensive player of the week award.
2022 Southland Women's Soccer Players of the Week
| Date |
Offensive |
Defensive |
Goalkeeper |
| Aug. 23 |
Christine Kitaru, Lamar |
Miranda Irbizu, Lamar |
Nicole Panis, Lamar |
| Aug. 30 |
Christine Kitaru, Lamar (2) |
Emma Jones, Southeastern |
Olivia Griffin, Southeastern |
| Sept. 6 |
Sierra Wannamaker, UIW |
Delaney Wells, Northwestern State |
Chloe DeShazer, Northwestern State |
| Sept. 13 |
Olivia Draguicevich, Northwestern State |
Jayme Haynes, Northwestern State |
Nicole Panis (2), Lamar |
| Sept. 20 |
Cariel Ellis, Lamar |
Emma Crump, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
Nicole Panis (3), Lamar |
| Sept. 27 |
Emily Jamies, HCU |
Ellie Mai Sanford, UIW |
Chloe Bagshaw, HCU |
| Oct. 4 |
Mya Mitchell, A&M-Commerce |
Mindy Shoffit, A&M-Commerce |
Nicole Panis (4), Lamar |
| Oct. 11 |
Gracie Armstrong, Northwestern State |
Nicole Henry, Northwestern State |
Chloe DeShazer (2), Northwestern State |
| Oct. 18 |
Cariel Ellis, Lamar |
Rachel Loetzer, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
Chloe Bagshaw, HCU (2) |
MYA IS ON FIYA
Mitchell has scored more goals and more points than any other player in the Southland Conference through seven conference matches, having scored in seven of the nine matches. She has eight goals, which is two more than other any player in conference play and 18 points, which is six more than anyone else.
She had a scoring streak of six straight matches, which was the third longest scoring streak in Division I this year.
HISTORIC FIRST WIN
The Lions collected a 4-1 win at home against Houston Baptist on September 9 in its first Southland Conference match. All five goals came in the second half, as the Lions collected the first win in the Division I era and first win for coach
Ashley Gordon.
SHOFFIT SCORES THE FIRST GOAL
After a drought of over 400 minutes to start the season, the Lions' first goal of their inaugural Division I season came against Colorado College on September 4, an own goal by the Tigers. In the second half,
Mindy Shoffitt (Wichita Falls – Rider) scored the first goal by a Lion player to secure a 2-2 tie at Colorado College, scoring in the 87
th minute.
DOUBLE THE FUN!
Dallas natives and twin sisters,
Mya Mitchell and
Nya Mitchell from Mesquite Horn High School, join the Lions this season. The Mitchells are one of 27 sets of twins in NCAA Division I women's soccer this fall and A&M-Commerce is one of 22 schools with a set of twins on its women's soccer roster this season.
-TAMUC-
