COMMERCE – Only three matches remain in the regular season for the Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team, who hosts Nicholls and UIW this weekend for the final two home matches of 2023.
LIONS' WEEKEND SCHEDULE
HOMECOMING
As part of homecoming weekend festivities on campus, parking patterns for Friday's match have been altered. More information can be found
HERE.
ALUMNI WEEKEND
The Lions welcome back alums of the soccer program this weekend. The program will recognize all alumni in attendance at halftime of Friday's match. Alums interested in being recognized can contact
Luca.crivellari@tamuc.edu.
SENIOR DAY
Prior to the match on Sunday, the Lions will recognize their three graduating seniors:
Christina Hernandez (Denison),
Mindy Shoffit (Wichita Falls – Rider), and
Melissa Storey (Tyne and Wear, England).
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE LIONS
The Lions conclude the regular season next Friday night at McNeese.
A LOOK BACK AT LAST WEEK'S ACTION
Hosting A&M-Corpus Christi last Friday, the Lions fell in conference play for the first time this season, surrendering a goal in the 87
th minute. The Lions and conference leaders, Lamar, played to a 2-2 tie in Beaumont last Sunday.
CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT SEEDING
Though A&M-Commerce has clinched a berth into the Southland Conference Tournament, the Lions do not know their seeding yet for the seven-team tournament in Corpus Christi on November 1-5. The Lions enter this weekend with 16 points, which is two more than McNeese and three more than A&M-Corpus Christi, for second place.
HISTORIC STREAKS END AGAINST THE ISLANDERS
The 2-1 loss to the Islanders ended numerous streaks for the Lions. Coming into that match, the Lions had won six in a row, which was the longest winning streak since 2016.
The Lions were 5-0 in conference play, which matched the best start to conference play since 2004 and 1999.
FIRST LOSE AT HOME IN 2023
The Lions lost their first match of the season at home this season when they fell to A&M-Corpus Christi last week as well. The five-match unbeaten streak was the longest to start the season since 2017, a season in which the Lions won their first nine home matches.
STOREY EARNS SLC RECOGNITION
Melissa Storey (Tyne and Wear, England) earned Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors after recording four points against HCU last week. She had an assist on the first and third goal of the match, while scoring the second goal of the match.
The Lions have increased their season total to five weekly honorees this year.
Sophia Dean (Spring – Grand Oaks) has been named Goalkeeper of the Week twice,
Nya Mitchell (Dallas – Mesquite Horn) was named Defensive Player of the Week once, and
Kaydence Ramirez (Waxahachie) has earned Offensive Player of the Week award once.
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
| Date |
Goalkeeper |
Defensive |
Offensive |
| Aug. 22 |
Makenzie Hall, UIW |
Eve Clarkson, UIW |
Kelsey Fuller, Southeastern |
| Aug. 29 |
Sophia Dean, A&M-Commerce |
Ellie-Mae Sanford, UIW |
Kaydence Ramirez, A&M-Commerce |
| Sept. 5 |
Kennedy Stelling, A&M-Corpus Christi |
Lauren Andre, Nicholls |
Maggie Murray, A&M-Corpus Christi |
| Sept. 12 |
Libe Banuelos, Northwestern State |
Rachel Loetzer, A&M-Corpus Christi |
Hollie Massey, Lamar |
| Sept. 19 |
Nicole Panis, Lamar |
Arely Alaniz, Lamar |
Cariel Ellis, Lamar |
| Sept. 26 |
Jackie Kelly, McNeese |
Martine Ellefsen, McNeese |
Taylor Spitzer, Northwestern State |
| Oct. 3 |
Sophia Dean, A&M-Commerce (2) |
Nya Mitchell, A&M-Commerce |
Hollie Massey, Lamar (2) |
| Oct. 10 |
Nicole Panis, Lamar |
Rachel Loetzer, A&M-Corpus Christi |
Melissa Storey, A&M-Commerce |
| Oct. 17 |
Jackie Kelly, McNeese |
Alexi Pitt, McNeese |
Hanna Moffatt, Southeastern |
BELL IS ON FIRE
Hannah Bell (Duncanville) scored a goal in her first collegiate match, tallying a goal in the first half against Oral Roberts. She has scored eight goals on the season, which includes match winners against UTEP, Northwestern State, and Southeastern.
She leads the SLC in goals during her freshman season and making a strong push for the Lions to bring home the conference freshman of the year award for the third year in a row.
RAMIREZ HEATING UP
Ramirez has scored in each of the last five matches for the Lions, having scored the equalizer in both matches last week. She is the conference leader in shots and points.
A HISTORIC WIN OVER GOLDEN HURRICANE
Scoring once in each half and posting a shutout in net against Tulsa gave the Lions a 2-0 win, their first in 2023. It was also A&M-Commerce's first non-conference win in the Division I era.
SUELTZ' BRACE POWERS LIONS OVER MINERS
Kristen Sueltz (The Colony) scored the first equalizing goal and then added the match-winner against UTEP for the win. She did not have a goal this season prior to the win over the Miners.
A FRESH SLATE
The Lions head into the 2023 season with several newcomers, highlighted by three transfers from fellow NCAA Division I schools and impactful freshmen. The Lions are picked to finish second in the Southland Conference, which is the program's highest predicted finish since 2018.
A HISTORIC 2022
The Lions are coming off a historic season last year, which was A&M-Commerce's first in NCAA Division I and the Southland Conference. The Lions went 9-9-2, finishing third in the SLC during the regular season and advancing to the SLC Tournament Championship match.
A&M-Commerce retains four all-conference players from last season, highlighted by 2022 Southland Freshman of the Year
Mya Mitchell (Dallas – Mesquite Horn) as well as
Ashley Campuzano (Dallas – Atlas Prep),
Nya Mitchell (Dallas – Mesquite Horn), and
Mindy Shoffit (Wichita Falls – Rider).
PRESEASON POLLS
In the SLC preseason poll, the Lions were voted to finish second, behind defending SLC champion Lamar. Additionally, Campuzano and
Mya Mitchell were named to preseason first team all-conference, while Shoffit,
Nya Mitchell, and
Hailey Griffin (Byron Nelson) were named to preseason second team all-conference.
2023 Southland Preseason Poll
| 1 |
Lamar (14) |
126 |
| 2 |
A&M-COMMERCE |
97 |
| 3 |
Southeastern |
84 |
| 4 |
HCU (2) |
83 |
| 5 |
Northwestern State (2) |
81 |
| 6 |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
68 |
| 7 |
McNeese |
53 |
| 8 |
UIW |
33 |
| 9 |
Nicholls |
23 |
MITCHELLS IN RARIFIED COMPANY
Both Mya and
Nya Mitchell were named to preseason all-conference teams this year. They are believed to be the only sisters in NCAA Division I women's soccer this year to have both earned preseason all-conference honors.
TWICE THE FUN
The Mitchells are also among 17 sets of twins in NCAA Division I women's soccer, represented by 17 programs.
THEY ARE ALL BACK
Ashley Gordon, who enters her second season as the Lions' coach, retains her entire staff from a year ago.
Omar Morales remains as the assistant coach and
Luca Crivellari continues as the program's graduate assistant.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
The Lions face Nicholls for the second time this season, having collected a 2-1 win in Thibodaux earlier this month. The Colonels have not won a conference match and are 1-15 on the season. Last week, the Colonels fell 2-0 to Houston Christian. Lauren Andre has scored three of the eight goals for Nicholls, who visits Commerce for the first time.
UIW and A&M-Commerce meet for the first time this season and almost a year to date, from their last meeting, which came on October 21, 2022, in San Antonio. The Cardinals are making a push to make the conference tournament, currently sitting in eighth place with an SLC record of 2-5. Sello Diphoko has five goals on the season, while Peleg Armendraiz has four. Hugo Constant has started 13 of the 14 matches and recorded 40 saves on the season in goal.
The Lions won the meeting last year by a score of 2-0 but are 4-13-2 all-time against the Cardinals.
-TAMUC-
