COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team enters the second week of the season against two American Athletic Conference opponents this week.
LIONS' WEEKEND SCHEDULE
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE LIONS
A&M-Commerce heads on a three-game road swing next week, facing ULM, LSU, and UTSA, before returning home to face UTEP on September 10.
POSTER SIGNING
A select number of A&M-Commerce players will sign 2023 schedule posters after the match on Thursday night at the Lion Soccer Field.
A LOOK BACK AT LAST WEEK'S ACTION
The Lions began the season last week, hosting Oral Roberts and facing Tarleton in Stephenville. A&M-Commerce and ORU tied 2-2 in Commerce last Thursday.
Hannah Bell (Duncanville) and
Hailey Griffin (Trophy Club) scored the goals for the Lions, who fell 2-0 to Tarleton last Sunday.
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.
EXCITING EXHIBITION ACTION
A&M-Commerce faced Hill College and Stephen F. Austin in its two exhibition matches and outscored the two opponents by a margin of 14-1.
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 |
BELL'S IMPRESSIVE DEBUT
Bell scored a goal in her first collegiate match, tallying a goal in the first half against Oral Roberts. She is just one of two freshmen from Division I reclassifying institutions to have scored a goal this season.
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 GOLDEN HURRICANE
The Lions meet Tulsa for the first time on Thursday. The Golden Hurricane is 0-2 thus far this season, having lost to Oklahoma and Stephen F. Austin. Tulsa is yet to score a goal in 2023.
Tulsa went 7-7-3 last season, while Liliana Fernandez, Kaylyn Simmons, and Maggie SymSmith were named American Athletic Conference Players to Watch prior to the season.
A LOOK AT THE MEAN GREEN
On Sunday, the Lions head to Denton to face North Texas for the first time in the regular season. The Mean Green have shutout wins over UNLV and Southland foe Northwestern State thus far this season and faces Texas State on Thursday prior to the Lions.
Last season, the Mean Green tallied a record of 12-6-2 to finish second in Conference USA. This season is the first in the AAC for UNT, who had Kat Burnell, Bailey Wesco, and Rachel Roebuck named as AAC Players to Watch.
-TAMUC-
