COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team heads south this weekend to begin Southland Conference action at A&M-Corpus Christi on Sunday in a rematch of last season's SLC Tournament first round match.  
 
WHO: A&M-Commerce at A&M-Corpus Christi
WHERE: Corpus Christi | Dr. Jack Dugan Soccer & Track Stadium
WHEN: Sunday, September 17 | 1 p.m.
RECORDS: The Lions are 2-5-1 overall, while the Islanders are 3-3-2 overall.
 
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+ | https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/024dc7a7-6ab1-4e95-a972-b3b97aa9d4a9   
LIVE STATS: https://goislanders.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary  

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE LIONS
The Lions host Northwestern State on September 24. The two teams are meeting for the first time since last season's double overtime thriller in the SLC Tournament semifinals.
 
A LOOK BACK AT LAST WEEK'S ACTION
UTSA downed A&M-Commerce in San Antonio, but the Lions responded with a come-from-behind win at home against UTEP.
 
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 is also A&M-Commerce's first non-conference win in the Division I era.
 
DEAN, RAMIREZ EARN SLC RECOGNITION
Sophia Dean (Spring – Grand Oaks) and Kaydence Ramirez (Waxahachie) received Southland Conference Players of the Week honors following the win over Tulsa. Dean played all 180 minutes and collected a shutout over Tulsa, while Ramirez scored the match-winner against the Golden Hurricane.
 
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

 
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.
 
BELL'S IMPRESSIVE DEBUT
Bell scored a goal in her first collegiate match, tallying a goal in the first half against Oral Roberts. She added another goal against UNT and scored against ULM as well.
 
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 ISLANDERS
A&M-Corpus Christi is 3-3-2 on the season, having tied against UTRGV on Thursday night. The Islanders wins have come over Texas Southern, at Prairie View A&M, and at Tarleton. Maggie Murray and Mai-Lisa Atis have tallied three goals each, while Megan Guy and Rachel Loetzer, this week's SLC Defender of the Week, have two goals each.
 
In goal, Kennedy Stelling has a save percentage of .743 and won two of the three decisions.