COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team hosts Northwestern State for the first Southland Conference home match of the season on Sunday afternoon in a rematch of last season's SLC Tournament semifinals.
 
WHO: Northwestern State at A&M-Commerce
WHERE: Commerce | Lion Soccer Field
WHEN: Sunday, September 24 | 1 p.m.
RECORDS: The Lions are 3-5-1 overall and 1-0 in Southland play, while the Lady Demons are 3-5 and 1-0 in Southland play. Northwestern State faces UIW on Friday.  
 
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+ | https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/f5b2b974-6725-4f0e-a44e-28fb66801c0d  
LIVE STATS: https://statb.us/b/471729

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE LIONS
The Lions head down to Nicholls next Friday and Southeastern next Sunday.
 
A LOOK BACK AT LAST WEEK'S ACTION
The Lions picked up a 3-2 come-from-behind win over A&M-Corpus Christi last Sunday on the road.
 
BACK-TO-BACK WINS
The Lions have won two in a row coming into this week, which is the longest winning streak since the SLC Tournament last season. A&M-Commerce won 3-2 at home over UTEP on September 10 and beat the Islanders last Sunday, also with a score of 3-2. The Lions surrendered the first goal in both matches, but scored the match-winning goals in the final 10 minutes each time.
 
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.
 
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
Sept. 19	Nicole Panis, Lamar	Arely Alaniz, Lamar	Cariel Ellis, 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 LADY DEMONS
Under the direction of first year coach Ian Brophy, the Lady Demons are 3-5 on the season. Northwestern State has wins over Alabama A&M and Jackson State in non-conference and then downed Southeastern to begin the SLC schedule.
 
Sabrina Lopez and Taylor Spitzer have scored two goals each season to lead the team. Libe Banuelos has allowed 12 goals in net, playing all but 59 minutes thus far this season.
 
Sunday's meeting between the Lions and the Lady Demons is the first since last season's SLC Tournament Semifinals at Northwestern State, which A&M-Commerce won in double overtime. The Lady Demons took both meetings in the regular season a year ago.