COMMERCE – The Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team is back on the road after three straight home matches to face Nicholls and Northwestern State this weekend.
LIONS' WEEKEND SCHEDULE
STUNNED BY THE ISLANDERS
A&M-Commerce entered last week's contest against A&M-Corpus Christi not having lost a match, but fell 2-1 for the Lions' first loss in conference play this year. Over the last two years, the only two losses in conference play for the Lions have come against the Islanders, both in Commerce.
THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE
Kaydence Ramirez (Waxahachie) announced her return to the lineup in emphatic fashion with four goals against SFA and Southeastern, scoring a brace against both SFA and Southeastern. She is the SLC leader in goals and points during conference play and second overall.
RAMIREZ, DENNING EARNED SLC HONORS
Following the two wins, Ramirez and
Sloane Denning (Flower Mound Marcus) earned recognition from the Southland conference, with Ramirez being named the offensive player of the week, while Denning was named the defensive player of the week. Denning has logged 90 minutes in the first three conference matches, two of which have been shutouts for the Lions.
EARNED A POINT ON THE ROAD
The Lions began Southland Conference play at UTRGV, playing to a scoreless tie. The Lions have earned at least one point in every conference opener since joining the Southland, being 2-0-1 in those matches.
ROUGH STRETCH TO END NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
A&M-Commerce entered conference play coming up short of a win in its last eight matches, the Lions played Grambling to a 2-2 tie and No. 15 Oklahoma State to a 6-0 loss on the road to end non-conference play. Last season, the Lions had two non-conference wins before securing a second place finish in SLC play. A&M-Commerce is picked to finish second again this year.
TIED THE MEAN GREEN
After falling behind 1-0 in the second half to North Texas, the Lions tallied two quick goals within 40 seconds to take the Mean Green, but came away a 2-2 tie in the match as UNT scored a goal in the final minutes of the match. It was the first tie for the Lions this season. The match against North Texas was the third time this season and second straight that the Lions scored the first goal in the match, falling to 1-1-1 when they score first.
MITCHELL OFF THE MARK
Mya Mitchell (Dallas - Mesquite Horn) scored to put the Lions ahead 1-0 over New Mexico State, it was Mitchell's first goal of the season and first since 2022 for the SLC Freshman of the Year.
BIG START TO THE SEASON
The Lions downed Oral Roberts 4-1 on August 15 to begin the season with a 4-1 record, marking the first time in the Division I era and first time since the spring season of 2021 that the Lions won their season opener.
BELL KEEPS RINGING
Hannah Bell (Duncanville) scored the first two goals in the win over Oral Roberts. As a result, the reigning Southland Conference Forward and Freshman of the Year was named the SLC Offensive Player of the Week, her first career weekly honor and the seventh for the Lions in the last two seasons.
THIRD TIME WAS THE CHARM
The Lions and Golden Eagles began the season against each other for the third straight year. After a 4-0 ORU win in 2022, a 2-2 tie in Commerce in 2023, the Lions finally got over the hump to take their first win in the series.
CHANCE TO REPEAT HISTORY
A&M-Commerce soared to new heights in 2023 and looks to build upon it in 2024. The Lions picked up the first winning season in the Division I era, while finishing second in the Southland, the best finish for any sport since joining the conference.
Bell picked up SLC Freshman of the Year and Forward of the Year honors, while
Kaydence Ramirez (Waxahachie) was named the conference's Newcomer of the Year. The Lions have brought home the conference freshman of the year award for three straight seasons.
PRESEASON ACCOLADES
The Southland Conference released its preseason all-conference teams and A&M-Commerce led the way with seven honorees, the most in the SLC, including five on the first team.
Along with Bell and Ramirez,
Nya Mitchell (Dallas – Mesquite Horn),
Camila Montero (Langham Creek), and
Mindy Shoffit (Wichita Falls – Rider) were named to the first team, while
Melissa Storey (Tyne and Wear, England) and
Mya Mitchell (Dallas – Mesquite Horn) were named to the second team.
Additionally, the Lions were to picked finish second in the SLC for the second straight year, including receiving two first-place votes. Lamar was voted to three-peat as conference champions.
EVERYBODY'S BACK!
All but four players from last season's roster return this year, which includes all 11 starters and all but two players that appeared in last season's Southland Conference Tournament. Additionally, 100 percent of goal production and point production returns for the Lions this year, which is tops in the country.
Also returning for the Lions are
Mya Mitchell,
Ashley Campuzano (Dallas – Atlas Prep), and
Alana Lawless-Felarca (Richardson), who missed most of last season due to injury. Campuzano and Mitchell were named to all-Southland teams in 2022.
HELLO NEWCOMERS
The Lions welcome four freshmen and three transfers this season. The incoming freshmen are goalkeeper
Veronica Pacione (Birdville), forward
Elaina Flores (McKinney – Boyd), midfielder
Ava Watts (Tulsa, Okla.), and midfielder/forward
Emily Bautista (Princeton).
While the transfers are midfielder/forward
Reneta Vargas (Coppell) from Baylor, midfielder/forward
McKenna O'Toole (Lake Travis) from Colorado College, and defender
Trinity Egerton (Garland – Rowlett) from Baylor.
Pacione played the second half in goal last week, while both Flores and Watts appeared in the match.
TWICE THE MITCHELLS
Mya and
Nya Mitchell are one of 24 sets of twins in NCAA Division I Soccer this year, they are also one of two to both receive all-conference accolades in the Southland Conference.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
The Colonels are 2-7-1 on the season, but 0-4 against SLC opponents, having lost four in a row and not scored a goal in conference play this year. The lone two wins were a 5-0 win over Mississippi Valley State and a 1-0 road win at Jackson State. Koryn Barrett has scored four of the team's seven goals, while Mylea Riggie has one goal and two assists. Megan Cook has played every minute in goal and recorded 47 saves for the Colonels.
Northwestern State and the Lions write another chapter in the rivalry on Sunday as A&M-Commerce looks to win its third straight matchup over Northwestern State, who won the first two meetings since the Lions joined the SLC. The Lady Demons are 7-5-1 this season and have gone 3-1 in conference play this far, but fell to Southeastern last Sunday. Northwestern State hosts Houston Christian on Friday before welcoming the Lions on Sunday. Currently, Northwestern State is the only team in the top three of the standings that the Lions have not played and beat this season. Offensively, Northwestern State has been led by Emily Sanatore, who has six goals and an assist this season, while Isabella Ruggiano has three goals and four assists. In goal, Libe Banuelos has recorded 59 saves in 12 starts.
-TAMUC-
