COMMERCE – Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team is back on the road to close out non-conference play, facing Grambling on Thursday and No. 15 Oklahoma State on Sunday afternoon. 

LIONS' WEEKEND SCHEDULE 

Date	Opponent	Coverage
Thursday • 5 p.m.	at Grambling	Watch | Live Stats
Sunday • 1 p.m.	at No. 15 Oklahoma State	Watch (ESPN+) | Live Stats

 
DOWNED BY THE GOLDEN HURRICANE, BOBCATS
The Lions came up short against Tulsa on the road and at home against Texas State last week, despite scoring in both matches. The Lions have now been winless in their last six matches. 

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
Grambling is 2-4-2 to begin the season, having recorded wins over LSU Alexandria and Nicholls, but has last three in a row coming into Thursday. This is just the second home match of the season for the Tigers. Jayla Gage has led the way so far this season with four goals, while both Charlotte Cuthbertson and Sophia Lezizidis have two goals each. Madison Covey-Taylor has started all eight matches in goal and has recorded 28 saves.   

The meeting against the Cowgirls on Sunday is the first time the Lions are playing a ranked opponent since facing No. 20 Colorado on September 1, 2022, their last win over a ranked opponent came on September 5 at No. 18 UC-Colorado Springs. OSU is yet to lose this season or even allow a goal this season, its only tie came against Texas State last week. The Cowgirls play at Baylor to begin Big XII play on Thursday before hosting the Lions on Sunday. For OSU, Logan Heausler has tallied team-best four goals, while Nicole Ray has scored three, and Xcaret Pineda has totaled two goals and two assists. Grace Gordon has tallied 25 saves without allowing a goal.    

WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE LIONS