Soccer meets Northwestern State at 1 p.m. Sunday
10/31/2009 7:00:00 PM | Soccer
The Bearkats will be seeking to equal their school record for victories in one season and also produce the highest Southland finish. Last year, head coach Tom Brown's first Sam Houston squad gave the program its first winning season with a 9-7 mark. A win over the Demons Sunday would put the Kats at 9-8-2 for the 2009 regular season.
More importantly, a victory would assure Sam Houston of a number four seed in the tournament. Should Stephen F. Austin stumble Sunday against Central Arkansas, the Kats could even move up to third place.
Sam Houston has qualified for the Southland post-season tournament twice before in the seven-year history of the program. The Kats were the No. 5 seed in 2005 when they reached the tournament finals. In 2007, when they lost in the first round, Sam Houston was the No. 6 seed.
The Southland Tournament begins Thursday with the No. 4 and 5 seeds meeting at 7 p.m. and the No. 3 and 6 seeds playing at 4:30 p.m. Semifinal action is Friday night with the tournament finals on Sunday, Oct. 8. The winner of the post-season tournament earns the league's automatic NCAA tournament bid.
"The big thing right now is that we're in the tournament," Sam Houston head coach Tom Brown said. "Last year, we came into the final day of the regular season needing one more victory to get in and we didn't get it. It's great to have that already decided. We're still a young team with a lot of freshman out there. We need to focus on getting better every match."
With her second hat trick of the season Friday in the 4-2 win over Central Arkansas, freshman Kirby Zak is the Bearkats' top scoring threat. She has nine goals and nine assists this year. Two other freshman, Shelby Grissett and Leah Snelson, have goal totals of six and four, respectively.
Sunday's game will feature a toy drive for the US Marines Toys for Tots. Fans are urged to bring a new unwrapped present to be donated and help the Bearkats give children a memorable holiday season.
Admission to Sam Houston women's soccer at Pritchett Field is free.
To purchase tickets to other Bearkat athletic events, go to www.gobearkats.com or contact the Sam Houston State ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone number is 936 294-1729.
