Soccer hosts high scoring LA Tech Friday
9/24/2009 8:45:00 AM | Soccer
The old saying about jumping from the frying pan into the fire might apply to the Sam Houston women's soccer team.
After having their defense tested Sunday by the No. 13 team in the nation, Texas A&M, the Bearkats now must play host to the number one scoring team in NCAA Division I soccer.
The undefeated Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters come to Pritchett Field Friday night for a 7 p.m. matchup that is sure to feature offensive fireworks.
Outscoring opponents 47-5, Louisiana Tech leads the country in goals scored with an average of 4.70 per game. Tech has scored five or more goals four times including two 7-1 wins and a 12-0 blowout of Delta State. The team closest to Tech in scoring is Nebraska with 36 goals.
The Lady Techsters are 10-0-0 and have the most wins in the NCAA this season. They are joined by eight other programs that have no losses or ties that include four nationally ranked teams. No. 1 Stanford (9-0-0), No. 6 Boston College (8-0-0), No. 13 South Carolina (8-0-0) and No. 19 Maryland (8-0-0) all have unblemished marks.
Two of Louisiana Tech's victories have come over Southland Conference opponents. The Techsters defeated Lamar and Nicholls.
Sophomore Rachel King leads the team and ranks second in the nation in goals with 11. She trails only Morgan Marlborough of Nebraska with 13.
"This will be another big test for our defense," Sam Houston head coach Tom Brown said. "We showed in the Texas A&M match that we're continuing to improve defensively."
Sam Houston trailed Texas A&M 1-0 at half and ended up falling 4-0. The Bearkats stand 2-5-1 for the season.
Two Bearkats were honored by the Southland Conference after last week's victory over Texas Southern and the Texas A&M contest. Freshman midfielder Kirby Zak was named Southland "Offensive Player of the Week" after scoring a hat trick in the Texas Southern victory. Junior Jenny Pence was named Southland "Goalkeeper of the Week."
The Louisiana Tech match is the final non-conference encounter for the Bearkats before they begin Southland Conference action. Sam Houston opens Southland play with a road trip east to face McNeese State on Friday Oct. 2 and Lamar on Sunday Oct. 4.
Admission to Sam Houston State soccer home matches at Pritchett Field is free.
For ticket information on other Sam Houston sports events, go to www.gobearkats.com or come by or call the Bearkat athletic ticket office. The ticket office is located in the Ron Mafrige Field House in the south end zone of Bower Stadium. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
