Jenny Pence, Kirby Zak named preseason all-league
8/10/2010 4:01:00 PM | Soccer
The Bearkats return eight starters and four other letter winners from their 2009 squad that posted Sam Houston's first winning league record in the program's seven-year history. Sam Houston's fourth place league finish last year was the program's best and this year's prediction of a repeat fourth place performance is the highest the Kats have ever been picked in the preseason coaches' poll.
Senior goalkeeper Jenny Pence and sophomore forward Kirby Zak are second team selections on the 2010 pre-season All-Southland squad, also voted upon by the league's head coaches. Never before have the Bearkats had two players named to the preseason poll. Bearkat all-time leading scorer Raquel Bueno was a preseason all-league selection in 2006.
Pence was an All-Southland honorable mention selection following the 2009 season and has been named as Southland "Goalkeeper of the Week" five times in her career. The senior from Kingwood holds Sam Houston career school records for most shutouts (17), lowest goals against average (1.56) and goalkeeper victories (25).
Zak also was an All-Southland honorable mention selection last year after leading the Bearkats in scoring with nine goals and 10 assists as a true freshman. The sophomore from Weatherford was a two-time Southland "Offensive Player of the Week" selection last year. She started all 21 matches and posted hat tricks in victories over Prairie View and Central Arkansas.
"Obviously, our goal is to finish higher than fourth place, but it is good to see two of our players receive preseason recognition," Sam Houston head coach Tom Brown said. "We've added a strong group of new freshmen to our returning players from last year's team. There's a lot of competition for positions on the team this year and that's definitely going to help us."
Defending champion Texas State is the head coaches' pick to repeat as Southland soccer champions in 2010. Southeastern Louisiana, the league's post-season tournament champion last year, is tabbed to finish as runner-up. Stephen F. Austin was picked to finish third and Sam Houston and UTSA were tied in the voting for fourth place. Northwestern State was voted sixth followed by McNeese State, Lamar, Nichols and Central Arkansas.
Sam Houston will open its 2010 soccer schedule on Friday August 20 with a road match at Houston Baptist at 7 p.m.
The home opener for the Bearkats will be Friday September 3 when Sam Houston plays host to North Texas at Pritchett Field at 7 p.m. Prior to the opening home match Sam Houston Student Activities will be hosting a special Bearkat Soccer Tailgate party at Pritchett.
Admission to Sam Houston women's soccer at Pritchett Field is free.
For ticket information for other Bearkat events, visit www.gobearkats.com or visit the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. The ticket office telephone is 936 294-1729.
Southland Conference Soccer Coaches Poll
Team Points
1. Texas State (7) 79
2. Southeastern Louisiana (2) 74
3. Stephen F. Austin (1) 59
T4. Sam Houston State 51
T4. UTSA 51
6. Northwestern State 39
7. McNeese State 36
8. Lamar 35
9. Nicholls 14
10. Central Arkansas 12
2010 All-Southland Conference Preseason Soccer Teams
First Team
Pos Name Class University
GK Lacey Bockhaus Jr. Southeastern La
DF Jessica Elting Sr. Texas St
DF Kyle MacIntosh Jr. Southeastern La
DF Kelli Barnes Sr. Stephen F. Austin
MF Kylie Louw So. Stephen F. Austin
MF Natalie Santana Sr. Southeastern La
MF Chelsea Zimmermann Sr. UTSA
MF Kelsey Bernard Jr. Texas St
FW Britney Curry Sr. Texas St
FW Maiya Cooper So. Southeastern La
FW Kim Kimmel Sr. Stephen F. Austin
Second Team
GK Jenny Pence Sr. Sam Houston
DF Jordan King Jr. Stephen F. Austin
DF Nicole Brannigan Jr. Southeastern La
DF Brittany Prieto Sr. Southeastern La
MF Alana Clark Sr. McNeese St.
MF Taylor Person So. Texas St.
MF Lisa Topping So. Lamar
FW Kirby Zak So. Sam Houston
FW Allison Dillon Sr. UTSA
FW Laura Sadler So. Stephen F. Austin
FW Erica Michaud Jr. Texas State
