Bearkat Soccer All-Decade Team
11/22/2012 3:00:00 PM | Soccer
The program started in 2003 and has produced numerous outstanding student-athletes who contributed to the program's success.
The team includes two goalkeepers, four defenders, four midfielders and four forwards. Each player must have competed in at least two seasons for the Bearkats to be included in the team.
The Bearkat goalkeepers include a pair of four-year starters.
Melissa Sauceda started the Bearkats' first game in net on August 29, 2003, and ended her career as the Kat's all-time leader in saves with 515 and is second in career shutouts (7) and goals against average (2.62).
Jenny Pence started as a freshman in 2007 and recorded three shutouts. As a sophomore, Pence recorded seven consecutive shutouts. Pence is the career leader in shutouts (23) and goals against average (1.53) and second in saves (460).
The team includes defenders Kayla Anderson and Hailey Shelpuk from the 2012 squad that put up the best defensive record in the program's history by allowing just 1.05 goals a game. The 2011 and 2012 squads each recorded seven shutouts.
The other two All-Decade defenders are Carla Campbell and Nichole Watkins who were apart of the 2008 team that only allowed 1.06 goals per game.
In the All-Decade midfield is a pair of dynamic wingers in Raquel Bueno and Kirby Zak. Raquel is the Bearkats career leader in goals scored with 27, including a Bearkat record 11 as a senior. Kirby Zak is the SHSU career leader in assists with 10 but also scored 17 career goals including nine in her freshman season.
Toffie Chavez and Noelle Wiggins round out the Bearkat midfield. Chavez was a three-time All-Southland team selection (2004, 2006, 2007). Wiggins played in every game as a freshman and sophomore and scored two game-winners in her first season.
The forwards on the All-Decade team include a duo from the program's first seasons. Kim Brown and Tynice Friday accounted for 35 goals in the first three seasons of Bearkat soccer. Kim Brown is third in career goals for Sam Houston with 19. Tynice Friday is tied for third in career assists with seven along with her 16 goals.
Luana Miesa only spent two seasons with Sam Houston but certainly left her mark. Miesa scored 14 goals and had eight assists in her short Bearkat career. The final forward, Tricia Mallory, is second in career goals with 22 and still has one year left with the Kats. Mallory set an SHSU record by scoring 11 goals as a freshman.
Goalkeepers:
Jenny Pence (2007-10), Melissa Sauceda (2003-06)
Defenders:
Kayla Anderson (2009-12), Carla Campbell (2005-08), Hailey Shelpuk (2011-12), Nichole Watkins (2007-10)
Midfielders:
Raquel Bueno (2005-08), Toffie Chavez (2004-07), Noelle Wiggins (2005-08), Kirby Zak (2009-12)
Forwards:
Kim Brown (2003-05), Tynice Friday (2003-04), Tricia Mallory (2010-12), Luana Miesa (2007-08)
