SHSU Soccer Kicks Off Sunday at 7 p.m.
8/23/2013 2:44:00 PM | Soccer
The 2013 Sam Houston athletic season will officially kick off Sunday night with the Bearkat women's soccer opener at Pritchett Field at 7 p.m. The first 100 fans in attendance for Sunday's game will get free Pizza Hut and 3 Spoons Froyo.
Sam Houston State returns six starters to a team that finished fifth last season with a 4-3-1 league record and 7-11-1 overall mark.
“We're excited to be back at Pritchett. It's been a very good home field for us since the new turf was installed last season. We hope that the freshman students and newcomers will come out and show support,” Brown said.
Last season's Southland Freshman of the Year, Kylie Hambleton returns in goal for the Kats. Hambleton ranked second in the conference in saves per game (5.36), third in save percentage (.843) and fourth in shutouts (6). Hambleton played in net for 14 of Sam Houston's 18 matches last season.
Sophomore midfielder Katie Ferrara, a preseason first-team all-conference selection, will pace the Sam Houston offense this season after leading the Bearkats in scoring last year with four goals, all of which came in conference play.
The team's lone senior, Tricia Mallory, moves into a midfield role after scoring 22 career goals as a forward for the Kats. Her 22 goals ranks second all-time at Sam Houston.
Similarly, junior Megan Manis is changing positions this season and will be a defender. The Kats graduated three starters in the back last season.
In the Bearkats' final tune-up last weekend, they pulled off a 1-0 win over Louisiana-Lafayette on the road. Freshman Shannon Shields scored the only goal on an assist from fellow freshman Kylie Dick.
After Sunday's home opener the Kats hit the road for nine of their next 10 matches. The Kats other home match is against Prairie View A&M Sunday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. Sam Houston will open a six-game conference home stand starting Oct. 6 against Stephen F. Austin.
