Bearkats hit road for visits to McNeese, Lamar
10/1/2015 11:21:00 AM | Soccer
After posting a 2-1 record to begin league play at Pritchett Field, Sam Houston State soccer hits the road for three consecutive matches, beginning this weekend with stops at McNeese State and Lamar.
The Bearkats (5-4-1, 2-1 Southland) take on McNeese (4-5, 1-2 SLC) Friday at 7 p.m. from Cowgirl Field before making the short trek to Lamar (6-6, 2-1 SLC) and the LU Soccer Complex on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Cowgirls were picked sixth preseason by league coaches, while the Cardinals were chosen ninth.
“I think they'll both be tough opponents,” eighth-year head coach Tom Brown said. “Through non-conference, they've both been up and down. I am sure McNeese will remember coming in and starting with a two-goal lead going into the second half and us scoring three quick goals last year. I think they'll have a lot of motivation at home to turn that result around.”
Sam Houston split a pair of 1-0 matches last weekend, dropping the Friday opener to Houston Baptist, before responding with a victory, thanks to a Mariah Titus penalty-kick goal in the 55th minute to down A&M-Corpus Christi.
“Being able to finish with a win on Sunday so you don't have to think about a loss for the next five days sets a different mentality going into training,” Brown said. “We were happy to get the win but overall as we looked at the weekend, we were disappointed the way we performed. We addressed some of that Wednesday, working on technique and position; making sure we clean up some of those errors.”
The Bearkats enter a big weekend of league play tied for second in fewest number of goals allowed against conference foes (2) helped by senior goalkeepers Kylie Hambleton and Magen Ross.
“They have a good relationship with helping each other but they understand they're competitors,” Brown said. “There can only be one player in the goal. They both have done a good job with the opportunities they've had. They don't go into the situation where they dislike the person they're competing against.”
The squad boasts a unique mix of veteran players and freshmen who are regularly seeing playing time. Brown believes the team's extra time together has created comradery and an understanding of one another's game.
“Overall, the team has continued to be more comfortable with each other,” Brown said. “You want to have as many good players as you can but they also need to be familiar with each other. The players' commitment to come in during Summer II has allowed that. It's trying to make sure every game we're getting better.”
Early in the league slate, Sam Houston is among four schools (Houston Baptist, Lamar and Central Arkansas) at 2-1 while Southeastern Louisiana is 3-0-0 in the top spot and Stephen F. Austin sits at 2-0-1. Brown believes, the best is still to come for the team.
“I don't think we've seen the best we can do so I think we're in a good position for having said we aren't playing the best we can,” Brown said. “We'll be excited as we get to that point; hopefully toward the end of the season.”
