Trio of Kats recognized on TopDrawerSoccer list
11/10/2015 3:15:00 PM | Soccer
As Sam Houston State soccer raced to its first 10-win season and second Southland Conference Tournament title match, TopDrawerSoccer.com recognized a trio of Bearkats among its Top 20 players in the Southland Conference.
Senior midfielder Mariah Titus, senior midfielder Shelby McDaniel and sophomore defender Caitlin Schwartz were named to the premier list, after each had a hand in the strong 2015 campaign.
For Titus, the accolade helps close out a decorated career that included 14 goals, ranking the Bedford native tied for seventh in program history. Her 146 shots, including team-leading 53 this season, are fourth all-time. The Bell High School product was also first-team All-Southland Conference and an all-tournament honoree.
“I think Mariah has been our best player all year long,” eighth-year head coach Tom Brown said. “Overall, she may be the most dynamic player. She doesn't always get in on all the goals or assists but she is doing work box to box and end to end.”
Likewise, the honor is yet another for McDaniel, who was named Southland Conference honorable mention while finishing tied for third on the team with 36 shots. The League City native directed a midfield that consistently controlled play in the league tournament while finishing her career tied for third in program lore with 11 assists and fifth with 133 shots.
“Shelby has been getting stronger and stronger each game,” Brown said following the regular season. “Against Stephen F. Austin and Incarnate Word, she was fantastic. She was easily the best player on the field against Stephen F. Austin. She created a ton of opportunities and caused some issues for them.”
Schwartz, a first-team All-Southland Conference honoree, helped anchor a back line that finished second in the league in goals allowed per match (0.83) and shutouts (9) including three clean sheets at the tournament. The San Antonio product earned the league's defender of the week after leading a tenacious defensive effort and adding the match-winning goal in the season opener at Louisiana-Lafayette.
“Caitlin has really embraced the role of being a central defender,” Brown said. “We converted her a year ago to that role and she has been very dominant back there. She is a player teams have to watch out for when we have set pieces and those sort of things.”
Sam Houston is coming off its seventh straight league tournament appearance, with the squad advancing to the semifinals or further each of the past three seasons. For the latest, follow @SHSUSoccer on Twitter and visit GoBearkats.com.
