Seniors lead Sam Houston into Southland Tournament
11/4/2015 1:07:00 PM | Soccer
The Sam Houston State soccer senior class has written and re-written records, advanced to the Southland Conference Tournament four consecutive seasons and has helped build a winning culture, but they are not as interested in talking about those things.
“Can we give a shout out to our fans?” asked an energetic Magen Ross, sitting around nine other fellow seniors Tuesday night. “I know my family came down for the first time to a game and thought they were the funniest fans. The support we've gotten from the students at Sam Houston has been awesome.”
Like the fan base, so much has changed since the Bearkat senior class arrived as freshmen four years ago. The goal extends beyond just getting there, but when the unit hits the field Thursday in Conway, Ark., for the league tournament, they once again re-iterate they belong among the best.
“This year, we beat the top team so I am excited to come here for the tournament,” Shelby McDaniel said. “Each year, we're getting better and better. Our goal isn't to make the tournament, it's to win it. As long as that continues to be a goal, the future is bright.”
On Friday, the Bearkats downed Stephen F. Austin, 1-0, the unit's first victory against its rival and the program's first since 2010. The squad followed up ending the Ladyjacks' 32-match league unbeaten streak with a powerful 3-1 win at Incarnate Word, doing so with a mentality in place.
“We're a dynamic group of people,” Kylie Hambleton said. “We have players that step up and say what the mean. There are players who do that day in and day out without the recognition. We have some that aren't recognized as leaders but very much are just as important. Twenty-eight for one is true.”
The slogan, “28 for 1” developed after senior Katie Ferrara, a key offensive contributor to the Kats went down for the season with a torn ACL at the end of September. Being sidelined does not mean she has stopped contributing; it only means she does so in another way.
“For me, when I tore my ACL, I knew my season was over,” Ferrara said. “I keep that saying in my head and keep being positive for everyone. Everyone has to accept their role, even if you don't play. It's about everyone being there for each other and having one goal.”
The senior class has tallied 34 wins since 2012 including a program-best 8-2-1 league mark a season ago. Meanwhile, off the field, they helped Sam Houston take home the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) College Team Academic Award, after achieving a 3.31 GPA. They have received the honor each season since arriving.
“I think we're all mature and level headed,” McDaniel said. “We all have loved soccer all our lives. As people, we know right from wrong. It's about having integrity on and off the field. We don't have players that get in trouble.”
Despite the significant athletic and academic achievements, Sam Houston has been eluded by a conference championship, missing title appearances by slight margins each of the past two seasons, including a penalty-kick loss last year.
“I think as a team, we need to take the conference tournament one game at a time,” Mariah Titus said. “I think in previous years, we were thinking too far ahead and we really just needed to give it all in our first game.”
The No. 3-seeded Bearkats look to do that Thursday at 2:30 p.m. against host and No. 6 seed Central Arkansas. The win-or-go-home formatted tournament will pit the winner against No. 2 seed Houston Baptist at 7 p.m. on Friday.
“A lot of us don't see this as, 'it's coming to an end,'” Ross said. “We see it as this chapter of our lives is over but we're also looking forward to what's next. We all have great things about to happen after soccer is over. After the (SFA) game, we knew we were ready to go do it again and go get a ring. Senior night for me made me more excited for the tournament than sad it was coming to an end.”
The first two rounds of the tournament can been seen live at southland.org/watch with the championship match scheduled for 1:05 p.m. on ESPN3, WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app. The winner receives the Southland's automatic bid to the Women's College Cup held Nov. 15-17.
“We set out to change the culture,” Hambleton said. “It evolved over time but it wasn't accidental. We sat down with a decision to change how the program worked. I think we've definitely made a positive impact as a class.”
