Kats open 13th season Friday at UL-Lafayette
8/20/2015 4:38:00 PM | Soccer
Sam Houston State opens its highly-anticipated 13th season of soccer on Friday, trekking across state lines to face Louisiana-Lafayette at 6 p.m. from the Ragin' Cajuns Soccer Complex.
The Bearkats return nine starters and 15 letter winners to a squad that compiled a 9-8-2 record, including a program-best 8-2-1 mark in Southland Conference play a season ago.
“I think we've done well through preseason,” eighth-year head coach Tom Brown said. “There's always things you want to get to that you don't but I think we've been able to get a lot of our players comfortable. I think our team is excited to get the season started.”
The inaugural test will mark the second straight season the Kats open against the Ragin' Cajuns. A year ago, Sam Houston outshot Louisiana-Lafayette 28-5 but fell 1-0 on a goal in the 53rd minute, something Brown said his veteran squad remembers well.
“I think last year, we felt like we controlled most of the game but ended up losing on a mistake in our own end,” Brown said. “I think the returning players will remember that and make sure we take care of our attacking efforts we create.”
As will be the case throughout the season, the Kats draw a quick turnaround, heading to UTSA for a 7 p.m. Sunday start at the Park West Athletics Complex. The match will be the season opener for a youthful Roadrunners squad.
“I think those games being on the road will help our players, especially our young players, maybe not be as nervous because they're not in front of a lot of hometown fans,” Brown said. “I think sometimes it's easier for them to go out and relax and compete. I think it'll be a good weekend and hopefully we'll get some good results.”
Alongside 18 returners, the squad welcomes in seven freshmen and three transfers, providing a level of depth that Brown hopes is advantageous entering the squad's 18-match schedule.
“We think we'll have a good starting group out tomorrow,” Brown said. “In Sunday's game, we'll see three or four players that don't start Friday start then. It's early in the season so we want to find out now about players we have whether they can contribute the way we think they can. We'd like to play a lot of players at different times in different situations.”
The team boasts a league-best six Southland preseason all-conference honorees. The Kats earned more recognition recently, with the forward Allie Johnson, midfielder Ashley Alonzo, midfielder Shelby McDaniel and midfielder Mariah Titus being named to TopDrawerSoccer.com's preseason all-Southland team.
“I think those four players definitely distinguished themselves last season,” Brown said. “We're happy to see Top Drawer Soccer recognize what an impact they've had in the conference. At this early of a date, we're hoping they have that same impact coming up for the season.”
Brown enters the weekend one win shy of 200 for his career. The Kats' head man began his decorated head coaching career in 1993 at Sterling College in Kansas. For the latest updates, follow @SHSUSoccer on Twitter or visit GoBearkats.com.
