Kats hit road for tests at SMU, Little Rock
8/30/2017 1:16:00 PM | Soccer
Matches 4-5
Thursday, Aug. 31 • 7:00 PM • Dallas, Texas • Westscott Field
Sam Houston State (2-1-0) vs. #22 SMU (2-0-2)
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Saturday, Sept. 2 • 7:00 PM • Little Rock, Ark. • Coleman Sports & Rec Complex
Sam Houston State (2-1-0) vs. Little Rock (2-2-0)
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DALLAS – Sam Houston State opens a brief two-match road trip on Thursday, facing nationally-ranked SMU before heading north to take on Little Rock two days later.
Thursday's match will be the first in six days for the Bearkats, who had Sunday's match against Oral Roberts cancelled due to Hurricane Harvey. The matches will be the final in the non-conference road slate. The Kats return home one week from Friday to face Louisiana in the final non-league test.
Combined with the team's preseason exhibition against Texas A&M, Thursday will mark the second time in five matches the Bearkats have squared off against a top-25 team. The Mustangs are No. 22 in the latest United Soccer Coaches' Poll.
Meanwhile, Sam Houston is one of three teams to sit atop the Southland Conference standings at 2-1-0 through three matches. The Kats are tied with Northwestern State for most goals per game (4.33) while leading the conference in corners (22) and ranking fourth in goals against average (1.67).
Sam Houston senior Beryl Smith leads the league in points (8), points per game (2.67), goals (4) and goals per game (1.33). Teammate Carlota Suarez-Crespo is first in shots per game (4.67) while Lexi Bullard is tied for first in assists per game (1.00) followed by Courtney Pawlik in fourth (0.67).
The Bearkats drubbed Jackson State, 8-0, last time out, producing their most goals since 2011. Sam Houston outshot the Lady Tigers, 33-2, and held JSU without a shot in the first half. Bullard added three assists while four different players (Smith, Crespo, Meredith Carlson and Micaela Birt) netted a pair of goals.
Thursday offers a strong test for the Bearkats as SMU enters as one of 66 unbeaten teams. The Mustangs boast a 0.43 goals against average behind a pair of shutouts and are ranked in the top-25 for the first time since Oct. 17, 2006.
Little Rock heads into the weekend with a 2-2-0 mark. The Trojans blanked Missouri State, 2-0, last time out and opened their season with a 2-1 overtime victory against Central Arkansas. Little Rock also took a 1-0 lead on Texas in Austin before falling 2-1 last Friday.
QUOTEABLES:
Head coach Tom Brown on the six days between matches…
“We were obviously trying to pay attention to the weather and find some breaks to get something done. Although we lost the (ORU) game, still coming out of preseason with those games and having some time to let the body recover is not a bad thing. We've gotten on to Dallas a day earlier and look forward to having a good training session up there.”
Head coach Tom Brown on the challenges ahead this weekend…
“I think both of these teams will be very good. They are very organized and athletic. We'll have to be prepared to deal with that. I think we just have to be prepared to deal with these styles on the road and try to make sure we're focused for these games especially with everything that has happened with Hurricane Harvey. We've had players whose families have had to evacuate. We want to make sure we compete the best we can.”
Head coach Tom Brown on the confidence gained from last time out…
“I think we definitely have improved our ability to create and score goals. I think our team's confidence is better than it was last season. Players just have to be aware that these are small steps and it's early in the season. They have to continue making efforts to get better every day. We have to make sure each player in our leadership group is pushing forward and recognizing we have some goals to achieve down the line.”
