Lion Soccer heads to UTRGV for SLC opener - Texas A&M University-Commerce Athletics (2024)

Lion Soccer heads to UTRGV for SLC opener - Texas A&M University-Commerce Athletics (1)

Olly Lasiende

Soccer

COMMERCE –Southland Conference play is officially here for the Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team, who plays at UTRGV on Sunday at one of the conference newcomers this year.

WHO:A&M-Commerce at UTRGV
WHERE:Edinburg | UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex
WHEN: Sunday,September 22|Noon
RECORDS:The Lions are 1-6-2 on the season, while the Vaqueros are 4-3-1 on the season.

WATCH:ESPN+ |https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/e93fd36a-12e2-445e-8007-916897f94a78
SLC INTERNATIONAL FEED:https://www.southland.org/watch/?Live=490
LIVE STATS:https://goutrgv.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary

ROUGH STRETCH TO END NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
A&M-Commerce enters conference play coming up short of a win in its last eight matches, the Lions played Grambling to a 2-2 tie and No. 15 Oklahoma State to a 6-0 loss on the road last week. Last season, the Lions had two non-conference wins before securing a second place finish in SLC play. A&M-Commerce is picked to finish second again this year.

TIED THE MEAN GREEN
After falling behind 1-0 in the second half to North Texas, the Lions tallied two quick goals within 40 seconds to take the Mean Green, but came away a 2-2 tie in the match as UNT scored a goal in the final minutes of the match. It was the first tie for the Lions this season. The match against North Texas was the third time this season and second straight that the Lions scored the first goal in the match, falling to 1-1-1 when they score first.

MITCHELL OFF THE MARK
Mya Mitchell (Dallas - Mesquite Horn) scored to put the Lions ahead 1-0 over New Mexico State, it was Mitchell's first goal of the season and first since 2022 for the SLC Freshman of the Year.

BIG START TO THE SEASON
The Lions downed Oral Roberts 4-1 on August 15 to begin the season with a 4-1 record, marking the first time in the Division I era and first time since the spring season of 2021 that the Lions won their season opener.

BELL KEEPS RINGING
Hannah Bell (Duncanville) scored the first two goals in the win over Oral Roberts. As a result, the reigning Southland Conference Forward and Freshman of the Year was named the SLC Offensive Player of the Week, her first career weekly honor and the seventh for the Lions in the last two seasons.

THIRD TIME WAS THE CHARM
The Lions and Golden Eagles began the season against each other for the third straight year. After a 4-0 ORU win in 2022, a 2-2 tie in Commerce in 2023, the Lions finally got over the hump to take their first win in the series.

CHANCE TO REPEAT HISTORY
A&M-Commerce soared to new heights in 2023 and looks to build upon it in 2024. The Lions picked up the first winning season in the Division I era, while finishing second in the Southland, the best finish for any sport since joining the conference.

Bell picked up SLC Freshman of the Year and Forward of the Year honors, while Kaydence Ramirez (Waxahachie) was named the conference's Newcomer of the Year. The Lions have brought home the conference freshman of the year award for three straight seasons.

PRESEASON ACCOLADES
The Southland Conference released its preseason all-conference teams and A&M-Commerce led the way with seven honorees, the most in the SLC, including five on the first team.

Along with Bell and Ramirez, Nya Mitchell (Dallas – Mesquite Horn), Camila Montero (Langham Creek), and Mindy Shoffit (Wichita Falls – Rider) were named to the first team, while Melissa Storey (Tyne and Wear, England) and Mya Mitchell (Dallas – Mesquite Horn) were named to the second team.

Additionally, the Lions were to picked finish second in the SLC for the second straight year, including receiving two first-place votes. Lamar was voted to three-peat as conference champions.

EVERYBODY'S BACK!
All but four players from last season's roster return this year, which includes all 11 starters and all but two players that appeared in last season's Southland Conference Tournament. Additionally, 100 percent of goal production and point production returns for the Lions this year, which is tops in the country.

Also returning for the Lions are Mya Mitchell, Ashley Campuzano (Dallas – Atlas Prep), and Alana Lawless-Felarca (Richardson), who missed most of last season due to injury. Campuzano and Mitchell were named to all-Southland teams in 2022.

HELLO NEWCOMERS
The Lions welcome four freshmen and three transfers this season. The incoming freshmen are goalkeeper Veronica Pacione (Birdville), forward Elaina Flores (McKinney – Boyd), midfielder Ava Watts (Tulsa, Okla.), and midfielder/forward Emily Bautista (Princeton).

While the transfers are midfielder/forward Reneta Vargas (Coppell) from Baylor, midfielder/forward McKenna O'Toole (Lake Travis) from Colorado College, and defender Trinity Egerton (Garland – Rowlett) from Baylor.

Pacione played the second half in goal last week, while both Flores and Watts appeared in the match.

TWICE THE MITCHELLS
Mya and Nya Mitchell are one of 24 sets of twins in NCAA Division I Soccer this year, they are also one of two to both receive all-conference accolades in the Southland Conference.

SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
UTRGV, who plays its ever Southland contest in any sport on Sunday is 4-3-1 on the season, after being picked to finish ninth in its first season in the SLC. Marquee non-conference wins for the Vaqueros include Southern, Howard Payne, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and Prairie View A&M. The lone common opponent between the two teams has been Tarleton, who tied 1-1 with UTRGV.

This is the first meeting on the soccer pitch for the two schoools and first time the Lions are facing the Vaqueros in the Division I era. Savannah Frisby is the team's points leader with four goals and one assist, while Lisa Elowsson has two goals and an assist. In goal,Heiddis Sigurdardottir has 14 saves on the season.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE LIONS

The Lions begin conference play next Sunday at UTRGV.

-TAMUC-

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Players Mentioned

#3 Camila Montero

M
5' 3"
Senior

#5 Mindy Shoffit

D
5' 8"
Senior

#6 Hannah Bell

F
5' 3"
Sophomore

#8 Ashley Campuzano

M
5' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore

#10 Melissa Storey

M
5' 9"
Graduate Student

#14 Mya Mitchell

F
5' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore

#15 Nya Mitchell

D
5' 4"
Junior

#16 Alana Lawless-Felarca

M
5' 5"
Redshirt Freshman

#26 Kaydence Ramirez

M/F
5' 7"
Redshirt Sophomore

#2 Elaina Flores

F
5' 8"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

#3 Camila Montero

5' 3"
Senior
M

#5 Mindy Shoffit

5' 8"
Senior
D

#6 Hannah Bell

5' 3"
Sophomore
F

#8 Ashley Campuzano

5' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
M

#10 Melissa Storey

5' 9"
Graduate Student
M

#14 Mya Mitchell

5' 2"
Redshirt Sophomore
F

#15 Nya Mitchell

5' 4"
Junior
D

#16 Alana Lawless-Felarca

5' 5"
Redshirt Freshman
M

#26 Kaydence Ramirez

5' 7"
Redshirt Sophomore
M/F

#2 Elaina Flores

5' 8"
Freshman
F
Lion Soccer heads to UTRGV for SLC opener - Texas A&M University-Commerce Athletics (2024)
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