Lions welcome Golden Hurricanes, journey to UTSA

COMMERCE – Just three matches stay in non-conference play for the East Texas A&M University soccer group, who hosts Tulsa to finish a three-match dwelling stand, earlier than taking part in at UTSA on Sunday to shut out the weekend. 

LIONS’ WEEKEND SCHEDULE

FACULTY & STAFF APPRECIATION NIGHT

Thursday evening is Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night on the Lion Soccer Field. All school/workers members will obtain a free ticket for themselves and a reduced ticket fee for his or her relations for this Thursday’s Lion Soccer sport towards Tulsa at 7 p.m! Please contact LionTickets@tamuc.edu for extra info.

FULL DIVISION I MEMBERS

East Texas A&M University obtained approval from the NCAA in June 2025 for its expedited transition course of to develop into full NCAA Division I members and develop into instantly eligible for NCAA sponsored postseason occasions. The Lion soccer group has performed within the Southland Championship match twice within the final three seasons. 

PACIONE NAMED SLC KEEPER OF THE WEEK

Veronica Pacione (Birdville) recorded 12 saves in 135 minutes of play final week, together with career-best 9 saves within the 1-0 shutout win over Abilene Christian. As a end result, she was named the Southland Goalkeeper of the Week, the primary profession weekly honor for the sophomore netminder. She has allowed simply two objectives in three appearances at dwelling this season. 

MODEL OF CONSISTENCY

East Texas A&M performed within the Southland Tournament for the third straight 12 months final 12 months and made the championship match for the second time in three years.The Lions are the one group within the convention to be a high three seed in every of the final three convention tournaments.

PROTECTING HOME FIELD

With the 2 wins at dwelling final week, the Lions moved to 3-0 at dwelling this season, which is the most effective begin on the Lion Soccer Field since 2017. The Lions began 4-0 at dwelling that season. 

A FIRST IN THE DIVISION I ERA

Coming into this week, East Texas A&M has received three common season non-conference matches this season, which is essentially the most within the 4 seasons of Division I soccer. The Lions haven’t received 4 common season non-conference matches in a season since 2015. 

1-0 FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR

The Lions picked up a 4-1 win over Little Rock to win their season opener for the second straight 12 months. It is the primary time for the reason that 2014 and 2015 seasons that the Lions received their season opener in back-to-back seasons. 

MITCHELL CONTINUES TO MAKE STATEMENT TO START 2025

After being held to only one purpose in 22 matches during the last two seasons, Mya Mitchell (Dallas – Mesquite Horn) scored twice within the win over Little Rock and began the place she left off within the two matches final week. She scored in each wins and is now the Southland chief in objectives with 4 on the season.  

FOUR SCORE ONCE AGAIN

In the win over Little Rock, the Lions scored 4 objectives, which is the second straight season opener that they tallied 4. The 4 objectives are additionally tied for essentially the most in a match within the Division I period. 

MITCHELL CONTINUES TO MAKE STATEMENT TO START 2025

After being held to only one purpose in 22 matches during the last two seasons, Mya Mitchell (Dallas – Mesquite Horn) scored twice within the win over Little Rock. The 2022 Southland Freshman of the Year totaled 5 factors within the win. 

WE KNOW EACH OTHER

The beginning 11 towards Little Rock featured 9 gamers that had been on the group final season. The two newcomers to begin the match had been Alyssa Cox (Plano Senior), a switch from Louisiana, and Payton Joost (Wylie), a switch from Lamar. 

HELLO NEWCOMERS

Along with Cox and Joost, newcomers Malaya Ring (Malaya Ring), a switch from Gardner-Webb, additionally appeared within the match towards the Trojans, whereas freshmen Grace Robertson (Fulshear – Jordan) and Kelsey Lefever (Princeton) got here off the bench to make their Lion debuts. 

Newcomers Makayla Gonzalez (South Grand Prairie), Kaylee Humble (Harker Heights), Brooke Shields (Wylie East), and Judtih Nandwa (Mumias, Kenya) didn’t seem within the match towards Little Rock, however Gonzalez and Humble made their Lion debuts final weekend. 

RAMIREZ MAKES HISTORY, NAMED SLC PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Kaydence Ramirez (Waxahachie) was named the Southland Conference Player of the Year and Forward of the Year in 2024, turning into simply the second participant in program historical past and first since Vicky Back in 2016 to earn convention participant of the 12 months honors. She led the convention in objectives.    

FOUR NAMED TO ALL-SLC TEAMS

Along with Ramirez, who was named first group all-conference, the Lions had three gamers on second group all-conference in Hannah Bell (Duncanville), Mindy Shoffit (Wichita Falls – Rider), and Melissa Storey (Tyne and Wear, England).

THIRD TIME WAS THE CHARM

The Lions and Oral Roberts started the season towards one another for 3 years. After a 4-0 ORU win in 2022, a 2-2 tie in Commerce in 2023, the Lions lastly acquired over the hump to take their first win within the sequence final season. The Golden Eagles returned serve with a 3-0 win final Saturday as each groups are undefeated on their dwelling fields during the last 4 seasons. 

 

SCOUTING THE COMPETITION

The Lions are taking part in Tulsa for the third time within the final three years, with each groups having received on their dwelling grass every time. The Lions received 2-0 at dwelling in 2023, earlier than falling 2-1 in Tulsa final season. This season, the Golden Hurricanes are 4-2 and have received two in a row coming into Thursday’s match in Commerce. Tulsa and East Texas A&M has two widespread opponents up to now with the Golden Hurricanes falling to each Oklahoma and Abilene Christian, whereas the Lions went 1-1 towards these groups this season. 

Jordan Frederick has totaled 15 factors up to now this season, having scored six objectives, whereas including three assists, whereas Blaine Schutte has two objectives and two assists. In purpose, Tatum Sanders has 19 saves in over 318 minutes performed and Abi Dolding has 9 saves in 180 minutes. 

 

-ETAMU-