This weekend, Trinity's soccer teams will travel to Birmingham, AL to participate in the first SCAC Soccer Championship Tournament since 1992. The SCAC chose Birmingham, AL as the pre-determined site for both tournaments. Both the men's and women's teams enter the 2011 SCAC Championships as the #1 seed and will await the quarterfinal winners from Friday, November 4 in Saturday's Semifinal. Birmingham Southern College have provided a tournament website where information can be found with results, updates, stats and video. Click HERE to link directly there.
The ladies finished their second undefeated regular season in the past three seasons going 18-0. The regular season finale took place last Sunday in Irving, TX. Despite outshooting the University of Dallas 27-3, it took nearly the duration of regulation and the first overtime to find the back of the net. Team and conference goalscoring leader, first-year, Stephanie Segovia, netted her 22nd goal of the season as she broke free on the left side smacking a ball into the top of the far corner. The goal secured the immediate win as well as the top seed in this weekend's tournament.
A note to remember....
The NCAA championship committee will announce the 64-team field on Monday, November 7. Currently sitting atop the NCAA's West Region rankings, Trinity will be hoping to extend their 2011 win streak to 19...and then 20...which would secure the AQ from the SCAC. The girls are well aware of the importance of the UPCOMING match, and will not be looking beyond that. That matchup will be against the winner of #4 Rhodes and #5 Hendrix.
Up next for the Tigers is a match in Irving, TX against the University of Dallas. This will conclude the regular season, and will serve as the final preparation for the SCAC Championships in Birmingham, AL November 4-6. Trinity has secured the #1 seed in the tournament and will await the winner of Quarterfinal #1 featuring #4-v-#5 on November 4. The semifinal will be played on November 5 at 12 noon CST. The Final is slated for November 6 at 11 AM.
Following a wonderful celebration of the Trinity Soccer Family on Saturday evening at the residence of Vice President Chuck White and wife, Judy, we had take the field on Sunday against a much improved Hendrix side that was riding a stretch of games without a loss. Hendrix arrived onto campus on Sunday holding on tightly to the #2 spot in the SCAC Conference table. With a win, we would secure a bye into the semi-final round of the upcoming SCAC Conference Tournament in Birmingham, AL.
This fixture would coincide with Senior Day for five very special young women that have persisted and persevered into one of the most remarkable and influential class of players to come the program.
Nicole Blavet-Austin, TX; Business Administration and Classical Studies
Kelly Watts-Lakewod, WA; International Business and Classical Studies
In their nearly four year career, they have played an integral role, both individually and collectively, in a 65-7-2 overall record. They have gone 47-2-1 in their last 50 matches, including 34 consecutive regular season wins. In conference play, they have produced a 32-3-0 record, which includes 27 consecutive SCAC wins, outscoring conference opponents 112-16. They have won two consecutive SCAC Championships, and have secured the 2011 SCAC Conference Regular Season Championship following the win at Austin College.
These incredible young women embody extraordinary values as citizens, students, and athletes. They have been catalysts in establishing a culture within the Trinity Soccer program that thrives on excellence in every facet of life. The legacy they have, and will leave behind serves as a model for those after them to follow and a standard for them to pursue.
RECORD UPDATE: Senior, Abby Loar, would score her 6th game winner in the match against Hendrix, and add an insurance goal to take over the position of Trinity All-Time Points Leader, and pull even in the All-Time Goals leader board. She has since added two more goals in the last two matches since then , as the Tigers secured victories against Huston-Tillotson (W7-0) and Austin College (W2-0).
Trinity Soccer took on Southwestern University this past Friday night in its fifth conference fixture of the season. Southwestern entered the match at 1-3 in SCAC play and were in dire need of a result to keep hopes alive for making the upcoming SCAC Conference Championships in Birmingham, AL the first weekend of November.
The girls were well aware of the circumstances and realized the importance of dictating the flow of the match from the start. Senior, Abby Loar got the Tigers on the board in the 19th minute as she flew through a Tara Sparks cross at the back post. Youngster, Stephanie Segovia came on in the 26th minute and tallied the second goal of the game and the 17th of her first collegiate season off a feed from Samantha Atkins in just ten minutes. Kristina Chen would score the game's third goal (her third in two games) following a fantastic first touch that matched the combination from Segovia and classmate, Emily Jorgens. Trinity went into halftime up 3-0 and very much in control of the match, but a few things to tidy up.
The second half was just over six minutes old and Abby had banged in two more for an early hat-trick followed by a long rest. Senior, Kelly Watts continues to provide tremendous service and creativity as she assisted to make the game 4-0 and Atkins dished up her second assist for the fifth goal. A minute later, Atkins would hit the post...TWICE...within a minute, narrowly missing on increasing her scoring contribution to the game. Segovia would notch another goal as Chen would reciprocate from her earlier goal, creating a quality chance for her teammate. Segovia was not done, however, this time getting ahold of the ball in the final third and creating a chance for herself that she drove past the keeper for her second hat-trick in as many matches and her third on the year. Her goalscoring total reached 19 on the year.Katie Garrett, Devan Osegueda, and Lauren Goldberg all combined in goal for the shutout. Garrett registered one save on the lone shot in the first half by Southwestern. Lauren saw two balls come her way in the closing minutes, one going just over the bar and the other off frame as well.
Trinity heads into Friends & Family Weekend and will face Hendrix College on Sunday at noon. Hendrix come to Texas riding a four-game conference winning streak and are currently in second place in the SCAC standings along with Birmingham Southern. Birmingham Southern have a game-in-hand.
Trinity Soccer has remained in the top 5 in both National Rankings for the duration of the regular season thus far, and sits 3rd in both polls for the week. 2010 National Finalists and Semifinalists sit in the top 2 positions.
Trinity tops the NCAA in goals scored with 81 in 14 matches thus far, totaling 5.79 goals per game, as well as winning percentage at 14-0-0. The girls also rank in the top 5 in Goals Against (0.28) and Shutout Percentage (0.786).
Trinity continues to be recognized in the SCAC for individual performances, garnering player-of-the-week honors consistently. Since the first week, Trinity has placed at least on player on the list of honorees in six of the seven weeks. Click HERE to see who has made the list so far.
Rhodes at home on a Friday night is always a fun match. They would be coming in without a loss in conference, and we knew we would have some work to do to prepare for the match. Last year in Memphis, it was a 2-1 final where we missed some chances to put the game away and they capitalized on a late counter to draw close.
This year, the match would come with some...."extras". Tanya Zwick Rinebarger, a former Trinity Soccer Hall-of-Famer (is it me or have we been around a lot of Hall-of-Famers lately?!) would return to campus with husband, Trent, and her folks to celebrate her induction into the Trinity University Athletics Hall-of Fame. Tanya would be joined by a number of her former teammates and their future tiger soccer players, as well as Nick Cowell, former Trinity Women's Soccer Coach, and current coach at St. Edward's. It was fantastic having everyone back to participate in this memorable event. Tanya is the first ever Trinity Soccer Player to enter the Hall-of-Fame.
Trinity player Ally Hunter, the current president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) spear-headed a campus fundraiser with the goal of generating $10,000 to present to a local organization, Texas WINGS. Owen Collie, the women's assistant coach was largely responsible for generating a large amount of money from supporting businesses through his mother (a breast cancer survivor, herself) and father. In the end, during the pre-match ceremony, Trinity University First Lady, Penelope Harley, several SAAC student-athletes and Athletics Director, Bob King, presented checks of $6000 and $12,000 to Susan G. Komen For the Cure and Texas WINGS, respectively. The fundraising went on throughout the weekend, and is expected to total approximately $20,000 on behalf of Trinity University. Well done Ally, to you and your peers!!
Time for Kick-off!!!
The first half of the match was less than inspiring, and really wasn't much to be said for it in either direction. Halftime required some adjustments and recognition of where we needed to adapt our game, and the girls responded...did they ever!!
Stephanie Segovia, our leading goal scorer for the 2011 campaign would bag the first goal of the second half, and the eventual game winner less than two minutes in. Seniors Kelly Watts and Abby Loar would combine for the assist. The lethal connection of Stephanie and Abby would combine again only a few minutes later, only this time Abby would notch the goal to put Trinity up 2-0. Only three minutes later, Emily Jorgenswould tally her tenth goal of the campaign. The rhythm would settle for a quarter of an hour, but pick back up again in the 71st minute after Shelby Guenthardt would draw some contact in the box and be awarded a penalty, which she would take very well and stretch the lead to four.To close out the game, Riah Risk would smack a ball that was too heavy for the keeper to handle, splitting her hands and crossing the line, and then less than a minute later, Michelle Lanier would play a great early ball in behind the Rhodes back line for Annie Kendzior to run on to, running the score to 6-0.
Saturday on Alumni weekend always means a 10:00 AM alumni game followed by lunch with the current and former players at Bombay's. This Saturday would have a little more to it in that it would be followed by a reception for Tanya. It was great to see the current players getting to know a Trinity Soccer legend as they honored and respected her career.
Sunday would come with torrential downpours and flash flooding in the early hours. Millsaps had made their way down I-35 from Georgetown, and we were not about to allow the wet conditions to put us off our objective. We would get things going early scoring first in the eighth minute and nine more times up until the 89th minute. Annie Kendzior got the game-winner and completed her hat trick in less than seven and a half minutes. Senior Kristina Chenwould score in the 20th minute and the 86th minute. Stephanie Segovia scored her 14th, 15th and 16th goals of the season in a hat trick of her own. Riah Risk would have a repeat of her Friday night goal with a shot that overpowered the hands of the goalkeeper in the 49th minute. Shelby Guenthardt would also add to her season total with a goal in the 59th. Hannah Kuhl and Michelle Lanier would each register two assists on the day while seniors Abby Loar and Nikki Blavet would provide one apiece. Goalkeepers Katie Garrett, Devan Osegueda and Lauren Goldberg would all three combine for the win.
In all, it was a fantastic weekend. Six more points in conference, celebrating a Tiger legend, and a lot of experience and memories to fill in the gaps. We look forward to seeing the former players again soon, and look forward to another conference match on Friday. See you soon!
Here's a short video our friend, Keaton Davis, put together to commemorate Friday night's match and events...
I realize this is coming far too late, so please accept my apologies. I think this blog has been entirely inactive since last spring. We have seen a great deal of change on MANY levels since last you heard from me here....and it is my hope to catch you up all at once...so GET READY!!
FACILITY
Above: You are looking at the team bench areas as well as the Isom Memorial.
Above: The spectator seating has been extended to each endline, stretching the entire length of the field, opposite the team areas.
In all, the facility, named Paul McGinlay Field and to be dedicated on September 23, prior to kickoff of our match against OLLU, underwent a renovation of just over $1,000,000 over the spring and early summer.
2011 TEAM
The 2011 team consists of 11 new faces combined with 14 returners.
The 2011 campaign has gotten off to a blazing start, both with regards to the results, as well as the schedule itself. From September 1-September 11, the girls were charged with six matches, all at home and included the early season re-match against our in-state rival, Hardin Simmons, who was coming in as the defending National Champions. Here are the results through the initial home stretch (Click Matchup for Game Story and Score for Game Statistics):
Throughout the first two weeks of the season, Trinity Soccer has found itself getting some recognition, both collectively as well as some individual performances.
The San Antonio Scorpions, the city's new professional soccer franchise has highlighted our program on their website!! Click here to read!!
Senior, Abby Loar was selected as the SCAC's Offensive Player-of-the Week for week one of the season, and First-Year, Emily Jorgens followed suit during week two!! (Click their names for respective stories on their recognition.)
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America has recognized Trinity Soccer as the 6th best team in America after the first two weeks of the season. Take a look at the full National Rankings.
D3Soccer.com has also recognized Trinity as being among the very best in the country. Their rankings can be found here.
Save the DATES!
September 23, 2011 Dedication of Paul McGinlay Field and Isom Memorial
October 7, 2011 Alumni Weekend--Honoring of Tanya Zwick Rinebarger for induction into the Trinity Athletic Hall of Fame; Breast Cancer Awareness Night **Please note time change of kickoff from 6 pm to 8 pm**
October 8-9, 2011 Alumni Weekend continued
October 21-23, 2011 Friends & Family Weekend
Hopefully you have found this all to be informative and helpful!! I am looking forward to an exciting season with a very talented bunch of committed young women. Up next......THIS Sunday ion Georgetown against a very young, but good UC-Santa Cruz side who has had a very strong start to this season as well. Hopefully we will see some of you there.
Best,
LK
P.S.--Please feel free to leave comments or feedback!!
