SUWANEE, Ga. - Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference women's soccer teams posted a combined 11-7-2 record during the opening weekend of the 2011 season. Highlighting those victories were perfect starts to the season by 10th-ranked Trinity University (3-0-0), Centre College (2-0-0) and the University of Dallas (2-0-0).
- AROUND THE SCAC -
Austin College split its first two matches of the year, falling 2-1 to East Texas Baptist before rebounding with a 1-0 shutout win over LeTourneau on Saturday. Shelley Casey scored the lone goal against ETBU while Maya Warnock made four saves in her first collegiate game. Ariel Marder assisted on the goal. Against LeTourneau, Maddy Millender scored the game winner in the 88th minute on an assist from Kelsey D'Amore. The 'Roos are home this weekend with a pair of games against Mary Hardin-Baylor and Concordia-Texas.
Birmingham-Southern opened the season in Lynchburg, Va., at the Shellenberger Classic, hosted by Lynchburg College. On Saturday, BSC lost to Roanoke College, 2-1, but on Sunday the Panthers upset No. 18 Lynchburg, 2-1 in overtime. Senior Linda Amaya scored the game-winning overtime goal. Junior Devon Weldon scored the Panthers' first goal of the game. Senior Alicia Plotky scored BSC's lone goal against Roanoke the day before. Sophomore goalkeeper Richelle Byrd played the majority of time in goal in both games, and totaled 18 saves with a .900 save percentage and 1.09 GAA.
Centre recorded two wins in their opening matches of the season. Thursday, September 1st, Centre defeated Transylvania University 5-1. Saturday evening, the Colonels earned their second win defeating the College of Mount Saint Joseph 8-0. Centre's next match is Wednesday, September 7 at home against Capital University.
Dallas opened up the 2011 campaign with a pair of shutout wins over the weekend. The Crusaders defeated Schreiner 4-0 at home before traveling to Southwest and picking up a hard fought 1-0 road win. Clair Sexton paced Dallas with three goals on the weekend including the game-winner against Southwest.
Hendrix opened up the season with a spirited and hard fought weekend in East Texas. On Friday September 2nd, Hendrix fell to LeTourneau 1-0. Hendrix had a great opportunity in the opening minutes only to see the goalie save a 1v1. LeTourneau scored on a turnover and Hendrix couldn't find a way to secure the equalizer before time ran out. On Saturday, Hendrix played East Texas Baptist University. Again, Hendrix missed out on an early 1v1 with the goalie. The Warriors played well the first half and created a few chances but couldn't convert. ETBU scored on a rebound to put the game at 1-0. The Warriors continued to battle and should have been awarded a penalty in the final minute, only to see the ref miss the call. The Hendrix College Women's team went 0-2 on the opening weekend. The Warriors host Ouachita Baptist on Wednesday and then travel to Louisiana College on the 10th. The Warriors then play at Mississippi College Sunday and finish the road trip at the University of the Ozarks on Sunday.
Millsaps went 1-2 this past weekend, taking their opener before dropping two straight. In the Majors first game against Louisiana College, the ladies started the year with a bang scoring at will and destroying the Wildcats on their home field, 8-1. Junior Margaret Eggers and sophomore Whitney Murchison had two goals apiece while freshman Taylor Winslow added two assists. The Major held their home opener against Centenary but fell 1-0 in a defensive battle on a rainy, windy day thanks to Tropical Storm Lee. On Labor Day with Lee still around, Millsaps welcomed in UC-Santa Cruz, falling 4-1. Winslow scored the lone goal thanks to a brilliant cross from Eggers. The ladies return to the field on Friday to take on East Texas Baptist University at 5 p.m. in Jackson.
Oglethorpe did not play last week. The Petrels will open up their 2011 campaign Wednesday, September 7th on the road against Agnes Scott.
Rhodes started the season off in an exciting fashion scoring 3 goals in each game, but the games would be polar opposites. The Lynx defeated visiting Olivet College 3-0 in the first game of the Rhodes College Classic. Senior Cat Rickenbacker netted the game winner in the 38th minute off of a feed from freshman Kelsey Keown. The Lynx would add two insurance goals in the 2nd half. Senior Laura Flink had the 2nd goal off of a service from classmate Ashley Ladd. The final goal was scored in the 68th minute when junior Mae headed in a corner from sophomore Heidi Press. The game against Wilmington College would prove to be a completely different challenge for the Lynx. Finding themselves in a 3-0 hole after halftime, the team regrouped and began the uphill battle that would turn out to be a thrilling 2ot draw. The Lynx were on the board in the 59th minute when freshman Kelsey Keown found fellow freshman Delaney Bracken in front of goal. The Lynx were on the board again 4 minutes later when Keown slipped a pass forward that found junior Mae Casey for the finish. The tie was complete with just 2:50 left on the clock when senior Laura Flink found sophomore Maddy Esther in front of goal for the tap in. Rhodes and Wilmington battled through the 2 extra periods with no goals finishing the game with a 3-3 tie. Senior goalkeeper Stephanie Sermonet shared the shutout on Saturday with sophomore Allison Cowling. On Sunday, Sermonet made 7 saves including a critical breakaway save near the end of regulation. The Lynx travel to St. Louis this weekend to compete against Fontbonne University on Saturday and Washington University in St. Louis on Sunday.
Sewanee fell in a pair of non-conference contests in their opening weekend of play. Overall, the Purple Tigers faced some elite competitors in No. 19 Lynchburg and Roanoke.
Southwestern opened the season with challenging ASC contests, facing Mary Hardin Baylor on Thursday and playing at Concordia on Saturday. Thursday night both teams were able to score in the first half, but the defenses tightened down the rest of the way as neither team to score the game winner in extra time and the game ended 1-1 after double overtime. Rebecca Petro scored her first goal as a Pirate just seven minutes into the game against UMHB and repeated the act against Concordia on Saturday. CUA wasn't able to penetrate the Pirate defense as Southwestern earned their first win of the year. SU sits undefeated at 1-0-1 as they face defending NCAA national champion Hardin Simmons at home on Tuesday afternoon and continues their homestand with games against UT Tyler on Friday and UT Dallas on Sunday.
#10 Trinity opened up the 2011 season with three home victories over the weekend, highlighted by a double-overtime win against defending National Champion Hardin-Simmons University on Saturday night. The Tigers scored two goals in the first 12 minutes of play against the top-ranked team in Division III, then bounced back after Hardin-Simmons tied the game later in the period. Abby Loar scored her second goal of the night in the 103rd minute to pull off the win – Trinity's first over Hardin-Simmons since the 2009 season. Trinity enjoyed offensive explosions in its other two games, combining for 17 total goals in two shutout victories over Concordia (TX) and Greenville (IL). Stephanie Segovia scored a hat trick in the season opener against Concordia, marking the first time in school history that a Tiger player scored three goals in the first game of the year. Segovia also scored two goals in Monday's win over Greenville, as did Samantha Atkins. Trinity will play three more games this week, beginning with a Tuesday night game against Schreiner University. The Tigers will then host UT-Dallas and UT-Tyler on Friday and Sunday, finishing off a six-game home stand to open the season.
To view the SCAC Kicks Weekly for week one, click here.
