BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The 2015 Southwestern Athletic Conference women's soccer tournament will take place November 5-8 at the John Hunt Soccer Complex in Huntsville, Ala. The top eight teams qualify for the tournament based on conference results.
Mississippi Valley State collected the 2015 SWAC regular season crown and top seed Friday afternoon after defeating Alcorn State, 10-0. This is the Devilettes second regular season accolade - the first time since 2008 when the team was named eastern division champion.
Nykosi Simmons leads MVSU, holding a conference-high 23 goals and is ranked first in many SWAC categories including shots, points and goals. She is also ranked nationally by the NCAA in total goals, total points, points per game and goals per game.
The Devilettes also stand tied at second place by the NCAA as leaders with two or more goals in a game. Their best game came against Lincoln as MVSU ended the match, 15-1.
Match Previews
Game 1 | 10:00 a.m.
#1 Mississippi Valley State vs. #8 Alabama A&M
As stated earlier, MVSU enters the Conference tournament led by the highest ranked offensive, Division I student-athlete in the country, Simmons. She has secured first-place positions in four NCAA categories including points per game, goals per game, total points and total goals.
The last time the Devilettes met AAMU, Valley’s Mariana Balbao scored a game-high two goals. The Lady Bulldogs were outshot 27-6 and 14-4 on target. Ernestina Abambila, Laadi Issaka and Simmons each added to the score, finding their fifth consecutive win.
During the match, AAMU’s Marissa Oehler protected the goal, saving nine goal attempts. She is ranked first in the SWAC and third by the NCAA in saves per game. Oehler is joined by offensive commander Estelle Esperance who registers a team-high five goals and three assists.
Game 2 | 12:30 p.m.
#4 Howard vs. #5 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
The last time the Bison and the Lady Lions faced off, HOWD defeated UAPB by only one goal. HOWD’s Jasmin Miller assisted Makela Davidson in the only score of the game at the 32 minute mark. Mackenzie Diotte was credited the win with seven saves under her hat, while Whitney White took a team-high six shots – one on goal.
The Lady Lions were led by Ciere Fenwick who registered four shots – all four on target.
Heading into the match, Bison Kela Gray drives the squad with 17 goals and seven assists and has five top 10 rankings by the NCAA. She is joined by Whitney White who has 10 goals on the season and seven assists and Rasheeda Ansari with nine goals and three assists.
With 10 scores, Karissa Fenwick secured the offensive leader title for UAPB, while sister Ciera Fenwick stands close beside her with seven goals. Makayla Cowles also adds strength to the roster, registering four shutouts and a team-high 100 saves.
Game 3 | 3:00 p.m.
#3 Alabama State vs. #6 Texas Southern
Alabama State dropped a 6-1 decision to Texas the last time the two teams met at the Lady Hornets Soccer Field.
Aaliyah Lewis secured the first goal of the game nine minutes into the match, assisted by Emily Fleming.
Kailand Thompson then got things rolling for the Lady Tigers, using an assist from Paige Hayward to put TXSO on the scoreboard. From there, three additional Lady Tigers scored goals, pushing Texas Southern ahead to win the game.
Marlyn Campa and Kailand Thompson shared a game-high count of two goals, while Alexis Robles was credited the win with four saves.
Entering the tournament, the Lady Hornets look to twin duo Ariela Lewis and Aaliyah Lewis to remain offensively afloat. Aa. Lewis has a team-high nine goals, while Ar. Lewis claimed eight scored and a team-high 10 assists. Gianna Guyot managed 104 saves on the season and maintained a shutout count of five.
TXSO’s Marlyn Campa heads into the tournament after making history during the regular season. She now holds the Lady Tigers record for most career goals with 22 – two assists away from gaining that career title, too.
Three Lady Tigers shared the responsibility of protecting the goal this season, but it was Liliana Hernandez who collected three shutouts after saving a total of 34 goal attempts thus far.
Game 4 | 5:30 p.m.
#2 Jackson State vs. Prairie View A&M
Jackson State opens the 2015 conference tournament with an advantage over first opponent, Prairie View A&M. The last time the two teams met, JKST defeated PVAM, 2-0.
Defense was aggressive for both teams during the first half of the game with neither side scoring - even with the Lady Tigers holding a 10-3 shot advantage.
The first goal of the night came 71 minutes into the match as Brianna Oswald connected with the back of the net on an assist from Ariel Vinson. About two minutes later, JKST’s Cydnee Martin scored, ending in match in favor of the Lady Tigers.
Faith Toennies was credited with the shutout win, making three saves.
For the Lady Panthers, Bailey LaBauve led offensively with four shots – three being on goal, while Dominique Dillon reached for six saves.
Toennies currently tops the SWAC in save percentage and shutouts. She claimed the most SWAC Player of the Week accolades during the 2015 season. Offensively, Cydnee Martin grabbed a team-high eight goals and holds an on target percentage of .619.
The Lady Panthers also have some spunk of their team which is spearheaded by Alicia Cooper who has12 goals under her belt and has accounted for three separate hat tricks on the year.
Dillon has also set the bar in the goalkeeper position, saving 99 goal attempts and being recognized for three shutouts.
Courtesy: SWAC.org
Mississippi Valley State collected the 2015 SWAC regular season crown and top seed Friday afternoon after defeating Alcorn State, 10-0. This is the Devilettes second regular season accolade - the first time since 2008 when the team was named eastern division champion.
Nykosi Simmons leads MVSU, holding a conference-high 23 goals and is ranked first in many SWAC categories including shots, points and goals. She is also ranked nationally by the NCAA in total goals, total points, points per game and goals per game.
The Devilettes also stand tied at second place by the NCAA as leaders with two or more goals in a game. Their best game came against Lincoln as MVSU ended the match, 15-1.
Match Previews
Game 1 | 10:00 a.m.
#1 Mississippi Valley State vs. #8 Alabama A&M
As stated earlier, MVSU enters the Conference tournament led by the highest ranked offensive, Division I student-athlete in the country, Simmons. She has secured first-place positions in four NCAA categories including points per game, goals per game, total points and total goals.
The last time the Devilettes met AAMU, Valley’s Mariana Balbao scored a game-high two goals. The Lady Bulldogs were outshot 27-6 and 14-4 on target. Ernestina Abambila, Laadi Issaka and Simmons each added to the score, finding their fifth consecutive win.
During the match, AAMU’s Marissa Oehler protected the goal, saving nine goal attempts. She is ranked first in the SWAC and third by the NCAA in saves per game. Oehler is joined by offensive commander Estelle Esperance who registers a team-high five goals and three assists.
Game 2 | 12:30 p.m.
#4 Howard vs. #5 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
The last time the Bison and the Lady Lions faced off, HOWD defeated UAPB by only one goal. HOWD’s Jasmin Miller assisted Makela Davidson in the only score of the game at the 32 minute mark. Mackenzie Diotte was credited the win with seven saves under her hat, while Whitney White took a team-high six shots – one on goal.
The Lady Lions were led by Ciere Fenwick who registered four shots – all four on target.
Heading into the match, Bison Kela Gray drives the squad with 17 goals and seven assists and has five top 10 rankings by the NCAA. She is joined by Whitney White who has 10 goals on the season and seven assists and Rasheeda Ansari with nine goals and three assists.
With 10 scores, Karissa Fenwick secured the offensive leader title for UAPB, while sister Ciera Fenwick stands close beside her with seven goals. Makayla Cowles also adds strength to the roster, registering four shutouts and a team-high 100 saves.
Game 3 | 3:00 p.m.
#3 Alabama State vs. #6 Texas Southern
Alabama State dropped a 6-1 decision to Texas the last time the two teams met at the Lady Hornets Soccer Field.
Aaliyah Lewis secured the first goal of the game nine minutes into the match, assisted by Emily Fleming.
Kailand Thompson then got things rolling for the Lady Tigers, using an assist from Paige Hayward to put TXSO on the scoreboard. From there, three additional Lady Tigers scored goals, pushing Texas Southern ahead to win the game.
Marlyn Campa and Kailand Thompson shared a game-high count of two goals, while Alexis Robles was credited the win with four saves.
Entering the tournament, the Lady Hornets look to twin duo Ariela Lewis and Aaliyah Lewis to remain offensively afloat. Aa. Lewis has a team-high nine goals, while Ar. Lewis claimed eight scored and a team-high 10 assists. Gianna Guyot managed 104 saves on the season and maintained a shutout count of five.
TXSO’s Marlyn Campa heads into the tournament after making history during the regular season. She now holds the Lady Tigers record for most career goals with 22 – two assists away from gaining that career title, too.
Three Lady Tigers shared the responsibility of protecting the goal this season, but it was Liliana Hernandez who collected three shutouts after saving a total of 34 goal attempts thus far.
Game 4 | 5:30 p.m.
#2 Jackson State vs. Prairie View A&M
Jackson State opens the 2015 conference tournament with an advantage over first opponent, Prairie View A&M. The last time the two teams met, JKST defeated PVAM, 2-0.
Defense was aggressive for both teams during the first half of the game with neither side scoring - even with the Lady Tigers holding a 10-3 shot advantage.
The first goal of the night came 71 minutes into the match as Brianna Oswald connected with the back of the net on an assist from Ariel Vinson. About two minutes later, JKST’s Cydnee Martin scored, ending in match in favor of the Lady Tigers.
Faith Toennies was credited with the shutout win, making three saves.
For the Lady Panthers, Bailey LaBauve led offensively with four shots – three being on goal, while Dominique Dillon reached for six saves.
Toennies currently tops the SWAC in save percentage and shutouts. She claimed the most SWAC Player of the Week accolades during the 2015 season. Offensively, Cydnee Martin grabbed a team-high eight goals and holds an on target percentage of .619.
The Lady Panthers also have some spunk of their team which is spearheaded by Alicia Cooper who has12 goals under her belt and has accounted for three separate hat tricks on the year.
Dillon has also set the bar in the goalkeeper position, saving 99 goal attempts and being recognized for three shutouts.
Courtesy: SWAC.org