Mia Curiel of Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas) was selected as the RRAC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week for Sept. 1-7, while OLLU’s Damon received the RRAC Men’s Runner of the Week honor for the same dates.
Curiel finished as the runner-up in the Bearkat Twilight event at NCAA Division I Sam Houston State University (Texas). The senior from McAllen, Texas, raced to a time of 19:02 in the 5K against a field of 20 runners from SHSU, Texas A&M University-Kingsville and North American.
Gutierrez led OLLU to a tiebreaker against SHSU by surpassing all runners in the Bearkat Twilight race. The graduate student from San Antonio posted a first-place time of 15:46 in the 5K distance against 30 runners from SHSU, TAMUK and NAU.
In a match filled with grit, heart, and a dramatic finish, the Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) men’s soccer team clawed their way to a hard-fought 1-1 draw against a strong University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) squad on a sweltering afternoon in San Antonio. The Saints showed resilience and fire, refusing to back down in front of their home crowd—even when the clock wasn’t on their side.
For most of the match, it looked like the Saints might fall just short. USAO’s Matija Malenovic opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, slipping one past OLLU goalkeeper Zak Averns at the 31:13 mark. It was a rare slip in an otherwise strong showing for Averns, who stood tall in net for all 90 minutes and made six crucial saves to keep the Saints within striking distance.
OLLU, undeterred by the early deficit and the grueling heat, pushed forward with intensity, searching for the equalizer. Although the Saints managed just three shots on goal compared to the Drovers’ seven, it was the final one that mattered most.
With the match ticking into its final seconds and the Saints mounting one last surge, Andres Rocha delivered the moment of the match when he fired a dramatic equalizer past the USAO keeper to tie the game 1-1. The Saints bench erupted, and the home crowd roared as Rocha’s clutch goal salvaged a result in a game where chances were hard to come by.
Despite being outshot 14-8 overall, OLLU’s defensive unit held firm, and Averns steady hands proved pivotal in keeping the game within reach. The Saints composure and grit under pressure were a testament to their preparation and belief in each other.
With the draw, OLLU continues to build momentum early in the season, and performances like this one highlight the team’s determination and fight. The Saints return to action against UIW on Friday September 5th at 7:00 PM.
The Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) men’s and women’s cross country teams opened their 2025 season at the UIW Twilight Run in San Antonio on Friday evening. Although no team scores were recorded, the Saints competed in a deep and competitive field that provided an early-season challenge.
In the men’s 6-kilometer race, Jose Perez led OLLU with a 40th-place finish, clocking in at 19:47. He was followed by Ryan Aldana, who finished 66th with a time of 21:39, and Anthony Alaniz, who placed 68th in 21:54. A total of 69 runners competed in the men’s race.
On the women’s side, the Saints ran a 4-kilometer race. Claudia Lopez was the top finisher for OLLU, taking 55th place with a time of 16:43. Reese Vernieuw followed in 58th with a time of 16:54, while Victoria Bartlett finished 59th in 17:03. Valeria Pena rounded out the group in 63rd place with a time of 18:05. The women’s field included 66 runners.
The meet served as a valuable starting point for both teams as they gained experience against strong competition. The Saints will look to build on this performance when they return to action at the Bearkat Twilight meet on September 5th.
The Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) women’s volleyball team faced tough competition on the first day of the Hampton Inn Classic, hosted by Corban University. Despite strong individual performances, the Saints dropped both of their Friday matches—falling in a five-set battle against Carroll College and later to No. 3-ranked Corban University.
In their opening match of the day, the Saints went toe-to-toe with Carroll in a back-and-forth thriller, ultimately falling 3-2. Setter Lauren Reynard led the way with an impressive 63 assists, orchestrating a dynamic offense. Mia Francis powered the attack with 20 kills, while Anais Velasquez added 15 kills and Bailey Scott contributed 10. On defense, Chanisty Villarreal Bermea was a steady presence in the back row, finishing with 24 digs.
Later that evening, OLLU squared off against tournament host Corban University, the No. 3 team in the country. The Saints showed resilience but ultimately fell in four sets, 3-1. Velasquez led OLLU with 12 kills, followed by Francis with 10. Reynard posted 28 assists in the match, while Villarreal Bermea added 17 digs to cap a strong day defensively.
Although the results didn’t go in their favor, the Saints displayed grit and competitiveness throughout both matches against high-level opponents.
OLLU continues play in the Hampton Inn Classic tomorrow with two more matchups—first against Oklahoma Wesleyan University, followed by a contest against Bushnell University. The Saints look to bounce back and close out the tournament on a high note.
The Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) Saints women’s soccer team opened their home slate with a competitive 1-1 draw against the Oklahoma City University (OCU) Stars on Wednesday afternoon.
The Saints struck early in the first half when Monicha Sanchez found the back of the net at the 7:36 mark, capitalizing on a strong offensive push. Sanchez led OLLU with two shots on goal, converting one into the opening score of the match.
Oklahoma City responded in the 29th minute, leveling the match at 1-1 with a goal at 28:27. Despite several opportunities on both ends, neither team could break the deadlock through the remainder of regulation.
OLLU outshot OCU 12-11, with the Saints placing 10 shots on target compared to the Stars 7. In goal, Salka Hrafns recorded four saves in the second half for the Saints, while London Suarez added one save in the first half to help preserve the tie.
The Saints will look to build on their performance as they continue their season with the next game being a scrimmage against St. Mary’s on Sunday.
The Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) men’s soccer team put forth a determined effort against a nationally-ranked opponent on Thursday evening, falling 1-0 to No. 16 Oklahoma City University (OCU) at home.
The Stars found the back of the net late in the first half, capitalizing on a chance in the 44th minute. OCU’s lone goal, scored at the 43:49 mark, proved to be the difference in a tightly contested matchup.
OLLU goalkeeper Zak Averns turned in a solid performance between the posts, registering four saves while facing 11 total shots from the OCU attack. The Saints managed six shots in total, with one shot on target.
Set pieces were evenly matched, with the Stars earning three corner kicks to the Saints two. Despite a strong defensive showing and moments of promise in the attacking third, the Saints were unable to break through OCU’s back line.
The Saints will look to regroup and build on this competitive performance as they continue their 2025 campaign Saturday at 12:00 PM at home against Science and Arts.
In RRAC women’s soccer, Our Lady of the Lake notched a win in its first game of the season on Friday with a freshman goalkeeper in net, but the Saints and Xavier are the only teams in the win column this season.
TAMUT and OLLU players were recognized as the weekly award winners for Aug. 18-24:
RRAC Offensive Player of the Week – Brooklyn Lattier, Texas A&M-Texarkana Lattier found the net with the Eagles’ only goal in a 5-1 loss to NAIA No. 2 Keiser University (Fla.). The junior midfielder from Shreveport, La., was a first-team all-conference selection last year.
RRAC Defensive Player of the Week – Salka Hrafns, Our Lady of the Lake Hrafns collected the win in a 1-0 shutout victory over Schreiner University (Texas). The freshman goalkeeper from Akranes, Iceland, was making her first college appearance for the Saints.
Additional RRAC women’s soccer weekly nominees: Layla Anaya (A&M-Texarkana), Sacha Backus (LSU Alexandria), Sara Garza (Our Lady of the Lake), Yanira Herraez (LSU Alexandria), Laura Kucharz (LSU Shreveport).
Both OLLU and Texas A&M-Victoria will host Oklahoma City University for matches, and LSU Shreveport is on the road at William Carey tonight. Texas A&M-San Antonio will have a crosstown match-up with Trinity, while OLLU will play St. Mary’s.
Tuesday, Aug. 26 – Mobile at Xavier, Lubbock Christian at Southwest, LSU Shreveport at William Carey
Wednesday, Aug. 27 – Tennessee Southern at LSU Alexandria, Texas Wesleyan at Jarvis Christian
Thursday, Aug. 28 – Oklahoma City at Our Lady of the Lake, Eastern New Mexico at Southwest, North American at Texas Southern
Friday, Aug. 29 – Texas A&M-San Antonio at Trinity
Saturday, Aug. 30 – Oklahoma City at Texas A&M-Victoria, North American at Paul Quinn, LSU Alexandria at Texas Wesleyan, Texas A&M-Texarkana at Nelson, LSU Shreveport at USAO
Sunday, Aug. 31 – St. Mary’s at Our Lady of the Lake, Schreiner at Southwest
Our Lady of the Lake University opened its soccer season with a commanding display from both the men’s and women’s teams, earning shutout victories over Schreiner University on Thursday night. The Saints set the tone for the year with dominant performances that left little doubt about their readiness for the new campaign.
The women’s team struck first, notching a 1-0 victory behind an unrelenting offensive push and airtight defense. Sara Garza led the attack with an impressive five shots, all on target, eventually breaking through for the game’s only goal. The assist came from Monica Sanchez, who placed the ball perfectly to set up Garza’s finish. Despite the narrow margin on the scoreboard, the Saints controlled much of the match, outshooting Schreiner 25-4 and keeping the Mountaineers under constant pressure. Sixteen of OLLU’s shots were on goal, and their 60% possession reflected their command of the game. In goal, London Suarez and Salka Hrafns split time, each holding the Mountaineers scoreless to secure the clean sheet.
Momentum continued to build into the men’s game, where OLLU delivered a powerful 4-0 statement win. Cade Ryan opened the scoring with one goal on two shots on target. Alessandro Sierra was clinical with his opportunity, scoring on his lone shot. Andres Rocha proved to be a standout, netting two goals on three shots and constantly putting the Schreiner defense on its heels. Rocha’s first goal came in the 40th minute off a sharp assist from Nicolas Murgas, who found him in stride to double the Saints’ lead before halftime. Goalkeeper Zak Averns played the full 90 minutes and recorded two saves to preserve the clean sheet. OLLU’s men launched 14 shots compared to Schreiner’s two, with eight on target.
Both teams now turn their attention to building on these opening wins, already showing promise and discipline on both ends of the pitch. Both the men and women soccer teams will play at home Thursday, August 28th against the Oklahoma City Stars at 1:00 and 3:30 PM CDT.
Our Lady of the Lake University volleyball kicked off its 2025-26 season with a pair of matches that tested both resilience and execution. The Saints dropped a tightly contested opener against Oklahoma City University before bouncing back with a thrilling sweep of Embry-Riddle (AZ), securing the first collegiate head coaching win for Coach Swain.
In the morning match, the Saints faced a battle-tested Oklahoma City squad and came up just short in all three sets, falling 3-0 with scores of 26-24, 25-21, and 26-24. Despite the loss, the Saints displayed grit and poise throughout, staying within striking distance in every frame. Our Lady of the Lake finished the match with 41 kills and 113 total attempts, while committing 22 errors. Mia Francis and Anais Velasquez led the attack with 10 kills apiece. Lauren Reynard orchestrated the offense with 24 assists, and Chanisty Villarreal Bermea anchored the back row with a team-high 11 digs. The Saints also registered 8 team blocks and 3 service aces in a performance that showed promise despite the final result.
Later that day, the Saints returned to the court energized and determined, sweeping Embry-Riddle in three sets—though the final score didn’t come easily. After controlling the first two sets 25-19 and 25-16, the Saints found themselves in a marathon third set, rallying from behind to secure a dramatic 35-33 win and close out the match 3-0. It marked the first victory of the season for the Saints and a milestone moment for Coach Swain, who earned her first collegiate head coaching win in front of an electric crowd of 421 fans.
Anais Velasquez once again led the offensive charge with 12 kills, continuing her strong start to the season. Reynard dished out 34 assists, while Nicole Bir stepped up defensively with 5 blocks at the net. Villarreal Bermea was a force in the back row, collecting 13 digs to lead the team. As a group, the Saints improved significantly in the second match, finishing with 47 kills, just 12 errors, 35 assists, 49 digs, and 13 total blocks.
Reflecting on the team’s first win, Coach Swain said, “I’m incredibly proud of how the team fought today, especially in that final set. It was a true test of our resilience and teamwork. This win is just the beginning—we’re excited to keep building and competing hard every match.”
Our Lady of the Lake University volleyball kicked off its 2025-26 season with a pair of matches that tested both resilience and execution. The Saints dropped a tightly contested opener against Oklahoma City University before bouncing back with a thrilling sweep of Embry-Riddle (AZ), securing the first collegiate head coaching win for Coach Swain.
In the morning match, the Saints faced a battle-tested Oklahoma City squad and came up just short in all three sets, falling 3-0 with scores of 26-24, 25-21, and 26-24. Despite the loss, the Saints displayed grit and poise throughout, staying within striking distance in every frame. Our Lady of the Lake finished the match with 41 kills and 113 total attempts, while committing 22 errors. Mia Francis and Anais Velasquez led the attack with 10 kills apiece. Lauren Reynard orchestrated the offense with 24 assists, and Chanisty Villarreal Bermea anchored the back row with a team-high 11 digs. The Saints also registered 8 team blocks and 3 service aces in a performance that showed promise despite the final result.
Later that day, the Saints returned to the court energized and determined, sweeping Embry-Riddle in three sets—though the final score didn’t come easily. After controlling the first two sets 25-19 and 25-16, the Saints found themselves in a marathon third set, rallying from behind to secure a dramatic 35-33 win and close out the match 3-0. It marked the first victory of the season for the Saints and a milestone moment for Coach Swain, who earned her first collegiate head coaching win in front of an electric crowd of 421 fans.
Anais Velasquez once again led the offensive charge with 12 kills, continuing her strong start to the season. Reynard dished out 34 assists, while Nicole Bir stepped up defensively with 5 blocks at the net. Villarreal Bermea was a force in the back row, collecting 13 digs to lead the team. As a group, the Saints improved significantly in the second match, finishing with 47 kills, just 12 errors, 35 assists, 49 digs, and 13 total blocks.
Reflecting on the team’s first win, Coach Swain said, “I’m incredibly proud of how the team fought today, especially in that final set. It was a true test of our resilience and teamwork. This win is just the beginning—we’re excited to keep building and competing hard every match.”
