Tag: women’s soccer

SAINTS HOPING FOR AT-LARGE BID FOR NATIONALS

After the OLLU women’s soccer team won its sixth regular-season title with an undefeated 11-0 season and 7-0 in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC), the team was hoping to add its sixth postseason title earlier today. Despite a hard-fought match, the No. 1 seeded Saints lost 1-0 to No. 2 seeded LSU-Shreveport (LSUS). The win would have sent the Saints to the NAIA National Championships, but they are still hopeful to earn an at-large bid. The women are hoping the selection committee recognizes the phenomenal season they have had.

The 2020 season included allowing just six opponent goals while scoring 24 goals. They are ranked 17th in the NAIA in shots on goal with 11.09. RRAC Offensive Player of the Year Baye Polansky (SR/Helotes, Texas) led the conference in points/game with 1.67 and goals/game at .78. Jaylin Seto (JR/Houston, Texas) led the conference in assists/game with .55, while Kyleigh Spree-Kolos (FR/Victoria, Texas) took the most shots in the RRAC with 53 for 4.82 per game. She also led in shots on goal with 30 for 2.73 per game.

The Saints won both the regular-season and tournament titles in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2019. This season, the Saints won the regular season.

Head Coach Arthur Salazar commented, “Unfortunately, today wasn’t our day. We just weren’t clean enough in the final third to create quality chances, and that’s something that we have struggled with all season. We give credit to LSUS – they worked really hard to defend and were able to deny us the equalizer.

“This one game doesn’t define who we are and what this team has been able to accomplish this year. Going 11-1 is extremely hard for any team to do, and these women did a heck of a job dealing with the pressure of the season. If we do get an at-large bid, we can have another chance to prove ourselves.”

See full game details on the Saints website.

Women’s soccer clinches RRAC regular season title with win over LSU-Shreveport

The women’s soccer team won their ninth straight game with a 2-0 victory over LSU-Shreveport (LSUS). The Saints are undefeated at 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC). OLLU clinched the RRAC regular-season title with the win.  

Head Coach Arthur Salazar said, “I’m extremely proud of the team, and how they handled the pressure of playing on the road against some tough competition. We knew it was going to be a challenge, and they stepped up once again. We will enjoy this weekend’s results for the next 24 hours before turning our attention to the final conference regular-season game against the University of Houston-Victoria.” 

History

The Saints lead the series against LSUS 5-2-2. 

Basics

The first half was scoreless, but the Saints tallied seven shots and one corner kick. The Pilots committed five fouls and were forced to make four saves.

The Saints struck first in the second half with a goal by Brianna Yanez (SO/Portland, Texas) assisted by Baye Polansky (SR/Helotes, Texas) at the 50th minute. Kyleigh Spree-Kolos (FR/Victoria, Texas) added to the Saints lead in the 58th minute with an assist from Yanez. The Saints won 2-0 and will be the first seed in the RRAC Tournament on April 2.

Scoring overview

50′ – OLLU – Brianna Yanez

58′ – OLLU – Kyleigh Spree-Kolos

Inside the box score

Leading the way for the Saints’ offense was Polansky with five shots. Chelsea Brown led the Pilots with three shots.

The Saints tallied 15 shots, eight on goal. LSUS recorded nine shots with four on goal.

What’s next

The Saints wrap up the regular season with a home match against University of Houston-Victoria on March 27 at 12 p.m.

Women’s soccer remains undefeated with victory over University of the Southwest

The women’s soccer team defeated Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) foe the University of the Southwest (USW) 1-0 in double overtime on Saturday. The Saints remain undefeated at 7-0 overall and climb to 4-0 in RRAC play. The Mustangs drop to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the RRAC.

Head Coach Arthur Salazar said, “It was a hard-fought game as expected. Southwest worked extremely hard, and we couldn’t produce as many clean looks as we had hoped. We had a handful of chances that we should have taken advantage of and didn’t. Unfortunately, our inability to put the game away continues to plague us, but the resilience the team showed today continues to be encouraging.”

History

The Saints lead the all-time series against Southwest 16-1. 

Basics

The Saints were in control of the game for most of regulation. Southwest kept up with the Saints’ pace in the first half, and both teams tallied two shots on goal. OLLU didn’t allow a corner kick by USW and took three of their own.

OLLU recorded three more corner kicks in the second half but were unable to connect for a goal. Both teams totaled nine fouls at the end of regulation, and the Mustangs drew a yellow card.

Baye Polansky (SR/Helotes, Texas) was the hero for the Saints in double overtime with a header to win the game. Jaylin Seto (JR/Houston, Texas) picked up the assist, and the Saints continued their unbeaten season.

Scoring overview

107′ – OLLU – Baye Polansky

Inside the box score

Leading the Saints’ offense was Kyleigh Spree-Kolos (FR/Victoria, Texas), with four shots. Maya Sanchez led the Mustangs with two shots.

The Saints tallied 14 shots, eight on goal. Southwest recorded six shots with two on goal.

What’s next

The Saints travel to Alexandria, La., to face LSU-Alexandria on March 18 at 12 p.m.

Women’s soccer defeats Jarvis Christian College on Seniors’ Day

Hear from seniors Savannah Hernandez, Mikaela Gilbert, Baye Polansky and Yolanda Vazquez.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/S3AgiaD67lc?enablejsapi=1&origin=http%3A%2F%2F

The women’s soccer team defeated Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) rival Jarvis Christian College (JCC) 2-0 on Seniors’ Day. The Saints remain undefeated at 6-0 overall and improve to 3-0 in RRAC play. The Bulldogs drop to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the RRAC.

The Saints honored goalies Mikaela Gilbert (SR/San Antonio, Texas) and Savannah Hernandez (SR/El Paso, Texas), defender Victoria Morales (SR/Brownsville, Texas) and midfielders Baye Polansky (SR/Helotes, Texas) and Yolanda Vazquez (SR/Los Angeles, Calif.) as part of Seniors’ Day.

History

The Saints are undefeated against Jarvis all-time at 6-0. 

Basics

Both teams failed to score a goal in the first half. The Saints dominated most of the half with 10 shots and forced the Bulldogs to make eight saves. OLLU also took two corner kicks.

The second half was also scoreless until the 74th minute. Senior Polansky scored on a penalty kick after a handball foul to give the Saints the advantage. Senior Yolanda Vazquez scored 12 minutes later to extend the Saints lead and eventually seal the 2-0 win. The Saints tallied 15 shots on goal and limited the Bulldogs to one. Goalkeepers Nallely Infante (SO/Houston, Texas), Savannah Hernandez and Tess Pitcher (FR/San Antonio, Texas) all saw time in the net, with Hernandez earning the win.

Scoring overview

74′ – OLLU – Baye Polansky

86′ – OLLU – Yolanda Vazquez

Inside the box score

Leading the way for the Saints’ offense was Kyleigh Spree-Kolos (FR/Victoria, Texas) and Dawson Brinkley (JR/San Antonio, Texas) with three shots each. All three of Brinkley’s shots were on goal. Three different players led the Bulldogs with one shot each.

The Saints tallied 18 shots, 15 on goal. Jarvis recorded three shots with one on goal.

What’s next

The Saints face the University of the Southwest for another RRAC matchup at home on March 13 at 11 a.m.

OLLU soccer’s Maggie Miller and Amaris Tavares traveled to Costa Rica this summer

CostaRicaOLLU soccer student-athletes Maggie Miller (JR/Manhattan, Kan.) and Amaris Tavares (SR/Houston, Texas) traveled to Costa Rica from May 11-19 for Beyond Sports’ Fourth Annual Costa Rica Women’s Soccer Tour.

Miller and Tavares joined a team of all-conference honorees and statistical leaders from colleges across the country to take on Costa Rica’s top club teams, including Junior National players. Read full story online.

Senior Stephanie Diaz wants to leave her mark on the OLLU soccer program

diaz2Stephanie Diaz came to Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) as a freshman to play soccer in 2011. Now a senior, Diaz looks ahead to her final season as a member and captain of the women’s soccer team. In the past three years Diaz has played in 57 games where she has scored 25 goals and had 12 assists.

Last season she was instrumental in helping the women’s team capture its first-ever Red River Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles leading the team in total goals. But the senior from Katy, Texas, is looking to add to her illustrious career as a Saint in her final season.

“I want to go out with a bang,” said Diaz. “There’s still a lot I want to accomplish.”

Over the summer, Diaz has worked on improving her skills. She was a member of the Houston Aces South Select team that competes in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL).

“Playing for the Aces was a great opportunity to play with other college level players and stay in rhythm,” said Diaz. Players from both the NAIA and NCAA participate in the WPSL.

However, playing in a competitive summer league is not where it ends for Diaz. She maintains a rigorous workout schedule to ensure she is in prime shape when she returns to OLLU.

“You have to be fit enough to play the entire 90 minutes,” said Diaz. “I try to prepare myself for that by running in the afternoons when the weather conditions are similar to what we play in.”

Diaz also takes her captaincy for the Saints very seriously. Despite being away for summer, she keeps in constant communication with the rest of her teammates and stresses the importance of the summer workouts.

“I text my teammates to make sure they work out and stay in shape and come in prepared when the season starts,” said Diaz.

She is confident that if everyone does their part, they can be back where they were last season – a national tournament appearance.

“I know we can win again. I want another ring,” she said.

However, for her senior year she wants to take it further. A national tournament appearance is not enough for Diaz. Last year the Saints lost in the opening round of the national tournament, a barrier that Diaz wants to get past.

It hasn’t all been work for Diaz this summer. Because of her involvement with the Aces, she’s had the opportunity to travel around the country. While traveling she was able to keep up with the World Cup games.

“I had the opportunity to watch the games with my teammates in hotel lobbies,” she said. “That was a fun experience, especially because some of my teammates are from different countries like Colombia, Netherlands and Mexico.”

Overall, Diaz is looking forward to her senior season at OLLU.

“It’s been an amazing experience. I’m glad I picked OLLU to play soccer,” she said. “It’s such a great program and I want to leave my mark and continue to contribute to the development of the program.”

The women’s soccer team will kick off its 2014 season as the defending conference champion Aug. 22 in a scrimmage against Texas Lutheran University.