LSC Roundup 10-7

Loss teaches Rams a lesson - Nathan Wright, San Angelo Standard Times
SAN ANGELO, Texas — The Angelo State University football team had hoped to be going into this week’s game against No. 10 Texas A&M-Kingsville with a 2-0 Lone Star Conference South Division record.

At the very least, considering the Rams opened divisional play against nationally-ranked West Texas A&M, ASU planned on being 1-1.

Last Saturday, the Rams went to Stephenville to face an 0-4 Tarleton State expecting to end a nine-game losing streak to the Texans.

ASU held a 14-point lead late in the game. But in the final five minutes, just about everything that could have gone wrong for the Rams, did.

“We took it easy because we looked a their 0-4 record,” ASU sophomore defensive back Stetson Edwards said. “We took it easy in practice. We didn’t prepare hard.”


Javelinas to face inconsistent Angelo State team - George Vondracek, Corpus Christi Caller Times
KINGSVILLE — There isn't one particular aspect of Angelo State's play this football season coach Dale Carr can't point to as being consistently good or bad.

That is with good reason. At different points during the season, the Rams have had several areas in which to rectify matters, leaving sixth-year coach Carr feeling as if he is plugging holes in a seeping dam with his fingers.

"That might be a good analogy. You think you're weak here, weak there, then the next week you're not," Carr said. "You're OK there, but you've got to put your finger in a couple other leaks."

Incarnate Word's Smithson Valley connection - Blake Hurtik, San Antonio Express News
As a part of the Smithson Valley football machine, Trent Rios, Dominic Hamilton and Dakota Mawyer spent their high school years doing one thing: winning.
But when it came to playing at the next level, all three were largely passed over by colleges. Rios and Hamilton, each generously listed 5-foot-8 and 5-9, respectively, were too small for a running back and wide receiver. Mawyer, at 6-3, 250 pounds, was too slow for a linebacker.

To Mike Santiago, who was putting together Incarnate Word's first recruiting class, they were a steal, he said, largely because of the coaching they received from Larry Hill at Smithson Valley.

“It's important to get guys from winning programs. It's in recruiting we call residual coaching,” Santiago said. “They've already learned some lessons. We're not having to teach them from scratch.”

LSC rankings - Joey Richards, Abilene Reporter News
Oklahoma state college football power poll: UCO No. 1 - David Stanley Ford, The Oklahoman



Reisman knows expectations come with No. 8 ranking
By BRAD KEITH
Sports Editor
brad.keith@empiretribune.com

With all but two players returning from last season's 24-8 regional semifinalist, expectations are high for the 2010-11 Tarleton State men's basketball team.

They may have gotten even higher this week, when the Division II Bulletin released its annual preseason poll with the Texans ranked No. 8 in the country.

Tarleton State is the highest-ranked school from both the Lone Star Conference and the South Central Region.

"We've worked long and hard to establish our program as one of the top 10 in the country," Tarleton head coach Lonn Reisman said. "It's an honor to see that people all around the country recognize what we've built here."

The Texans begin official preseason practices Oct. 15, as Tarleton again hosts Midnight Madness at Wisdom Gym. Doors will open at 11:30 p.m. next Thursday with action tipping off just after 12 a.m. Friday.

Tarleton opens the regular season at home Nov. 13 against Arlington Baptist.

The Texans return three starters - guard Corin Henry, forward Devon Hills and forward Donta Smith - and 11 lettermen. All three returning starters are seniors who were junior college transfers last year.

Hills, a 6-5 swing man, averaged 13 points last season, including 15.5 during Lone Star Conference South Division play.

Henry, a 5-11 point guard, scored 11.8 points, dished out three assists and collected 1.7 steals per contest. He was at his best in five post season games - three in the LSC tournament and two in the regional tournament - when he averaged 18.8 points, 3.8 assists and 1.8 steals

Smith scored 7.6 points while collecting 6.5 rebounds per game as a junior.

Tarleton also boasts a recruiting class that includes former University of Houston center Nick Mosley and San Jacinto Community College guard Carrington Tankson.

Tankson was the No. 30-ranked junior college player in the country by jucojunction.com. Reisman says he is the highest-rated juco player Tarleton has ever signed, 21 spots ahead of where jucojunction.com rated Hills after the 2008-09 season. Tankson originally signed with Mississippi State.

Tarleton will also have 6-8 center Wes Dipprey, a transfer from Division I Cal Poly who was forced to sit out last year.

Warren Webb is among the reserves and is said to be close to full health for the first time since blowing out his knee in a preseason practice before the start of the 2008-09 season. Webb, a 6-4 guard/forward, was an energizer off the bench during the 2008 regional.

Reisman knows his team will face a lot of pressure this year, but says he has grown used to high expectations.

"We've had a bullseye on our chest for a long time now," says the head coach who has guided the Texans to seven regional tournaments and two Elite Eights in the last nine years. "We know we're going to get everyone's best shot every night we take the court."

The Texans are one of three LSC schools in the poll's top 20. Midwestern State - which handed Tarleton four of its eight losses last year - is No. 13 and Central Oklahoma is No. 18.

Also from the South Central Region, Central Missouri is No. 19.

Defending national champ Cal Poly-Pomona is No. 1, followed in the top five by Findlay, St. Cloud State, Indiana (Penn.) and Florida Southern. Bellarmine and Bentley are next, with Tarleton, Grand Valley State and St. Joseph's completing the top 10.

Lady Buffs Basketball Tabbed No. 5 in DII Bulletin Preseason Poll - WT Sports Information
BEAVERTON, Ore. – The West Texas A&M Lady Buffs basketball team is ranked fifth in the 2010-11 Women’s Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25 Poll, which was released by the publication on Tuesday.
The Lady Buffs finished 30-4 overall last season and went 10-2 in the Lone Star Conference South Division before winning their third consecutive LSC Championship Tournament. WT then advanced to the school’s seventh straight NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament, earning the No. 1 seed in the region and the right to host the tournament.

WT returns three starters from last year’s squad, including WBCA All-American Honorable Mention selections Joni Unruh and Jamie Simmons. Unruh, last season’s Lone Star Conference South Division Player of the Year, averaged 13.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest last season and led the team with 116 assists. Simmons was named the LSC South Division’s Newcomer of the Year last season after averaging a team-high 15.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

Megan McLain, a second team all-LSC selection last season, returns to the team as the remaining starter of the group, along with letterwinners Callie Schniederjan, Aly Sherman, Brittany Williams and Ashley Leven.
The Lady Buffs are scheduled to play three teams ranked in the Women’s Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25, with all three games to be played on the road. WT will travel to Durango, Colo., on Nov. 20, to face No. 18 Fort Lewis in just the third game of the season for the Lady Buffs. Just a little over one month later the Lady Buffs will begin a five-game road stretch with contests against preseason favorite Arkansas Tech on Dec. 29, and No. 2 Delta State on Dec. 31.

Following Arkansas Tech and Delta State in the preseason poll is Tusculum at No. 3 and Holy Family at No. 4, just ahead of the Lady Buffs. Indianapolis, UC San Diego, Lander, Alaska Anchorage and Bentley round out the poll’s top 10 teams, respectfully.

WT is the only LSC team to make the preseason top 25 poll, but both Washburn (No. 19) and Emporia State (No. 23) join the Lady Buffs as South Central Region teams to be ranked. Emporia State won last season’s NCAA Division II National Championship after winning the South Central Regional in Canyon.
Women’s Division II Bulletin is published by GSR Communications, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary season of covering small college basketball.

The 2010 Women’s Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25:
1. Arkansas Tech
2. Delta St.
3. Tusculum
4. Holy Family
5. West Texas A&M
6. Indianapolis
7. UC San Diego
8. Lander
9. Alaska Anchorage
10. Bentley
11. Northeastern St.
12. California (Pa.)
13. Seattle Pacific
14. Wayne St. (Neb.)
15. Drury
16. Charleston
17. Chico St.
18. Fort Lewis
19. Washburn
20. Grand Valley St.
21. Pace
22. Barton
23. Emporia St.
24. West Liberty
25. Clayton St.
Others to watch: Carson-Newman, Concordia, Augustana, Findlay, So. Indiana, No. Kentucky, Wis. Parkside, Humboldt St., West. Washington, Grand Canyon, Bridgeport, Millersville, Indiana (Pa.), Fort Valley St., Benedict



LSC Scoop - Soccer Report
Women’s Soccer Update. Week Five

National Rankings. Midwestern returned to the top 25, coming in at #21 this week. Abilene Christian received votes. Other region members in the national picture include Central Mo at #3 and St Edwards at #10.

Regional Rankings.
1 - Central Missouri
2 - St Edwards
3 - Midwestern
4 - Abilene Christian
5(T) - Angelo State/A&M Commerce
7 - Truman
8 - St Mary’s
9 - University of Incarnate Word

Players of the Week.
Offensive – Ashley Holton, ACU, who scored a hat trick against ECU and one more against NSU
Defensive – Keri Dawson, UIW, led a defense that produced two shutout wins for the week.
Goalkeeper – Nori Morgan, TWU, defended two shutouts for the weekend including a 2OT draw with WT A&M.

ACU. Went 2-0 on their weekend Oklahoma swing to improve to 2-1 conference mark. On Friday ACU scored four first half goals before letting ECU back into the game with two second half goals. Sunday the Cats lackluster effort led to a 0-0 halftime score, before scoring two goals in a five minute span. The Riverhawks scored an 80th minute goal, but allowed ACU to possess for large chunks of the last 10 minutes to preserve the win. ACU returns home for a four game home stand. This weekend WT A&M visits on Friday and ENMU on Sunday.

Angelo State. Also went 2-0 over the weekend, making their conference record 3-0. Angelo produced a convincing 4-1 win over Central Oklahoma on Friday, with three goals coming within a 7 minute flurry. The Bronchos lone goal came in the 35th minute for a 4-1 halftime (and final) score. Sunday the SWOSU Bulldogs seemed to give the Rambelles more of a challenge. Brandie DeBacker scored in the 24th minute for Angelo’s 1-0 halftime lead. SWOSU leveled via a 71st minute goal, before the Rambelles added the winner in the 87th minute. This weekend’s opponents are A&M Commerce and TWU on the road.

Central Oklahoma. Endured a disappointing 0-2 weekend to settle at a 1-2 conference tally. Friday the Bronchos surrendered four first half goals enroute to a 1-4 loss to Angelo State. On Sunday against Incarnate Word neither team could score in regulation. The golden goal winner in the games 103rd minute by the Cardinals resulted in a stinging 0-1 loss. The Bronchos return home for weekend matches again two winless opponents – ECU and NSU and will be looking for additions to their win total.

ECU. Surrendered 12 goals for the weekend on the way to a conference mark of 0-2-1. The Wildcats notched four first half goals Friday , but the Tigers began the second half on fire, which evidently surprised the Cats. The Tigers scored in the first minute of the second period, then added a 56th minute goal to pull to 4-2, but the Tigers had nothing more in the tank. On Sunday Midwestern outshot ECU 25-4 and outscored them 8-0 while conducting a clinic on how to dismantle an offsides trap. This weekend the Tigers look to regroup, visiting in-state opponents Central Oklahoma and SWOSU.

Midwestern. Notched two wins to stand at 3-0 in conference matches. Friday the Mustangs and Riverhawks battled to a 0-0 halftime draw. Maddie Fraser scored two second half goals, before NSU scored off a free kick. The Mustangs added an insurance goal in the 79th minute to end the scoring at 3-1. Sunday the ECU Tigers returned to Wichita Falls looking to replicate their upset victory of 2009. The Mustangs had other plans as seven different players scored enroute to an 8-0 thumping. This weekend should be more challenging as Midwestern hosts ENMU and WT A&M

NSU. Faced Midwestern on Friday and managed to hold a 0-0 halftime draw – unfortunately for the Riverhawks, the Mustangs are too talented and too well conditioned. Three second half goals for the Midwestern side produced a 3-1 win. Sunday ACU’s Wildcats visited and again the Riverhawks managed a scrappy 0-0 halftime draw. Giving up two goals in 7 minutes and allowing ACU to control the ball for long stretches of play did not work out for NSU. The Riverhawks fall to 0-2-1 in LSC play. This weekend in-state conference opponents SWOSU and Central Oklahoma await NSU on the road.

ENMU. Dropped two conference matches over the weekend to fall to 0-3 in conference play. Friday against TWU a 71st minute goal produced the only goal of the match in a narrow 0-1 loss. On Sunday the first half saw the Zia’s outshoot A&M Commerce6-1 although neither side recorded a shot on goal. The second half was a reversal of fortunes and a two goal burst by the Lions provided the margin 0-2. This weekend may not be any better as the Zia’s take on Midwestern and ACU on the road.

UIW. The Cardinals went 2-0 for the weekend and stand 2-1 in LSC marks. The Bulldogs of SWOSU visited on Friday and were blanked by the Cardinals two first half goals. Central Oklahoma played the Cardinals to a 0-0 draw in regulation before the Cardinals scored a 103rd golden goal winner. This weekend UIW hits the road for matches in Denton and Commerce.

A&M Commerce. Split over the weekend to land on a 2-1 conference record. Friday WT A&M proved too much for the Lions. WT scored in the 24th, 68th and 73rd minute before the Lions prevented the shutout via a 87th minute score. The Zia’s were more accommodating on Sunday. After a scoreless first half, Commerce hit the net twice for the 2-0 win. The Lions enjoy a home stand this weekend against Angelo State and UIW.

WT A&M. The Buffs stand at 2-0-1 in LSC matches. A 3-1 win over Commerce started the weekend, but TWU proved to be a worthy opponent on Sunday. A 0-0 2OT draw resulted although the Buffs outshot TWU 18-8. TWU keeper Nori Morgan earned her POW title by logging nine saves in goal to preserve the shutout. This weekend a road trip to test ACU and Midwestern could prove to be a pivotal point in the conference race.

TWU. The Pioneer conference record is 1-1-1. A narrow 1-0 win over ENMU on Friday resulted from a 71st minute goal. On Sunday the Pioneers (who played a ridiculously challenging early season schedule) showed their poise as they earned a 0-0 2OT draw against the Buffs in Canyon. TWU returns home for matches with Incarnate Word and Angelo State.

SWOSU. Dropped two games to land at 0-3. Friday against Incarnate Word two first half goals provided the margin as the Cards shut out the Bulldogs. Sunday in San Angelo the Rambelles scored first to provide the halftime 1-0 margin. The Bulldogs equalized in the 71st before the 87th minute goal sealed the ‘Dogs fate1-2. This weekend the Bulldogs have their best chance to turn things around as the winless Riverhawks and Tigers visit.

This weekend provides some very interesting matches. ACU, who wants desperately to belong in the top tier of the LSC, will have to show it belongs when WT comes to town. Angelo has a chance to show that they are for real against TWU and Commerce….on the road. Midwestern has a chance to send the rest of the conference a message when they face WT A&M. Incarnate Word needs to have a good showing this weekend against Commerce and TWU to show they deserved their pre-season rankings. ECU and NSU have to do well this weekend to pull themselves out of the ditch.
Good luck to your favorite side!

LSC Weekly Soccer Release - From the LSC Office
LSC SOCCER
Three men’s teams were ranked the first NCAA Division II South Central Region Rankings (Oct. 5). Midwestern State was in the top spot, with Incarnate Word second and Eastern New Mexico fourth. The Mustangs are still undefeated with an 8-0 record overall. On the women’s side, the MSU is ranked No. 21 in NCAA Division II poll with an 8-1 overall record. The Mustangs and Angelo State are both undefeated (3-0) in league play as teams compete for one of six spots in the conference championship field.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
MEN’S OFFENSIVE
Callum Riley, University of the Incarnate Word, Jr., M, Leicester, England, Lutterworth Grammar School
Riley continues to lead UIW in points by adding a goal and an assist to his totals this season in Lone Star Conference action this weekend. Against Eastern New Mexico, Riley assisted on one of UIW’s two goals and against West Texas A&M, he scored the Cardinals’ first goal in a 2-1 victory over the Buffs.

MEN’S DEFENSIVE
Landon Fruge’, Midwestern State University, Sr., D, Klein, Texas, Klein HS
Fruge’ played a major role in helping undefeated Midwestern State to a pair of road wins last weekend over Texas A&M International and St. Mary’s. The senior outside back from Klein helped the out-manned Mustangs limit Texas A&M International to eight shots in a 2-0 shutout with the Dustdevils playing with a two-man advantage for the final 30 minutes of the contest. Fruge’ then aided the MSU back line in holding St. Mary’s to five shots in a 2-1 win Sunday afternoon.

WOMEN’S OFFENSIVE
Ashley Holton, Abilene Christian University, Jr., F, San Diego, California
Holton recorded the third hat trick in ACU’s young history on Friday in a 4-2 win over East Central. Holton added a fourth goal on the weekend at Northeastern State to give her eight on the season. She took only nine shots, six of which were on goal for a .667 shooting percentage with both goals coming as game-winners. On the weekend, she recorded eight points giving her 16 on the season.

WOMEN’S DEFENSIVE
Keri Dawson, University of the Incarnate Word, Sr., D, Las Cruces, NM, Las Cruces HS
Dawson was instrumental in helping the Cardinal women end a three-game winless skid this weekend at home with two shutout victories over LSC opponents. UIW defeated Southwestern Oklahoma, 2-0, on Friday night and then defeated Central Oklahoma, 1-0, in overtime.

WOMEN’S GOALKEEPER
Nori Morgan, Texas Woman’s University, Sr., GK, Plano, TX, Plano East HS
Morgan recorded two shutouts against West Texas A&M and Eastern New Mexico on the road. The two shutouts are the third and fourth of the season and 10th and 11th of her career. She extended her scoreless streak of 354 minutes and counting in the net for TWU. Morgan made nine save in a 0-0 double-overtime tie at West Texas A&M, who is averaging over two goals a game this season. On the season she has 49 saves, 1.10 GAA and .817 save percentage.