LSC Roundup 11-2

Mustangs are sixth in South Central rankings - Times Record News
Buffs ranked fifth in regional grid poll - Amarillo Globe News
Javelinas ranked 3rd in the region - Corpus Christi Caller


Buffaloes, Wildcats set for showdown - Adam Zuvanich, RedRaiders.com
Two of the best teams in college football, and two of its most prolific passing attacks, will collide in West Texas on Saturday night.

They won’t be playing at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Kimbrough Memorial Stadium in Canyon will play host to what is often an epic Lone Star Conference showdown, and it could be even more exciting than the Big 12 Conference clash between Texas Tech and 14th-ranked Missouri.

West Texas A&M (7-2), ranked 14th in the latest NCAA Division II coaches’ poll, hosts No. 2 Abilene Christian (9-0) in a battle for first place in the LSC’s South Division. The Wildcats are 8-0 in league play, while the Buffaloes are one game back in a tie for second place with fourth-ranked Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Two years ago, when West Texas A&M and ACU met for a playoff game in Abilene, the Wildcats won 93-68 as the teams combined for 1,531 total yards, including 978 through the air. Two future NFL players helped lead the way — ACU receiver Johnny Knox, who now plays for the Chicago Bears, and Buffs quarterback Keith Null, the St. Louis Rams’ quarterback before they drafted Sam Bradford — but Saturday’s 6:05 p.m. matchup could feature nearly as many fireworks.

The Buffs rank third in Division II in both passing offense and total offense, while the Wildcats are ninth nationally in each category. They’re both among the top four in scoring offense, averaging a combined 86 points per game.

ACU quarterback Mitchell Gale has thrown for 31 touchdowns with only one interception this year. If he happens to get hurt, the Wildcats will turn to backup Clark Harrell, the younger brother of former Tech gunslinger Graham Harrell.


Hounds in need of first road win - Dave Wagner, Clovis News Journal
With any success on the road, the Eastern New Mexico University football team would be playing for an outright Lone Star Conference North Division title this week.

Instead, the Greyhounds (4-5, 3-2 North) hope to salvage a three-way share of the crown when they face Northeastern State (5-4, 4-1) in a 1 p.m. (MDT) kickoff on Saturday at Tahlequah, Okla.

In addition to beating the RiverHawks, the Hounds need Texas A&M-Commerce (3-6, 2-3) to win at home over co-leader East Central (4-5, 4-1), which handed NSU its first division loss 48-21 on Saturday.

ENMU finished its home slate at 4-2 after Saturday’s 55-20 blitz of Southeastern Oklahoma at Blackwater Draw, but the Hounds are winless in three tries away from home. Included are disappointing division setbacks to Southwestern Oklahoma (21-10) and East Central (22-19), plus an LSC crossover loss at Angelo State (41-38).

“I don’t know what the difference is,” said junior wide receiver Carl Bouldin, who caught five passes for 138 yards and a touchdown on Saturday. “We just didn’t execute (in the road games).”


Hometown Heroes: Patience paying off for ACU safety - Coy Slavik, Special to Times Record News
Darien Williams regrets how his college football career at North Texas ended, but is happy with where it has continued at Abilene Christian.

Williams, a former all-state high school safety at Vernon, appeared on his way to a very successful career at UNT after earning a starting role as a freshman in 2008 and ranking fourth on the team in tackles.

But Williams grew frustrated last season as he saw his playing time greatly reduced. Williams said he allowed the situation to affect his attitude and play on the field. By midseason, he already had decided to take his talents elsewhere.

“I showed a little bit of immaturity by getting mad about that,” Williams said. “I didn’t give as much effort as I could. I figured I was just a sophomore, so I was going to go out and get a new start somewhere else.”




LSC to air Soccer Championship games live
RICHARDSON, Texas - The Lone Star Conference Soccer Championship this week will be shown live via internet video streaming online here, league officials announced.
All the championship games are going to be aired live, starting with first-round action on Thursday, November 4, at the MSU Soccer Field in Wichita Falls, Texas
Webcasts of each game are available free of charge. Each webcast includes both video and audio, with viewers needing only a computer with a high-speed DSL or cable modem connection to the internet.
Veteran broadcaster Chris Needham has the call for all the games.

LSC Soccer Championship
November 4-5-7, 2010 in Wichita Falls, Texas

Thursday, Nov. 4
No. 3 Angelo State vs. No. 6 Texas A&M-Commerce, Noon
No. 4 Incarnate Word vs. No. 5 Central Oklahoma, 2:30 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 5
3-6 winner vs. No. 2 Abilene Christian, 5 p.m.
4-5 winner vs. No. 1 Midwestern State, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 7
Championship game, 1 p.m.



LSC Scoop Women’s Soccer Update.
Regular Season Finale.

Midwestern. Two wins clinched the regular season title and hosting rights for the Mustangs. Friday the Mustangs outshot TWU 10-3 and notched a 28th minute goal for the 1-0 halftime lead. The game was statistically more balanced in the second period, but MSU added 68th and 78th minute scores to finish 3-0. Sunday against Commerce the Mustangs scored early (7th minute) on a corner. A second goal at the 66th minute provided the final margin.

ACU. Split for the weekend to finish a program best second place in conference play and (as a result of a head to head advantage over Angelo) earned a first round bye. Friday’s match against A&M Commerce marked the ‘Cats first time to be shut out in conference play. A 35th minute goal by Commerce provided the only score of the match and the final 0-1 margin. The match turned chippy in the second half with four yellows awarded in the final 15 minutes. Sunday against TWU a 30th minute goal for ACU provided the 1-0 halftime lead. Two second half goals from TWU resulted from ACU’s failure to clear balls on the ground inside the six year area. ACU added two goals and hit multiple crossbars and posts for the 3-2 final. ACU’s Andrea Carpenter notched the second hat trick of her freshman year.

UIW. Split over the weekend to finish 7-4 and fourth in the LSC. The Cardinals earn a spot in the conference tourney in their initial year in the conference. Friday in Tahlequah both sides scored in the first half for the 1-1 mark at intermission. NSU managed an 88th minute goal for the 2-1 win. Sunday the Cardinals surrendered a 2nd minute goal, scored three unanswered goals and allowed an 84th minute score for a 3-2 win over ECU. A total of 32 fouls were whistled in the match.

Angelo. Two victories in Oklahoma over the weekend improved the Rambelles to 9-2 in LSC play, a tie for second, and the #3 seed in the conference tourney. Friday in Ada the Rambelles scored first in the 26th before surrendering two scores for a 1-2 halftime deficit. Angelo adjusted at halftime, outshot the Tigers 15-4 in the second half and tied 2-2 in the 67th minute via a PK. An OT goal in the 96th minute ended the game 3-2 in favor of Angelo. Four yellows were shown in the match. Sunday the Angelo State side scored a 9th minute goal and defended for the win. NSU outshot the Rambelles 12-6 for the match, but shots on frame was even at 3-3.

Central Oklahoma. Produced two wins to advance to 5-4-1, a fifth place finish, and a berth in the conference tourney. The Bronchos surrendered a goal in the 18th minute to West Texas, but knotted the score at 1-1 in the 43rd. Late game heroics by UCO resulted in a 90th minute goal from a free kick for the regulation winner. Sunday’s match against ENMU was all UCO all the time. A 24-2 shot margin and three goals tell the tale.

WT A&M. Split again to settle at 4-6-1 for a 7th place finish in LSC play, which caused the Buffs to miss the tourney for the first time since it began in 1996. Friday in Edmond the Buffs notched a 17th minute goal before UCO tied it up off a corner kick, for the 1-1 halftime score. UCO scored in the 90th to lock up the game. Sunday in Weatherford OK the Buffs scored three first half goals with that also the final margin.

TWU. Dropped two matches to slide to 2-7-2 for LSC play. Friday Midwestern scored on first half goal and added two in the second for the 0-3 shutout loss. Sunday the Pioneers managed to tie the game twice after ACU scores, but could not find the third goal for the 2-3 loss. Defender Natalie Holovach appeared to be in several places at once as she singlehandedly stuffed several Wildcat runs.

A&M Commerce. Split for the weekend and clawed their way into the tourney, finishing sixth at 4-4-3. Friday the Wildcats visited for a night match and a lone Lion goal in the 35th provided the 1-0 margin. Sunday the Midwestern Mustangs outshot the Lions 23-9 and scored once in each half for the 0-2 Lion loss.

SWOSU. Two losses dropped the Bulldogs to a 3-7-1 mark. Friday the Bulldogs outshot the Zia’s 10-2, but both Zia’s shots hit the net for the 0-2 loss. Sunday the Buffs of WT scored three first half goals that stood up for the win.

NSU. Split to end at 3-5-3. Friday the Cardinals were surprised at the Tahlequah pitch by a late goal to provide a Riverhawk 2-1 win. Sunday Angelo scored in the 9th minute and held on for the 1-0 victory.

ECU. Dropped a pair of games by identical scores to finish 1-9-1. Friday Angelo scored one first half goal, with the Tigers netting two for the 2-1 halftime advantage. A 67th minute PK tied and the OT golden goal winner came at the 96th minute for Angelo. An early goal by the Tigers on Sunday gave ECU a (brief) 1-0 lead, before the Cardinals reeled off three goals. A late Tiger goal closed the gap to 2-3 but no closer.


LSC VOLLEYBALL
The Lone Star Conference volleyball regular season title and right to host the championship is on the line this week. On Thursday (Nov. 4), Abilene Christian will host West Texas A&M, with both teams holding perfect 12-0 records in LSC play. ACU has won its last 11 and 23 of their last 24 and WTAMU has won their last eight matches and an NCAA Division II record 78 straight over conference opponents. With a 11-1 league mark, Angelo State is also in the title chase and plays WTAMU at home on Saturday (Nov. 6).

WEST TEXAS A&M SETS NCAA DIVISION II RECORD
The 2010 West Texas A&M volleyball team now has its own place in the records books after defeating Tarleton State to record the program’s 78th consecutive win over a Lone Star Conference opponent. WTAMU surpassed its own mark of 77 consecutive victories over a conference opponent set from Sept. 18, 1999, to Oct. 10, 2003, and now has the top two streaks all time in NCAA Division II history.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
Shawna Hines, Abilene Christian University, SR, Aurora, Colorado, Rangeview High School
Hines was outstanding for the Wildcats as the conference leader in hitting percentage again posted big numbers in a pair of wins. Hines hit .370 over the weekend with 24 kills and only four errors in seven sets. Hines averaged 3.43 kills per set helping the No. 21 ranked Wildcats stay a perfect 12-0 in the Lone Star Conference. She put down nine kills against Texas A&M-Kingsville and added 15 at Incarnate Word.

Jordan Parks, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, SR, Burleson, Texas, Burleson HS
Parks turned in her best week of the season en route to helping Southeastern to a 3-0 record. Parks turned in 27 kills and averaged 2.45 kills per set, while hitting a very efficient .345 over three matches. She turned in a season-best 17 kills in SE’s come-from-behind 3-2 win over Texas Woman’s, providing seven kills in the game’s decisive fifth set. She also chipped in on defense, picking up eight blocks on the week, including a team-best four solos. She led the team in points on the week with 34.0, averaging 3.09 points per set.

DEFENSIVE
Kaelen Valdez, Angelo State University, FR, Helotes, Texas, O’Connor High School
Valdez played a big role in the Angelo State defense last week, helping the ‘Belles defeat conference foes Incarnate Word and Texas A&M-Kingsville as well as St. Mary’s in a non-conference match with 4.7 digs per set. Valdez recorded a pair of double doubles at St. Mary’s (11 kill, 14 digs) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (10 kills, 15 digs). She now leads the team with nine double-doubles on the year. Valdez notched 18 digs at Incarnate Word, guiding the ‘Belles to a 3-0 sweep. She helped ASU hold its opponents to a .147 hitting percentage. Valdez currently leads the ‘Belles in digs with 274 and 3.11 digs per set.

Keidra Williams, West Texas A&M University, JR, Denton, Texas, Ryan
Williams recorded a career-high 11 assists in WT’s win over St. Edward’s on Saturday and finished with five solo blocks and 18 assisted blocks for a total of 23 blocks on the week. She was instrumental in WT’s win over Tarleton on Thursday which gave the Lady Buffs its 78th consecutive win over a conference opponent that set a new NCAA Division II record. The TexAnns were up match-point, 17-16, in the fifth set before her solo block tied the set at 17-17 to give the Lady Buffs new life. The Lady Buffs went on to win the set 21-19 and give WT the record-breaking match victory.

SETTER
Alex Woolsey, Angelo State University, SO, Plano, Texas, Plano East High School
Woolsey totaled 124 assists, averaging 12.40 assists per set, for the ‘Belles last week. She notched her eighth double-double of the season at St. Mary’s when she tallied 47 assists and 12 digs in the contest. Woolsey led a balanced offense that knocked down a total of 149 kills, averaging 14.90 kills per set, over the three matches. She helped the ‘Belles win their ninth consecutive match and 11th straight conference match. Woolsey leads the Rambelles and the Lone Star Conference in assists per set with 10.63.

Erika Dupree, West Texas A&M University, JR, Mesquite, Texas, Poteet
Dupree recorded four double-doubles on the week, while posting a career-high 49 assists in WT’s five-set win over Tarleton on Thursday to give the Lady Buffs a new NCAA Division II record for most consecutive wins over a conference opponent. The junior had tallied a career-high 35 assists in the match at Eastern New Mexico before breaking it in Stephenville, and finished the week dishing out 137 assists while averaging 9.13 assists per set – nearly 3.00 more assists than her season average. Dupree posted 29 kills on the week, collected 54 digs and put down seven blocks while leading the Lady Buffs to a 4-0 record for the week.