Stephen F. Austin Advances to Fourth Consecutive Championship Match
BEAUMONT, Texas – In the semifinals of the 2014 Southland Conference Soccer Tournament, top-seeded Stephen F. Austin defeated No. 5 seed Nicholls, 5-0, and advance to the championship match at Lamar Soccer Complex on the campus of Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.
The Ladyjacks spread the wealth with four players scoring Friday night as SFA extended their shutout series to 13 and the nations’ overall win streak.
Stephen F. Austin jumped out to an early lead in the first half with a goal from defender Megan Dunnigan in the 23rd minute. Less than six minutes later the Ladyjacks struck again. Player of the Year Zuri Prince put the ball in the lower left corner of the goal as she shot across the goal to extend SFA’s lead 2-0.
The Ladyjacks carried their momentum into the second half as Christie Hinojosa found the back of the net on an assist from Freshman of the Year Hanna Barker.
Barker followed her assist with a goal of her own in the 36th minute of the second half to extend the Ladyjacks’ lead 4-0.
Hinojosa struck again, beating two Nicholls defenders to score her second goal of the game as SFA led 5-0 in the 58th minute.
This game marks the largest winning margin in postseason competition for the Ladyjacks. The second largest was a 5-1 win over McNeese State in 2009.
Stephen F. Austin (16-2-1) moves to its fourth consecutive conference championship match and looks to become regular season and tournament champions. The Ladyjacks, which will be seeking its fourth crown in seven attempts, will square off against No. 3 seed Houston Baptist in the championship Sunday at 1:05 p.m. on ESPN3.
2014 Southland Soccer Tournament Post-Game Quotes
Match 1 – #1 Stephen F. Austin vs. #5 Nicholls
Stephen F. Austin
On 5-0 win
“Oh yeah, it was a good win. Everyone was connecting well, we kept the ball good and put the goals away.”
On 2 goals scored, the first multi-score match of your career, being a senior and being able to play another day
“It’s really special, I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. They gave me some great balls and I executed, put the ball away. It just feels really great to get some goals in there. As a senior, like I said ”
Nicholls Head Coach Dylan Harrison
On history making year for Nicholls and reaching semifinals
“Absolutely, that’s the last thing we told them. In terms of our older players they’ve been through the low points and for them to come here and get at least a little taste the high life it was good for them. I will say between the older players and myself there is a challenge for the younger players that each year we continue to get better. So the expectation is not getting here next year but playing on Sunday.”
On seniors leaving the program and what they’ve done to get to this level
“I mean we have seven seniors, and one other that redshirted. It happened; you can’t just skip a step in the process of changing a program. So they’ve carried the burden over the last few years and I think the thing that just sums them up as a group is that they have always been committed. They have always been committed to the cause, they’ve always been about the university first and making sure there wasn’t a selfish moment within their journey to make us better. I’m going to miss them; I’m going to miss them greatly.”
Stephen F. Austin Midfielder Christie Hinojosa
On multi-goal match
“It’s really special. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. They gave me some great balls and I executed and put the ball away. It feels really great to get some goals in there. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and it feels great.”
On motivation going into championship match
“We’re putting everything on the line. We’re playing for the championship. After losing last year we just want to get back and make in to the NCAAs. We have all the motivation in the world and we’re ready.”