2013 Southland Conference Soccer Tournament Bracket

Tournament Info

THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University soccer team opens the 2013 Southland Conference Women's Soccer Tournament on Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Cowgirl Field in Lake Charles as the No. 4 seed, taking on No. 5 seed Sam Houston State.
 
The Colonels are making just their third appearance in the league's postseason tournament since beginning women's soccer in 1998, as the team earned its highest finish in program history after qualifying last weekend to end the season 12-5-2 and 6-5-1 against league competition.
 
Nicholls' contest on Thursday night is a rematch of Sunday afternoon's thrilling regular season finale between the two, as Nicholls pulled out the 3-2 victory over SHSU to claim the fourth seed and clinch the tournament berth. The winner of the match on Thursday will move on to face No. 1 see Stephen F. Austin on Friday night at 7 p.m. On the other side of the bracket, No. 3 seed Southeastern Louisiana will take on No. 6 Central Arkansas at 4:30 p.m., with the winner of that game taking on No. 2 Oral Roberts on Friday afternoon.
 
Single session tickets on Thursday and Friday are available for $10 for adults and $6 for youth. Two-day, two-session tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for youth. Tickets for Sunday's championship are $8 for adults and $6 for youth. Children under the age of 5 and student at Southland Conference institutions are free with a valid ID.
 
The championship match will be carried exclusively on ESPN3 with Matt Pederson, the voice of the Houston Dynamo, on play-by-play, and two-time first-team all-Southland selection Laura Sadler on color. In addition, first round and semifinal games of the tournament will be streamed live on the Southland Conference Digital Network, available at southland.org and on the league's Apple and Android mobile and tablet apps. Brian Daughdril will be on the air calling play-by-play for the first round and semifinal matches.
 
Last Time Out
The Nicholls State University women's soccer team clinched the No. 4 seed and its first Southland Conference tournament berth since 2004 after defeating Sam Houston State 3-2 and tying with Southeastern Louisiana 1-1 last weekend. In arguably the biggest match in team history, the Colonels rose to the challenge and came from behind and fought through two ties to defeat Sam Houston State for just for fourth time in team history to secure the berth in the league's postseason tournament for just the third time. Nicholls then earned its first decision against the Lady Lions in team history, as the squad was nine minutes away from pulling off the upset of the No. 3 seed in the tournament. The Colonels had lost every match against SLU since starting the program in 1998, as the tie snapped a 22-match losing streak to the Lady Lions.
 
The Colonels will be led into the tournament on Thursday night by the 2013 Southland Conference Women's Soccer Player of the Year in Spencer Valdespino. The new, all-time single-season leader for goals, points and game winning goals heads into the tournament having scored in each of the last four contests and is 12th in the nation in total goals (16) and points (37), while sitting 11th in goals per game (0.89) and points per game (2.06). Valdespino powers the 16th ranked scoring offense in the nation, as the Colonels are 23 in the county in points per contest (6.88).
 
For the Colonels to have any chance at all of making it to championship Sunday, the Colonels will need a total team effort beginning with the play of their midfielders. Possessing the ball and creating opportunities will begin in the middle of the field. The Colonels were also honored with two honorable mention selections to the all-conference teams in Jess Coates and Melissa Pestalozzi, both as midfielders. Coates has five goals and an assists on the year, while Pestalozzi has five assists and a goal in her final season in a Nicholls uniform. The Colonels have scored 44 goals this season which is tied for second in the league, as 24 have come from midfielders or forwards including Lauren O'Brien's five, Hannah Savoie's four and Kristy Tatom's two.
 
Defensively, the Colonels will be led by its back line of Meghan Lanteigne, Amber Moore and Kirsten Cunningham, as well as off the bench by Renee Bruns, Kaylie Daniels and Briana Baugher, among others. Going into the tournament, Moore and Pestalozzi have the chance to become just a handful of players to start 20 matches in a single-season in team history. The defense has given up less than 30 goals this season and is 12-1-2 when giving up two goals or less. Nicholls goalie Amanda Boylson, who set the single-season record for wins in a season with seven, is seventh in the conference in saves averaging over four per contest.
 
Scouting Sam Houston State
Sam Houston State heads into the rematch on Thursday at 8-10-1 on the year after taking the defeat against the Colonels. The Bearkats played proved to be a worthy opponent on Sunday as they took the lead early and continued to battle to tie the match at 2-2 late and looking to force overtime. The Bearkats are led by second team All-Southland Conference midfielder Maria Titus who's eight goals leads the team, earning five of them in league play, including having the opening score against Nicholls on Sunday.
 
Up Next
The winner of Thursday's match will take on No. 1 seed and regular season champion Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m. on Friday night at Cowgirl Field in Lake Charles.