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SAC Soccer Tournament graphic - usao msoc at ccc on No. 3 - usao wsoc vs tx wes on Nov. 4
Posted: Nov 02, 2023

USAO Soccer to Open Postseason Play This Weekend

CHICKASHA, Okla. – This weekend the USAO women's and men's soccer teams will be opening play at the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament. The men's team is the No. 6 seed and will head to McPherson, Kan. to face No. 3 Central Christian College at 2:00 PM CT on Friday, November 3. The women's team clinched the No. 3 seed in the tournament, and they will host No. 6 Texas Wesleyan University on Saturday, November 4 at 7:30 PM. 

Both Drover squads have gotten hot at the right time and they each head into the postseason riding impressive win-streaks. The men's team concluded the regular season with four consecutive wins, while the women have won six games in a row and seven of their last eight.

 

MEN'S PREVIEW: #3 CCC (10-4-2, 5-4 SAC) vs #6 USAO (8-7-3, 4-4-1 SAC)

The USAO men's team has been on a bit of a rollercoaster ride this season, starting well, followed by a rough stretch in the middle of the season, but then put together a four-game win-streak heading into the postseason. Central Christian was one of the teams that USAO has defeated during their recent win-streak, picking up a 3-0 victory on the road at CCC on October 24. In the all-time series between the conference foes, USAO holds a 6-2 advantage dating back to October of 2017.

In their prestigious history, USAO has won eight tournament championships.

 

Angel Diaz has been solid for the Drovers between the pipes and has produced a record of 8-5-3, as well as a pair of shutouts. This season, Diaz has made 55 saves on a .705 save percentage, and he is only surrendering 1.45 goals per game.

 

The dynamic duo of Justin Croke and Matija Malenovic has been wreaking havoc on the Sooner Athletic Conference. Croke currently ranks seventh in the SAC in goals (9), fourth in assists (9), and fourth in points (27), while Malenovic ranks ninth in goals (8), fifth in assists (9), and sixth in points (25). 

 

-MEN'S PLAYERS TO WATCH-

 

 

WOMEN'S PREVIEW: #3 USAO (12-5, 7-2 SAC) vs #6 TX WES (7-8-1, 4-5 SAC)

When USAO and Texas Wesleyan met earlier this season on Oct. 21 at McLaughlin Field, the Drovers cruised to a 7-1 victory. The Drovers own an 11-2-2 against the Rams all-time, dating back to September of 2011, and USAO has outscored TX Wes 43-15 in those head-to-head matchups. 

The Drovers have won seven tournament championships in their history, and they have appeared in eight consecutive SAC Tournament championship games.

 

Part of the Drovers' success down the stretch has been the improvement on the defensive side of the ball, and Ashlyn Lonberg has been excellent for USAO between the pipes, putting together a perfect win-loss record of 7-0 this season.

 

Offensively, the team is led by Alicia Rey, who currently leads the NAIA in goals scored (24) and ranks No. 3 in points (59). Furthermore, she claimed the SAC triple crown by leading the league in goals, assists, and points. She was selected as the 2022 SAC Offensive Player of the Year and it is a safe bet that she will either be selected as the 2023 SAC Player of the Year or as the SAC Offensive Player of the Year once again. She has been selected as the SAC Player of the Week four times this season, which is the most in the conference. In her career, Rey has produced 68 goals, 38 assists, and 174 points in 77 games played.

 

-WOMEN'S PLAYERS TO WATCH-

  • Alicia Rey (24 goals, 11 assists, 59 points)
  • Dagbjort Gudmunsdottir (5 goals, 7 assists, 17 points)
  • Avery Walker (3 goals, 8 assists, 14 points)
  • Laura Barrantes (5 goals, 2 assists, 12 points)
  • Daniela Salinas (4 goals, 3 assists, 11 points)
  • Luna Knoester (2 goals, 3 assists, 7 points)
  • Ilse de Jong (2 goals, 3 assists, 7 points)
  • Ashlyn Lonberg (7-0 record, 23 saves, 1.06 goals against avg., .742 save percentage)

 

 

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