WATCH ON SOUTHLAND DIGITAL NETWORK
Lake Charles, La. – The Central Arkansas women's soccer team hit the road on Wednesday, heading to Lake Charles, Louisiana to take part in their first ever Southland Conference Tournament. The sixth-seeded Bears will take the field tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 against third-seeded Southeastern Louisiana.
The Bears (9-9-2, 6-6-0 SLC) won a pair of games during the final weekend of the season to lock up the final spot in this year's tournament, sending them to the postseason for the first time since moving up to Division I in 2006. Central Arkansas averaged 1.65 goals per game this season while holding opponents to just 1.45 goals per game.
All-Southland Conference First Team member Adriana Lucar leads the Central Arkansas offense with nine goals, which ranked third in the SLC, and 22 points, which was good fourth in the league. Junior Brooke Ballard and freshman Shelby Wilson each collected 12 points for the Bears this season, while freshman Kate Koch had ten points of her own. The Central Arkansas back line is anchored by a pair of seniors in Emma Reed and All-SLC Honorable Mention Alexa Herbers. Herbers holds the Central Arkansas record for games and minutes played, while Reed ranks second in school history in each category.
Central Arkansas has split time in goal between senior Lyndzey Goff and freshman Kaitlyn Keith this year. In 885 minutes in net, Goff has a goals against average of 1.53 and has made 48 saves for a save percentage of .762. Keith has played 658 minutes, allowing 1.50 goals per game and compiling a save percentage of .744 with 32 saves.
The Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions (13-3-3, 8-2-2 SLC) scored 2.05 goals per game this season, and led the SLC by allowing just 0.53 goals per game. They are led by a trio of All-SLC First Team members in Midfielder Kelsey Salcido, defender Chelsea Villascusa, and keeper Hope Sabadash. Salcido ranked fourth in the SLC with 22 points and led the league with eight assists. Sabadash, the SLC's Freshman of the Year, made 88 saves on the year, leading the SLC with a save percentage of .898 and eight shutouts while allowing 0.52 goals per game.
The winner of tomorrow's first round matchup will advance to face off with second-seeded Oral Roberts on Friday. The match is scheduled to begin at 4:30 pm.
