Conway – The Central Arkansas women's soccer team will make its second appearance in the Southland Conference Women's Soccer Tournament this week, beginning with a first-round match-up against third-seeded Sam Houston State. The Bears, who earned the sixth seed in the tournament, are the first host team to make an appearance since McNeese State accomplished the feat in 2012.

"Getting into the tournament was definitely one of our goals this season, so we are excited to have achieved that goal," said UCA head coach Jeremy Bishop. "But we are not satisfied with just getting in. We believe, and have demonstrated, that we have a team that can compete against everyone in the tournament."

Central Arkansas (7-11-1, 4-6-1 SLC) and Sam Houston State (9-6-3, 6-3-2 SLC) have battled once this season, with the Bearkats edging out the Bears 2-1 in overtime. In that match, UCA took a lead in the 54^th minute on a goal from Southland Freshman of the Year Camille Bassett, but Sam Houston responded in the 71^st minute on a strike from Allie Johnson. The Bearkats got a golden goal from Ashley Alonzo in the first overtime period to get the win.

On the season, the Central Arkansas attack is led by a pair of freshmen in Bassett and Ashley Smith. Bassett, from Vista, California is tied for third in the conference with 11 goals and sits in fourth with 22 points, while Plano, Texas native Smith, has five goals and is tied for third in the league with six assists. The Central Arkansas midfield features a pair of All-Southland honorable mentions, Shelby Wilson and Allie Coleman. Wilson is tied for 10^th in the conference with four assists on the year and has found the net four times. Coleman averages 88 minutes played per match, providing the Bears will consistency in the middle of the field.

Defensively, All-Southland honorable mention Stacia Carroll and freshman Kristen Ricks have featured heavily, ranking first and second on the team in minutes played. The pair has helped UCA allow an average of just 1.47 goals per match, a mark good for fifth in the league.

In goal, Central Arkansas features a pair of keepers that rank in the top 10 in the conference in a number of statistics. Sophomore Anna Hughes has made 54 saves and compiled a goals against average of 1.30, which is good for fifth in the Southland, while freshman Lauren Mercuri has made 46 saves, averaging 4.60 stops per game, a number that ranks eighth in the league.

Sam Houston features a pair of All-Southland first team honorees. Sophomore Caitlin Schwartz anchored a defensive unit that allowed just 0.98 goals per match, the second lowest mark in the league, while senior Mariah Titus tied for 10^th in the league with four assists and added five goals. In net, Kylie Hambleton ranks second in the Southland with four shutouts and fourth in both saves (79) and goals against average (1.08).

"Sam Houston is a very good team," said Bishop of the Bearkats. "They have playmakers in the attack, are solid on the back line and at the keeper position. They are also coming into the tournament playing their best soccer of the year. They've won two in a row and, including a win over Stephen F. Austin. The beat us in overtime back in our first conference match of the season in a very competitive match, so we will have to be ready for a difficult match on Thursday and we will have to play with a high level of focus and intensity."

The Bears will look for their first-ever in in the Southland Tournament tomorrow at 2:30 PM at the Bill Stephens Complex in Conway.