LSC SOCCER
The 2012 NCAA Division II Soccer Championship field includes a pair of Lone Star Conference teams with Incarnate Word on the men’s side and West Texas A&M qualifying for the women’s event.
The Cardinals are the third seed and play at No. 2 Colorado Mines Saturday at 2 p.m. UIW and Mines played earlier this season, with the Orediggers earning a 3-2 win on a goal in the final 30 seconds. UIW is making its eighth all-time NCAA postseason appearance in the last 11 years, with a regional title in 2004. The winner advances to play top seed Regis on a date to be determined at the top remaining seed from the West Region.
On the women’s side, WT earned the LSC tournament title over Incarnate Word with a 3-2 double-overtime triumph in the final of the league’s women’s soccer championship at the Pitch in Canyon, Texas. The Lady Buffs avenged two regular season losses to the Cardinals to earn the league’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Regional Tournament.
WT, the sixth-seed, was selected for its ninth appearance in the NCAA postseason and travels to Austin, Texas, to face No. 3 Metro State Friday at 2 p.m. The victor advances to play the No. 2 St. Edward’s Sunday at 2 p.m. The Lady Buffs last showing in the NCAA regional was in 2009, when they reached the Elite Eight.
The other side of the South Central bracket is at top-seed Dallas Baptist, with the Patriots facing the winner of No. 4 Colorado Mines and No. 5 Regis.
LSC men’s soccer teams are 44-16-9 overall this season. The squads are currently 5-3-1 combined versus Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference teams, and 11-3-1 against the Heartland Conference, which are the other conferences in the NCAA South Central Region.
The women’s teams are 65-76-10 overall this season. The squads are currently 2-9-1 combined versus Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference teams, and 2-4 against the Heartland Conference, which are the other conferences in the NCAA South Central Region.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
MEN’S OFFENSIVE
Vincent Bailey, University of the Incarnate Word, JR, Midfielder, Southport, England, Savio
Bailey led the Cardinals in scoring last week. He scored the game-winning goal in the 79th minute against Eastern New Mexico on Friday. In the final home game of the season, he assisted on the game-winning goal against St. Mary’s and then added a beautiful free kick goal all within the first 33 minutes of the game before heading to the bench in a 4-0 win. He finished the week with two goals and an assist during a 2-1 week.
MEN’S DEFENSIVE
Ray Clark, Midwestern State University, JR, Norman, Okla., Norman HS
Clark made five saves to complete his fifth clean sheet of the season to help Midwestern State to a 1-0 win over rival West Texas A&M Friday night at the MSU Soccer Field. The junior from Norman then posted 45 scoreless minutes against Eastern New Mexico to lower his LSC leading goals against average to 0.80.