The Lion’s Roar / Elizabeth Brown
Due to the team’s final home game performance against Northwestern State University, along with their victory over the University of Central Arkansas two days prior, the Lady Lions were guaranteed a spot in the upcoming SLC Tournament on Thursday, November 5. The team who  is fourth seed, will face Texas A&M Corpus-Christi in Conway, Arkansas.

The Lady Lions soccer team went head to head in a game against the Nicholls State University Lady Colonels for their last game of the regular season. The game determined whether or not the Lady Colonels would advance to the Southland Conference Tournament. The Lady Lions, with a strong defense and significant offensive plays, shut the Lady Colonels out by finishing with a victory.  

The team went to Thibodaux, Louisiana for their final game on Friday, October 30 at 3:45 p.m. 

At the first and 14 minutes, Lady Lion sophomore midfielder Ana Zadro, assisted by freshman midfielder and forward Vanessa Arzaluz, and senior midfielder Gisenia Utreras, assisted by sophomore midfielder and forward Maddie Kresevic, both made goals, putting them ahead the Lady Colonels at 2-0 early in the game. Zadro made this first minute goal her fourth goal of the season. For Utreras, this was her team-leading 11th goal of the season. 

Utreras felt accomplished for being able to contribute to the team’s overall efforts within the 14th minute moment. 

“[Making that goal] felt great,” said Utreras. “I love to help my teammates any way that I can.”

Following these plays, multiple shots were made by the Lady Colonels yet saved by junior goalkeeper Hope Sabadash and blocked by the Lady Lions defense. 

At the end of the first half, Head Coach Blake Hornbuckle felt that the team had a good start.

“We had a fantastic start to the game, especially in the first 25 minutes,” said Hornbuckle. 

Going into the second half with a two-point lead, shots continued to be blocked and saved by Sabadash and the Lady Lions defense. Although a penalty kick goal was made by Nicholls’ senior forward Spencer Valdespino in the 63rd minute, the Lady Colonels’ efforts were not enough to drive them to victory. The game concluded with a 2-1 victory for the Lady Lions.

Looking back on the team’s performance for their final game and overall season, Utreras felt that she and her teammates finished strong. 

“I think we did well,” said Utreras. “We started off strong with the two early goals and worked hard to not let them back in the game. I think we play together as a team and collectively we try to play at our full potential, physically and mentally. Yes, not all things went as planned, but we all learn from that and move forward.”

Leading up to this final triumph, Hornbuckle felt that the team improved as the season progressed and hopes to continue to improve.

“The team worked to improve day in and day out with each training session and match,” said Hornbuckle. “We will continue to methodically prepare for the future this way. The team has great strength together and understands late in the season the importance of winning games. ”

As for individual performances, Hornbuckle felt that many players did well in this final game.

“Hope Sabadash was great in goal along with Maddie Kresevic, Maddie Allen, Ana Zadro and Cheyenne Maxwell and Katie Noonan on the back line,” said Hornbuckle. 

Also prior to the team’s final game, Hope Sabadash and senior defender Maddie Allen were honored by the conference as Goalkeeper of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week for their contributions in previous games which guaranteed the team a spot in the SLC Tournament. 

The team finished their regular season as the 4th seed with 11-4-3 overall and 6-3-2 SLC. 

Hornbuckle felt as though the competition for the tournament is close. 

“We finished fourth overall for the season out of 12 teams,” said Hornbuckle. “It is a thin margin as six points separated first and fourth.”

The Lady Lions’ post-season tournament game will be on Thursday, November 5 at 4:30 p.m. at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. 

Hornbuckle will prepare the team for the tournament so that they can walk away as champions. 

“We will work to focus on key components based on our opponent and train to prepare before departing for Conway,” said Hornbuckle. 

Going into this tournament, Utreras looks forward to a victory for her and her teammates as they close out her last season. 

“[We want] to win the whole thing of course, but first we have to focus on one game at a time,” said Utreras. “Without my teammates I would not be in this position, and I am thankful for them. [I am] hoping to leave Southeastern with another ring.”

For more information on the Lady Lions or the upcoming Southland Conference Tournament, visit lionsports.net or southland.org.