'Why not TLU?': TLU Faces Trinity in SCAC Title Match

HOUSTON, Texas -- Following a 2-1 victory over Concordia (TX), Texas Lutheran women's soccer will compete in the SCAC Tournament Championship for the fifth time in program history and second time in three seasons against No. 1 seed Trinity at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, Nov. 10, at SaberCats Stadium in Houston, Texas.

No. 2 Seed TLU (13-5-1) vs. No. 1 Seed Trinity (15-1-2)
Date: Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 –  11 a.m. CT 
Location: SaberCats Stadium, Houston, Texas
Broadcast: FloSports
Live Stats: Available on tlubulldogs.com

TLU PLAYS FOR SCAC TITLE SUNDAY 

No. 2 seed TLU (13-5-1) will have a chance to play for a SCAC title for the fifth time in program history, facing No.1 seed Trinity (15-1-2) in the SCAC Tournament final on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. CT at SaberCats Stadium, Houston, Texas. The match will be streamed on FloSports. The Bulldogs are seeking their first conference title in program history.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS

Trinity advanced to its 16th consecutive SCAC Tournament final after defeating No. 4 seed Southwestern in the SCAC Semifinals on Friday. A first half goal by Michaela Bosco proved to be the game-winner as scored an unassisted goal in the eighth minute to put Trinity on the board, a goal proved to be all the Tigers would need to advance to Sunday's final. The Tigers posted their 15th unblemished SCAC regular season in the last 16 years and 27th in program history. The defending champions of this event, Trinity has won 13 of the last 14 SCAC women's soccer tournaments. Bri Werner and Abby Schneider lead Trinity offensively with eight goals each while Bosco leads the team with 23 points including a SCAC leading 15 assists. Goalkeeper Lauryn Lewis, who was named to the All-SCAC First Team, leads the SCAC in save percentage (.861) and goals against average (0.31) and has 13.5 shutouts on the season as the Tigers have only allowed five goals all season.

THE SERIES WITH TRINITY

TLU is 0-28-1 all-time against Trinity, going 0-1-1 against the Tigers this season.

SEMIFINAL RECAP

No. 2 seed Texas Lutheran women's soccer advanced to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) after outlasting No. 3 seed Concordia (TX) for a 2-1 semifinal victory at SaberCats Stadium Friday afternoon. TLU got on the board in the 15th minute via a goal from newly minted All-SCAC second team member Natalia Cortez (Edinburg/Robert Vela) via an assist from Houston native Klarissa Martinez (Houston/Incarnate Word Academy). Cortez's goal was the second-fastest goal in SCAC tournament history for TLU. TLU was able to double their lead in the 51st minute as Callie Brame (San Antonio/Churchill) was able to find Lilly Noblett (San Antonio/Warren) for her sixth goal of the season to double the Bulldogs lead to 2-0. Concordia managed to cut the lead in half in the 70th minute but TLU's defense held firm and parried away the last-minute attempts. Texas Lutheran effectively controlled the tempo in the last couple of minutes, and maintained possession to shut down Concordia's attack to secure the win. Goalkeeper Alysa Marquez (Miami, FL/Dr. Michael Krop) recorded her 13th win in-goal for the Bulldogs this season, matching Katie Kistner's single-season record set in 2004 and 2006. Marquez would make three saves on Friday to eclipse 100 career saves in her career, just the ninth keeper in program history to reach the mark.

SIMIEN WINS THIRD-STRAIGHT CONFERENCE OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD 

Alyssa Simien (San Antonio/Warren) becomes the first player in SCAC history to be named Offensive Player of the Year three times, earning the honor in back-to-back-to-back seasons over her three seasons as a Bulldog. Simien ended the 2024 regular season leading the SCAC in goals (13) and points (34) and ranking third in assists (8). Four of her goals this season have been game winners, ranking third in the SCAC. For her career, Simien has 40 goals and 95 points - ranking fourth all-time in TLU's history in both categories. Simien was also named to the All-SCAC First Team for the third time in her career.

12 BULLDOGS EARN SCAC POSTSEASON HONORS 

TLU placed 11 players on the All-SCAC teams and had three on the All-Freshman team with a program record receiving All-SCAC recognition. Receiving first-team All-SCAC honors were Alyssa Simien, Kelly Wolfe (San Antonio/Churchill), and Jessica Robinson (Cibolo/Steele). Second-team honorees were Noelani Ajel (Cibolo/Steele), Klarissa Martinez, and Natalia Cortez. Ashlyn Suarez (Schertz/Clemens), Callie Brame, Caitlin Roach (Manvel/Manvel), and Alysa Marquez all earned All-SCAC Honorable Mention. Ajel, Lilly Noblett, and Emma Alvarado (Buda/Johnson) were selected to the All-Freshman team.

ASSIST QUEENS

Texas Lutheran has done a great job of sharing the ball so far in 2024, tallying 39 assists as a team so far in 2024 - the third most in program history. They are led in the category by junior Klarissa Martinez who enters Sunday's match just one assist shy of matching Katie Buehler's single-season assist record. She currently has ten assists for the second most in a single-season. Martinez, along with teammate Callie Brame, currently sits tenth all-time in career assists with 12 in her career. Brame currently sits in a tie with Alyssa Simien for second on the team with eight assists this season. Alyssa Simien (San Antonio/Warren) currently sits in a tie for sixth all-time in program history.

THE SIM-ULATION

Three-time SCAC Player of the Year Alyssa Simien leads the Bulldogs and the SCAC in points and assists for the third straight season with 13 goals and 34 points. Four of her goals this season have been game winners, ranking third in the SCAC. For her career, Simien has 40 goals and 95 points - ranking fourth all-time in TLU's history in both categories.

FROM FLORIDA WITH LOVE

Sophomore goalkeeper Alysa Marquez is having one of the best seasons in-goal for the Bulldogs in recent memory - touting 13 wins and 5.5 shutouts. With the 13 wins, Marquez matched Katie Kistner's single-season record set in 2004 and 2006. Marquez would make three saves on Friday to eclipse 100 career saves in her career, just the ninth keeper in program history to reach the mark. Marquez is only the third Bulldog to earn double-digit goalkeeper wins in a single-season joining Katie Kistner and Erin Rose.

For all updates on Texas Lutheran Women's Soccer, follow @tluwsoc on Twitter and Instagram and as always you can find updates on all Texas Lutheran athletics on tlubulldogs.com and all official TLU social media channels (@tluathletics on Twitter, @tlu_athletics on Instagram, and @tlubulldogs on Facebook).