Belles bound for NCAA tournament

File photos contributed by Marsalis Mahome
Forward and midfielder Sierra Anderson dribbles the ball while looking for a teammate to pass to. Anderson leads in the LSC with 3.71 shots per game

This has been a record breaking season for Rambelle soccer with multiple players winning Lone Star Cconference player awards and some program records broken.

The Belles finished the regular season at 14-3-1 which is the best season record in program history. This is also the second time they have won the LSC Championship and the third trip to the Regional tournament and the first time going in back to back seasons.

Despite losing to West Texas A&M in an intense game on Nov. 7 in the LSC tournament, the no. 1 seed Belles will continue to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II South Central Regional Tournament this coming weekend.

“West Texas did a good job of changing up what they were going to do and they made it difficult for us to have success in midfield, and I think that’s where they won in the vital period of the game where they got their goal,” Head Coach Travis McCorkle said. “We’re definitely going to challenge our attacking players to get more goals next week.”

The Belles only allowed only nine goals on them for the season and the team’s Players of the Year gave credit to their teammates.

 “I’m just supporting my defense,” LSC Defensive Player of the Year Ashely Exford said. “Even though it’s my name on that plaque, it’s the whole Angelo State defenders and the other 24 girls on this team.”

Shantel Wittke, LSC Goalkeeper of the Year, agreed with all the awards being a team effort.

“The award is a great honor but I couldn’t have done it without my defenders and other players on the field,” Wittke said. “A team effort won this award; I’m just catching the balls that happen to get through. They do most of the work for me.”

The Belles will have to maintain their composure for the National Tournament ahead. McCorkle was adamant that the team could not let their loss last Sunday to West Texas A&M hinder them moving forward.

“The result of this game can’t become an anchor for us, we can’t let it weigh us down and keep us from moving on to the next game,” McCorkle said. “That’s the important thing for us. I hope we can shake this one off and move on and get the performances I know we’re capable of.”

Belles will host Fort Lewis and St. Edward’s in a NCAA Division II Regional on Friday, Nov.  13 and Sunday, Nov. 15. St. Edward’s and Fort Lewis will face off Friday at 7 p.m. and the winner of that match will take on the Belles at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 14, with the winner going to the third round of the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Midfielder Haley Mendel dribbles down the field and keeps the ball from her defender.

Forward Tiffany Dang maneuvers the ball down the field. Dang, along with Ashley Exford, was named the LSC All-Tournament Team.