LeTourneau University

 

 

A late-season battle between two conference opponents went for the Tornadoes on Saturday night as Concordia University Texas earned a 3-0 victory over the YellowJackets.

After a first half that yielded no goals for either side, CTX was able to score from outside the box in the 58th minute to take 1-0 lead early in the second half.

LETU would then face the challenge of playing down a man. SeniorAntonio Fernandez<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3249> was shown his second yellow card after committing a foul in the 60th minute which disqualified him from the game. The YellowJackets would have to play the final 30 minutes with only nine field players as they tried to make a comeback in the second half.

The YellowJackets continued to battle as they put four shots on goal including two from sophomore Alec Wier<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3262> and junior Israel Madrid<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3274> in the 80th minute that would have evened the score late in the game.

Senior Brian Howell<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3251> made incredible saves in a game that would require a lot of effort from the defensive unit playing down a man. Howell recorded eight saves on the night for the YellowJackets.

The back line of Alec Wier<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3262>, Kieran Coull<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3248>, Alan Flores<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3250> and senior leader Hunter Swift<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3260> were able to stifle the Tornado offense for most of the game despite the number disadvantage.

“We had to push guys forward to try to equalize and eventually conceded two late goals,” said head coach Matthew Haesecke<http://www.letuathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=429>. “I couldn’t be more proud of my guys for the fight they showed tonight. They battled the whole way, especially our back line and Brian (Howell), they responded to the challenge.”

LETU would continue to go on the attack trying to tie the game, but the Tornadoes were finally able to capitalize with two transition goals in the 85th and 89th minutes to stretch the lead to 3-0.

LeTourneau falls to 5-9-2 on the season and 2-6 in conference play. The YellowJackets are currently tied with Howard Payne for eighth in conference points, but HPU holds the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Next weekend’s matchups will have playoff implications for LeTourneau as they try to make the ASC tournament for the first time since 2011.

Hardin-Simmons will come to Longview on Friday night for a 7:30 matchup as the Cowboys sit fourth in the ASC standings after the weekend.

The YellowJackets will then turn their focus onto the Warhawks of McMurry as they celebrate senior night at 7:30 on Saturday. Six LETU seniors will be playing their final game at the Joyce Family Athletic Village.

LeTourneau women’s soccer earned a 1-0, shutout victory over Concordia University Texas on Saturday night in a huge ASC matchup in Austin.

Junior Kennedy Keer<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3175> got a pass from teammate Stephanie Vana<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3183> in the 58th minute and was able to the beat the CTX goalkeeper to score the game winning goal for the YellowJackets.

LeTourneau outshot Concordia 7-4 in the first half but neither side could find the back of the net. The two teams would go into the break knotted nil-nil in a physical game that saw four cautions given to the Tornadoes.

The goal in the 58th minute would prove to be the difference and the LETU defense would hold strong as sophomores Sarah Harder<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3169> and Kristen Wunder<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3184> led the backline.

Senior Brittany Hollis<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3172> played lights out in the goal as she made seven crucial saves in the game. The shutout is the fifth for the YellowJackets this season and the fifth for Hollis in her career.

The YellowJackets improve to 7-7-1 overall and 3-5-1 in conference play. LeTourneau is one spot out of the conference tournament after the weekend as they sit just one point behind University of the Ozarks and East Texas Baptist University in the ASC standings.

The LETU women will wrap up the regular season with a home weekend with playoff hopes on the line. The YellowJackets will open the weekend against NSCAA No. 14 Hardin-Simmons on Friday night. The Cowgirls sit atop the conference with a 14-1 record and undefeated in ASC play.

LeTourneau will celebrate senior night on Saturday in a matchup with McMurry at 5 PM as three YellowJackets play in their final game at the Joyce Family Athletic Village.

LeTourneau University volleyball fell 3-0 to Belhaven University on Senior Night in Solheim Arena.

The YellowJackets honored four seniors before Friday night’s match as Dolores Henson<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3153>, Jenny Olejar<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3155>, Erin Fort<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3246>, and Skylar Horan<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3150> were accompanied by their parents in recognition of their hard work and dedication to the LETU volleyball program.

The first set was back and forth between the two teams but the YellowJackets would grab an early 6-4 lead with a kill from seniorJenny Olejar<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3155>. Belhaven would respond with a four point swing to take a 16-11 lead. LeTourneau was able to pull within two but couldn’t convert down the stretch as the Blazers took set one, 25-22.

A close second set would have the YellowJackets coming from behind again as they scored four unanswered points including kills from freshman Mikayla Thomas<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3162> and junior Elyse Wright<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3226> as they closed the Blazer lead to 16-14. Belhaven would find the floor late in the set as they ended the game on a five point run to close it out 25-17.

The third set was a game of runs as the Blazers started out hot and took an early 6-1 lead. After a YellowJacket timeout they would go on a run of their own with three straight kills from senior Skylar Horan<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3150> to tie the set at 6-6. Wright and Horan would come up big late in the set as well as they traded kills to tie the set at 21-21. Belhaven would once again make a final push as they took the third and final set 25-21 to earn the win.

Elyse Wright<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3226> led the way for LeTourneau with nine kills in the match to go along with her 10 digs. Senior Dolores Henson<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3153> did a little bit of everything as she recorded 15 digs, five kills and two blocks on the night. “Dolores has been our rock for the last 4 years. She has lead us on and off the court,” said head coach Scott Peluso<http://www.letuathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=414> before the match.

Skylar Horan<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3150> put down eight kills and had two blocks on her senior night. “Sky has been through a lot in her time in our program. She has grown into a determined young woman who refuses to let all the curve balls life has thrown at her stop her. I have no doubt that Sky will do amazing things because she continues to fight no matter the circumstances,” said Coach Peluso.

Jenny Olejar<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3155> put down four kills and three blocks including a solo block. “Jenny was my first transfer into our program and I couldn’t be happier with her contributions. She has brought competitiveness to our middle position and took no time contributing,” said Peluso.

Senior setter Erin Fort<http://www.letuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3246> had a career high 10 assists to go along with three digs for the YellowJackets. The Littleton, Colorado native has been “an amazing leader and brought a lot of joy to the volleyball program in her two seasons,” said Coach Scott Peluso<http://www.letuathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=414>.

The YellowJackets will play their final home game at 7 PM on Tuesday as ETBU makes the short trip from Marshall to wrap up ASC play.