TAMUC – Sports

Michelle Kotlik named LSC Offensive Player of the Week·

RICHARDSON– Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer player Michelle Kotlik has been named the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week. The award was announced by the conference office on Wednesday.

Kotlik– a junior from Grapevine– scored the go-ahead goals in each of the Lions’ games last week. Both of her goals came in the early parts of the contests, providing the Lions with momentum and a lead. Kotlik scored in the fifth minute against Texas Woman’s, heading in a goal. She also had another shot on goal in the match. Kotlik then had a goal and an assist in the Lions’ 3-2 win over MSU Texas. She scored on a header in the seventh minute. She then assisted on the game-winning goal in the 23rd minute. Kotlik also had a shot go off the post in the match. She leads the Lions with five goals this season.

Kotlik and the Lions return to the pitch on Friday at 7:00 p.m. for a match against Angelo State. The game will be played at the ASU Soccer Field in San Angelo. The Lions will then face UT Permian Basin on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. in Odessa.

LONE STAR CONFERENCE WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Offensive
Sept. 5 – Senna Garcia, Midwestern State
Sept. 12 – Khaline Jacob, West Texas A&M
Sept. 19 – Trenadey Scott, Angelo State
Sept. 26 – Kaitlyn Caro, Eastern New Mexico
Oct. 3 – Hannah Kelley-Lusk, West Texas A&M
Oct. 10 – Michelle Kotlik, Texas A&M-Commerce

Defensive
Sept. 5 – Marissa Berry, Angelo State
Sept. 19 – Delaney Bunselmeyer, Texas A&M-Commerce
Sept. 26 – Emily Avila, West Texas A&M
Oct. 3 – Maddy Harper, Texas Woman’s
Oct. 10 – Marissa Berry, Angelo State (2)

Goalkeeper
Sept. 5 – Kira Miller, Angelo State
Sept. 12 – Courtney Dippel, West Texas A&M
Sept. 19 – Caitlin Duty, Texas A&M-Commerce
Sept. 26 – Taylor Jackson, Eastern New Mexico
Oct. 3 – Courtney Dippel, West Texas A&M (2)
Oct. 10 – Kira Miller, Angelo State (2)

 

No. 7 Lions welcome No. 16 Tarleton for huge President’s Cup matchup

COMMERCE – The No. 7 Texas A&M University-Commerce football team faces yet another nationally-ranked opponent, as the Lions and No. 16 Tarleton will battle for the President’s Cup and the top spot in the Lone Star Conference.

WHO: Tarleton State at Texas A&M University-Commerce
WHERE: Commerce | Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium
WHEN: 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 13
RECORDS: The Lions are 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the Lone Star Conference. The Texans are 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the Lone Star Conference.
RANKINGS: Texas A&M-Commerce is ranked No. 7 in the AFCA Coaches’ Poll and No. 11 in the D2Football.com Media Poll. Tarleton is ranked No. 16 in the AFCA Poll and No. 16 in the D2Football.com Poll.

LIVE AUDIO: Lion Sports Network — KETR 88.9 FM, Commerce (http://www.ketr.org)
LIVE VIDEO: http://lionathletics.com/live
LIVE STATS: http://statbroadcast.com/events/statmonitr.php?gid=tame
TICKETS: Available in the Lion Sales and Service Box Office in the Field House from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, by calling (903) 468-8756, or visiting http://WeAreLionsTix.com

LSC’S TOP TEAMS BATTLE FOR PRESIDENT’S CUP
• A&M-Commerce and Tarleton State battle every year for the President’s Cup and the Lions will look to hold onto the traveling trophy for the sixth straight year.
• The Lions are 15-11 all-time in the trophy game, with a 7-6 record in Commerce.
• The Lions have won the last six matchups (five President’s Cups and an LSC Playoff game) against the Texans, including last year’s 33-21 victory in Stephenville in the regular season finale.
•The Lions have won three straight in Commerce, with Tarleton’s last victory at “The Hawk” coming in 2012.
• The Lions won the first eight matchups, followed by the Texans winning 11 of 12 before A&M-Commerce’s recent six-game winning streak.

RANKED BATTLE YET AGAIN

• This is the Lions’ third game against a top 25 program in the seven games of the 2018 season.
• The last time the Lions played three ranked teams in the regular season was the 2015 season. The Lions went 3-0 against those teams to help their return to the NCAA playoffs.
• The Lions played three ranked teams in succession in the Super Region Four portion of the 2017 NCAA Division II Championship run.

HEAVYWEIGHT WEEK

• This game matches up the Nos. 7 and 16 teams in the nation, and is one of three games featuring a pair of top 20 teams. The other two are top 10 matchups.
• No. 2 Grand Valley State hosts No. 3 Ferris State, while No. 10 West Florida hosts No. 4 West Florida.

MOVING UP THE RANKS

• Head coach Colby Carthel now ranks fifth in A&M-Commerce history in coaching wins with 54 wins.
• He is now only nine wins behind Lion and LSC legend J.V. Sikes, who sits in fourth place with 63 wins.

1	Ernest Hawkins	1964-85	132-92-6
2	Eddie Vowell	1986-98	74-71-1
3	Bob Berry	1935-41, 46-50	72-34-8
4	J.V. Sikes	1954-63	63-34-4
5	Colby Carthel	2013-pres.	54-16
6	M.A. Smith	1951-53	30-2-1

SENIORS ON PACE TO SET SCHOOL RECORD
• The 2017 senior class established the school record for wins in a four-year period with the victory in the National Championship Game with 42 games won in a four-year span.
• The 2018 seniors now rank second in school history at 38-8 with a guarantee of five more games in the season.

Years	Record
2014-17	42-10
2015-18	38-8
1951-54	36-5-2
2013-16	35-14
1957-60	34-7
1972-75	32-13-1
1936-39	31-8
1990-93	31-16-1

KNOCKING OFF UNDEFEATED
• The Lions have won their last five games against undefeated teams.
• A&M-Commerce knocked off Central Washington and Minnesota State in the 2017 playoffs.
• This year, A&M-Kingsville, William Jewell, and MSU Texas were handed their first loss by the Lions.

MARTINEZ CONTINUES TO CLIMB SCORING CHARTS
• Kicker Kristov Martinez scored 8 points vs. MSU Texas on 2-for-3 field goal kicking and 2-of-2 PATs.
• He earned his second LSC Special Teams Player of the Week honor for his performance.
• The graduate student from Edinburg is now 8-for-11 on field goal attempts and 22-for-22 on PAT attempts in 2018,
• He is now 62-of-82 on field goal attempts in his career, which is tied for sixth in Division II history. The Division II career record is 82 made field goals. Second place is 68.
• Martinez has now tied West Texas A&M’s Sergio Castillo for the LSC career record with 62 field goals.
• Martinez is the Division II active career leader in made field goals, and is tied for third in all NCAA divisions behind LSU’s Cole Tracy (80), Wisconsin’s Rafael Gaglianone (65), and tied with Toledo’s Jameson Vest (62).
• Martinez is on the preseason and September watch lists for the Mitchell Award.
• For his career, Martinez has made 198-of-205 PAT attempts and is the Division II active career leader. Oklahoma’s Austin Seibert is the all divisions active career leader with 261 made PATs. Martinez is fourth in all divisions behind Seibert, Ohio State’s Sean Nuernberger (216), and North Dakota State’s Cam Pederson (207).
• In terms of overall scoring, Martinez (384 points) is chasing Castillo (437 points), and former Harlon Hill winner at Texas A&I Johnny Bailey (426 points) for the all-time LSC scoring record.
• Martinez is also one of four Division II kickers with 60 or more consecutive PATs made.

ACTIVE DII KICKERS – CONSECUTIVE PATS MADE

1.	99	Julio De la Garza	Texas A&M-Kingsville
2.	78	Kristov Martinez	A&M-Commerce
3.	62	Casey Bednarski	Minnesota State
4.	61	Jake Chapla	Slippery Rock

Thanks to Slippery Rock’s Jon Holtz for this research.

HARRIS AWARD NOMINEE IS TOP TACKLER
• The Lions’ leading tackler in senior Brucks Saathoff is also one of the leaders in the Lone Star Conference.
• His nine tackles and block of a potential go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter earned Saathoff Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors.
• The San Antonio native is averaging 10.2 tackles per game through six contests, ranking 26th nationally and third in the LSC.
• In 2017, Saathoff was the Lion leader with 101 tackles, averaging 6.7 stops per game.
• For his career, Saathoff has 270 tackles, which is the leading mark for the Lions.

“BIG MIKE” BEHIND THE LINE
• Michael Onuoha (pronounced uh-no-ha) has been a menace in the backfield.
• The senior from Edmond, Okla., ranks 19th nationally in sacks per game, averaging 0.92 sacks per contest. He has 5.5 sacks for losses of 30 yards through six games.
• His sack against CSU-Pueblo was also a forced fumble, recovered by Saathoff.
• He is 14th nationally in tackles for loss, with 1.8 tackles for losses per game.
• Prior to the season, Onuoha received an honorable mention All-American and second team all-region pick by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette. He was also a first-team all-Lone Star Conference pick.
• “Big Mike” ranked seventh in the LSC with 12 tackles for loss and recorded 56 tackles in the 2017 season.

THOMPSON EARNS HONORS FROM LEAGUE
• Lion running back E.J. Thompson was named the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week for a strong overall performance in the weekend’s action.
• The sophomore from Cy Ranch rushed for a career-high 150 yards in the Lions’ 20-19 win over No. 4 MSU Texas.
• He accounted for more than 200 all-purpose yards and set up multiple scores in the victory.
• His long rush of 32 yards was the catalyst for the Lions’ first score, and two consecutive receptions set up another long drive.

RAMSEY’S RETURNS REAP REWARDS
• Sophomore return man and defensive back, Dominique Ramsey, has had two punt returns of over 70 yards and a long interception return to set up Lion scores.
• He has had a return of at least 40 yards in each of the last three games.
• In the MSU Texas game, he was the first player all season to intercept Mustang quarterback Layton Rabb, and his 41-yard return set up the Lions’ first scoring drive of the weekend.
• The Converse Judson product scored the opening touchdown of the game for the Lions against CSU-Pueblo with a 72-yard punt return for a score in the first quarter.
• In the Lock Haven game, Ramsey’s 71-yard return set up a score on the next play.
• Ramsey ranks 15th nationally this season with a 15.2 yard per punt return average and is one of only two players in the LSC with a punt return for a score this year.

HOT START ON DEFENSE
• The Lions did not allow their opponents to score in the first quarter of the game until the sixth game of the year.
• A&M-Commerce has a 62-7 advantage over its opponents in the first quarter.

TAKE THAT AND LIKE IT
• The Lion kicking game has been spectacular during the 2018 season.
• A&M-Commerce ranks first nationally in kickoff return defense, as Lion opponents average 8.82 yards per return. A&M-Commerce is the only school in Division II to average less than 10 yards per kickoff return allowed.
• Martinez had touchbacks on five of six kickoffs vs. MSU Texas, including a touchback on a free kick following a safety.
• A&M-Commerce ranks 12th nationally in net punting. The Lions average 38.9 yards net per punt.
• Tristan Perry averages 42.4 yards per punt, which leads the Lone Star Conference and ranks 26th nationally.

 

 

No. 22 Lions sweep MSU Texas for the 10th-straight win

WICHITA FALLS– The No. 22 Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team swept MSU Texas on Tuesday night. The set scores were 25-15, 25-23 and 25-22.

The win brings the Lions to 17-4 on the season and 9-2 in the Lone Star Conference. The Mustangs fall to 3-16 and 1-10 in conference play. The Lions have won 10 matches in a row. The Lions swept the season series against MSU Texas.

The Lions return to the court on Friday for a home match against No. 15 Tarleton State. The match will be played at 6 p.m. at the Field House. Tickets to the match are available at WeAreLionsTix.com, by calling (903) 468-8756 or by visiting the Lion Sales & Service Box Office in the Field House.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
– The Lion defense forced MSU Texas to hit just .087 with 20 attack errors. A&M-Commerce hit .210 in the match.
– It is the seventh sweep of the season for A&M-Commerce. The Lions have won 10 games in a row, their longest streak under head coach Craig Case and the longest since 2009.
– Jaryn Wacker (Austin – Vista Ridge) led the team with 13 kills, seven of which came in the final set. She hit .290 in the match.
– Shelley Chapron (Houston – St. Pius X) hit .526 in the match, recording 10 kills.
– Bina Njikam (Keller) had nine kills, including six in the final set. Madison Luther (Sealy) also had nine kills.
– Rylie Fuentes (Robinson) led the team with 16 assists. Carolina Machado (Sao Paulo, Brazil) had 12 assists and Celeste Vela (Guadalajara, Mexico) had 11.
– Daniela Santos (Caracas, Venezuela) led the team with 14 digs. Riley Davidson (Commerce) and Savannah Rutledge (The Woodlands – College Park) both added 12 digs. Rutledge also had four aces.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Lions started the match well, scoring the first three points. The Lions pushed their lead to four before the Mustangs answered with a 4-0 run to tie the match at seven. The teams split 10 more points to be tied at 12 midway through the set. The Lion offense then exploded, going on a 6-0 run, including three kills from Vela. Another 5-0 run put the set well out of reach. The Lions won the first set 25-15. Chapron had four kills in the set as the Lions hit .393 as a team.

The Lions began the second set on a 5-1 run, with the defense causing multiple Mustang errors. The Lions eventually pushed their lead to as many as eight before the Mustangs went on a rally. MSU Texas scored 10 of the next 12 points to tie the set at 22-all. The Lions finished the set, however, taking three of the final four points to win 25-23. Luther led the team with six kills in eight attacks in the set.

After giving up the first two points of the third set, the Lions then took eight of the next nine points to build a lead. Wacker had three kills in the rally. The Mustangs cut into the Lion lead but could not tie the game. Up by two, the Lions then went on another 5-0 run, led by two kills from Njikam, to go up seven. The Mustangs attempted a late rally, cutting the A&M-Commerce lead to two points but the Lions held firm and won the set 25-22 to complete the sweep. Wacker had seven kills in the set while Njikam had six.

 

Josh Manck

Associate Athletics Director for Marketing and Communications | Texas A&M University-Commerce

Office: 903.886.5131  | Mobile: 817.487.5136 |