Published: November 06, 2009 04:26 pm      

LSC honors ECU soccer players

ADA — Seven members of the East Central University women’s soccer team achieved postseason awards, it was announced Thursday night in conjunction with the Lone Star Conference Tournament, being held in Canyon, Texas.

Sophomore forward Whitney Watts, who scored a team-leading 13 goals and assisted on another score, was selected to the All-LSC Second Team, while teammate and junior defender Ashleigh Peete was an honorable mention pick. Peete had one goal and assisted on two others, despite playing back as the Lady Tigers’ sweeper.

Five ECU players were also recognized for their academic achievements.

Senior defender Jordan Antonisse and sophomore midfielder Laura McNab were named to the 11-member All-Lone Star Conference Academic Team.

Antonisse started all but two of the matches she played in during her entire career as a Lady Tiger defender, while McNab had four goals and three assists for ECU this season. Both are biology majors.

Three other Lady Tigers – senior forward Candace Baird, junior forward Sydney Kromer and sophomore goalkeeper Natalie Wilson – were named to the LSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll for their academic success.

To make the all-academic team or commissioner’s honor roll, student-athletes must maintain at least a cumulative grade point average of 3.30.

Texas A&M-Commerce tops ECU volleyball squad, 3-1

 COMMERCE, Texas – Shorthanded and injury-rattled East Central University forged a 1-all tie after two sets, but saw Texas A&M-Commerce sweep the next two and post a 3-1 Lone Star Conference volleyball victory over the Lady Tigers Thursday night.

The host Lions, who improved to 24-8 overall and 9-3 in the LSC, took set one by a 25-16 score, before ECU rebounded for a 25-18 decision in the second set. But A&M-Commerce claimed the next two sets by 28-26 and 25-19 counts.

The Lady Tigers, who fell to 14-20 and 5-7, were playing without sophomore starting outside hitter Katy Fields, who was out due to illness. Senior Jacqueline Sparks, another of ECU’s outside hitters, has been hampered by a shoulder injury, but still managed to register 13 kills and 22 digs on the night.

Senior setter Holly Hicks posted her eighth triple-double of the season and 14th of her ECU career with 10 kills, 23 assists and 13 digs while Emily Holombek, the Lady Tigers’ senior middle blocker, finished with 14 kills and a .448 hitting percentage.

Also for the Lady Tigers, Chelsea Whitmire added 11 kills for a .370 hitting percentage. Freshman Rachel Watson, with a .583 hitting percentage, added eight kills in a losing cause. Sophomore setter Shayla May had a career-high 31 assists to go with her 11 digs and five kills and sophomore libero Megan Kimak totaled a team-leading 24 digs.

For the Lions, Perla Faudoa posted a whopping 49 assists to go with 17 digs and Lauren Flynn ended up with 33 digs. Naomi Mays and Rachel Robertson each finished with 16 kills for the winners.

In order to reach next week’s postseason tournament, ECU must have a season-ending victory at Texas Woman’s University on Saturday (2 p.m. start). The Lady Tigers must also get help with Texas A&M-Commerce beating Southeastern Oklahoma State. TWU beat SOSU 3-2 on Thursday night. SOSU and ECU are currently tied for the eighth and final spot. However, the Savage Storm owns the tiebreaker by beating the Lady Tigers earlier this season.