Bearkats Returns To “Roots” With Spring Scrimmage
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
Sam Houston’s 2013 spring football practice comes to a close Thursday with the annual Orange-White scrimmage held this year at Joseph Pritchett Field.
The two-time Southland Conference champion and NCAA national finalists have been working the past month to prepare for a run at a third consecutive league title next fall.
“Overall, it’s been a good spring for us,” Sam Houston head coach Willie Fritz said “We’ve had some bumps and bruises that have sidelined some of the veteran players but we’ve had a good opportunity to see what some of the young guys can do. A bunch of the freshman are going to play for us next year and we’ve had a good opportunity to get them ready.”
The Bearkats return 41 lettermen including 12 starters from last year’s 11-4 team. Two areas of major emphasis in the spring have been the offensive line and the defensive secondary. Sam Houston returns only one start in each of the two areas.
Returning first and second team All-Southland performers include quarterback Brian Bell, running back Timothy Flanders, wide receiver/wildkat back Richard Sincere, defensive tackle Gary Lorance and cornerback Bookie Sneed. Honorable mention All-Southland honorees returning include running back Keshawn Hill, defensive end Jarrett Brown and offensive guard Donald Jackson III.
The head coach looks forward to football returning to Pritchett Field if only one spring scrimmage.
Since 1986, the annual Orange-White clash has been held at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium. This year the game will be held at Joseph Pritchett Field, the original home of Bearkat football.
Sam Houston and Rice played each university’s first football game at Pritchett on October 6, 1912.
“Everyone connected with Bearkat football is excited about playing back at Pritchett Field,” Sam Houston head coach Willie Fritz said. “Pritchett is where our traditions started and has been the scene of some great games. The setting will provide an amazing atmosphere for our annual spring game.”
Sam Houston has won back-to-back Southland Conference championships, roaring through the playoffs both years to reach the NCAA Division I Football National Championship game in Frisco.
The 25-5 record during the 2011 and 2012 seasons represents the highest two-year victory total in the Bearkats’ 97 seasons of football. Sam Houston has been nationally ranked in NCAA Division I FCS football for 24 consecutive weeks, finishing No. 2 in the nation each of the last two seasons.
Thursday’s scrimmage will match the offense and the defense in a variety of game-type situations.
“We’re anxious to see what some of the young guys can do in a game environment like this,” Fritz said.
Prior to the start of the 7 p.m. scrimmage, the Huntsville presentation of the Liberty Mutual “Coach of the Year” award to Sam Houston’s Willie Fritz and a $20,000 scholarship award to the university will take place.
Liberty Mutual Insurance will present Fritz with his trophy and four charities selected by Fritz and the Sam Houston Alumni Association with a combined $70,000 to support their programs in honor of the coach’s 2012 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award.
The Huntsville Police Department and SHSU University Police advice that there will be parking available in the area surrounding Joseph Pritchett Field for the annual Orange-White spring football scrimmage.
The police departments ask that patrons please respect area businesses parking areas, avoid blocking residence driveways, fire hydrants and parking in handicapped parking spaces without proper authorization.
The streets around Pritchett will be a “ticket free zone” from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday night excluding the above exceptions.
Bearkats Soccer Shuts Out Cowgirls 2-0
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
A pair of goals on corner kicks powered Sam Houston to a 2-0 shutout of McNeese State in the Bearkats’ final home women’s soccer match of the 2012 season Sunday at Pritchett Field.
The victory upped the Bearkats’ season record to 7-9-1 and clinched SHSU a berth in the Southland Conference post-season tournament with a 4-2-1 league mark.
The tournament will be held in weeks in Lake Charles, La.
Katie Ferrara touched in the first goal at the 8:10 mark after Tricia Mallory and Ashley Fluty passed the ball into Ferrara just off the goal line after a corner kick by Shelby McDaniel.
Just over five minutes later, at the 13:56 mark, McDaniel found Kayla Anderson open in front of the goal and the senior headed the ball in for another score.
“Going undefeated , 4-0, at home at Pritchett Field was a big goal for us this fall and it’s great to see us accomplish that,” SHSU head coach Tom Brown said.
“We continued to improve offensively each match and we’re looking forward to finishing strong.”
Goalkeeper Kylie Hambleton picked up her sixth shutout of the year.
The Bearkat back line held the Cowgirls without a shot in the first half.
McNeese got off three shots in the second 45 minutes with two going wide and Hambleton saving one.
Three of Sam Houston’s four victories on the new turf at Pritchett Field in Southland action have been shutouts.
Sam Houston had 17 shots for the game with several more scoring opportunities including a pair of shots that hit the post.
The Bearkats will complete Southland Conference action next Friday at Lamar.
SHSU Hosts Defensive Minded UCA Bears On Sunday
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, SHSU Sports Information
After winning their first match on the new turf at Joseph Pritchett Field Friday night, the Sam Houston women’s soccer team faces one of its biggest challenges so far during the 2012 season.
Central Arkansas visits Pritchett at 1 p.m. Sunday, bringing the Southland Conference’s best overall record and top scoring offense to Huntsville.
The Bears have won eight of their 11 matches this season.
UCA and Northwestern State battled to a 0-0 tie in both team’s league opener Saturday night.
Central Arkansas forward Adriana Lucar is the Southland’s leading goal scorer.
She has knocked in 14 goals in 11 games this year. UCA has outscored its opponents 38 goals to eight in non-conference competition.
Sam Houston started Southland play with a 2-0 victory over Nicholls State Friday night.
Tricia Mallory and Kirby Zak scored the goals for the Kats in the second half.
“We’ve been playing great defense all year and it was good to get the offense going with a couple of goals in our conference opener,” Mallory said.
Her goal marked her third this season and the 22nd of her career.
The UCA contest Sunday sets up an interesting matchup between the Southland’s highest scoring offense and one of the league’s top defenses.
Sam Houston has surrendered only 10 goals in 11 matches, posting four shutouts this season.
SHSU Soccer Team Opens Southland Conference Play With Win
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr, SHSU Sports Information
Huntsville – Two of the top four scorers for Sam Houston in its 10-year history of women’s soccer accounted for second half goals to lead the Bearkats to a 2-0 shutout of Nicholls State Friday at Joseph Pritchett Field.
The victory marked SHSU’s first game on the new artificial field turf at Pritchett and put the Kats at 1-0 in Southland Conference play.
Tricia Mallory scored the Bearkats’ first goal on a cross from Amanda Biega from the right side in the 55th minute. Less than three minutes later, Kirby Zak tallied on a long ball from Kayla Anderson.
Mallory now has 22 career goals to her credit to rank No. 2 in SHSU all-time scoring behind Raquel Bueno (27 goals from 2005 to 2008). Zak’s tally marked her 18th career score, tying her with Yoanna Garcia (2004-07) for third place in the record book.
Freshman goalkeeper Kylie Hambleton picked up her third shutout of the season, marking three saves on Nicholls’ eight shots. The Bearkats totaled 14 shots.
“The players really were excited about playing on the new turf here at Pritchett,” head coach Tom Brown said. “We created some good chances in the first half but couldn’t convert. But we had a good attacking mentality and were able to take advantage of some space on the right side. It’s good to pick up the win in our first conference game.”
Sam Houston now stand 4-7 for the season. Nicholls dropped to 5-6.
The Bearkats return to action Sunday at 1 p.m. at Pritchett, hosting Central Arkansas.