Posted 2:50 am Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Patriot CMs Key To ASC Success
By PHIL HICKS
Sports Editor
The UT Tyler Patriots are one of the top teams in American Southwest Conference women's soccer and two of the reasons for their success are senior Brenda Salinas and freshman Cristina Mendoza.
Sports Editor
The UT Tyler Patriots are one of the top teams in American Southwest Conference women's soccer and two of the reasons for their success are senior Brenda Salinas and freshman Cristina Mendoza.
Salinas, of Dallas, has helped build the Patriots into a solid program.
The center-midfielder has been playing soccer since she was 3.
"My dad (Raul) is a big soccer fan," said Salinas, a two-time ASC All-Academic team member. "He's played soccer his whole life and he put me into playing soccer for something active. I fell in love with soccer."
Salinas, who won the team Commitment Award, last year, says team unity is a key.
"As a team we work together well," said Salinas, daughter of Raul and Glenda Salinas of Dallas. "There's no drama -- we all get along."
She is a key member at the center-midfield position.
"Basically, my duty is to be the quarterback of the team," said Salinas, who is a business management major. "My job is to distribute the ball."
Along with her academic achievements, Salinas is active in the community. She has participated in Kick for Cans, Habitat for Humanity and Austin Elementary Day.
Salinas, who plays club for FC Dallas, says her favorite soccer team is Argentina's national squad and her favorite player is forward Lionel Messi, who plays for Argentina and FC Barcelona.
The Patriots are 11-4 overall and second in the ASC with a 9-2 mark.
The top six teams earn berths in the ASC Tournament, with the champion advancing to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
It is likely Hardin-Simmons will host the conference tournament Nov. 5-7 in Abilene. The Cowgirls lead the league at 15-0 and 11-0.
On Thursday, UT Tyler meets Louisiana College (0-8-1, 0-15-1) at 5 p.m. in Pineville, La. On Saturday, the Patriots meet Mississippi College (12-3-1, 8-3) at 1 p.m. in Clinton, Miss.
Mendoza, who is originally from Arlington but graduated from The Woodlands High School, feels good performances this weekend will help the club prepare for the conference tournament.
She feels the team is confident because of the way the team clicks.
"What makes us such a good team is our team chemistry," Mendoza said. "It shows on and off the field and that's why I feel we are so successful."
Mendoza plays opposite Salinas at center-midfield.
"To be more specific, I'm a holding center-mid, so I'm more defensive-minded," said Mendoza, daughter of Gilberto and Irma Mendoza of The Woodlands. "I pretty much start the attack or stop people from coming into the defense. I try to control the center and distribute left to right."
Mendoza, a political science major, knows all about winning. Her high school soccer team won the 2010 UIL Class 5A state soccer championship. They finished runner-up in 2009.
She would like to be an international business lawyer after graduation.
Her favorite soccer team is FC Barcelona because they play so well together, much like the Patriots, she said.
Men's Soccer
The Patriots are in line to host the ASC Tournament Nov. 5-7. The top seed gets to play at home and that is the position UT Tyler currently occupies.
To ensure their status, the Patriots (9-2-1, 8-1-1 ASC) need a sweep this weekend as they travel to Louisiana and Mississippi for matches.
On Thursday, UT Tyler meets Louisiana College (0-10, 0-15) at 7 p.m. in Pineville, La. On Saturday, the Patriots meet Mississippi College (10-4, 7-3) at 3 p.m. in Clinton, Miss.
The top six teams earn berths in the ASC Tournament, with the champion advancing to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Player of the Week
Danika Waldrep, a junior from Arlington, was named ASC East Division Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 19-23).
The Fort Worth Nolan Catholic graduate had 40 kills, six service aces and two assists in helping the Patriots to a 2-1 mark.
Waldrep, who takes the division's top weekly award for the second time this season, also added 66 digs and seven blocks. She had a match-high 18 kills in a five-game win over Mary Hardin-Baylor.
The Patriots (14-13, 8-8) scored conference wins over LeTourneau (3-0) and Mary Hardin-Baylor (3-2) during the week.
After playing UT Dallas on Tuesday, the Patriots will take part in the Southwestern Halloween Tournament in Georgetown on Friday (Southwestern at 3 p.m., St. Thomas at 5 p.m.) and Saturday (Lycoming at noon, Austin College at 4 p.m.).
The ASC Tournament is Nov. 5-6 at the West No. 1 seed, either in Abilene (Hardin-Simmons or McMurry) or Seguin (Texas Lutheran).
The top three seeds in each division advance. The Patriots are currently the No. 3 seed.
Cross Country
UT Tyler will be the site of the ASC Cross Country Championship on Saturday.
The Patriot women are the defending champs, while Mississippi College won last year's men's title.
The course will open for practice at 8 a.m., with the national anthem scheduled for 8:15 a.m.
The women's race is slated for 8:30 a.m., followed by the men at 9:30 a.m.
The awards ceremony will take place at 10:45 a.m.
The start-finish line is at the Citizens 1st Bank-Perkins Soccer Complex.
