The Howard Payne University women’s soccer team was pre-season picked to finish seventh the American Southwest Conference announced recently after a vote of the league’s 11 head coaches and sports information directors.

Howard Payne had 112 points to be the seventh-place pick in the 2013 American Southwest Conference pre-season poll. Mary Hardin-Baylor (106 pts.) was eighth, followed by Louisiana College (68 pts.), LeTourneau (44 pts.) and Ozarks (29 pts.). The Lady Jackets finished 6-9-0 overall and 6-6-0 (7th) in ASC play last season.

Head coach Sam McCutchen and his staff added 16 players to 13 returners from last season’s squad. Among the 13 returners are nine seniors and should provide an abundance of leadership to the large recruitment class.

The 2013 ASC season – the 18th in league history – begins as early as Aug. 30. The six-team, single elimination conference tournament is slated for Nov. 7-10 – with an off day on Nov. 9 – at the site of the regular season champion. An automatic berth into the NCAA Division III tournament will be on the line.

2013 ASC PRESEASON WOMEN’S SOCCER POLL
[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors]

Team (first place votes) Points 2012 Record
1. Hardin-Simmons (19) 239 18-1-2, 12-0-0 ASC (1st)
2. Texas-Tyler (2) 218 14-5-1, 11-1-0 ASC (2nd)
3. Texas-Dallas (1) 188 11-5-2, 7-3-2 ASC (T4th)
4. Mississippi College 187 14-3-3, 9-2-1 ASC (3rd)
5. East Texas Baptist 136 8-7-1, 6-5-1 ASC (6th)
6. Concordia Texas 125 9-6-3, 7-3-2 ASC (T4th)
7. Howard Payne 112 6-9-0, 6-6-0 ASC (7th)
8. Mary Hardin-Baylor 106 6-8-2, 3-7-2 ASC (8th)
9. Louisiana College 68 5-11-2, 2-8-2 ASC (11th)
10. LeTourneau 44 1-16-1, 1-10-1 ASC (12th)
11. Ozarks 29 1-17-0, 1-11-0 ASC (13th)
* Texas Lutheran (7-9-1, 4-7-1 ASC) and Schreiner (3-12-1, 3-9-0 ASC) are no longer members of the conference.

Howard Payne men’s soccer team was picked to finish 10th in the American Southwest Conference pre-season poll after a vote of the league’s 11 head coaches and sports information directors.

The Howard Payne soccer team under first year head coach Estevan Arbaiza finished 4-10-2 overall and 2-9-1 in ASC play last season. The Yellow Jackets were picked 10th (62 pts) in this year’s pre-season poll just ahead of LeTourneau (44 pts).

The Yellow Jackets return 3rd Team All-Conference forward Shay Pate to lead the HPU offensive attack and Honorable Mention All-Conference defender Alejandro Guerrero to lead the defensive unit.

Howard Payne will have exhibition matches at D-II Midwestern State on August 24th and D-II Dallas Baptist on August 27th before opening the regular season on the road in Oregon. The Jackets will play Willamette on August 30th, Linfield August 31st and Pacific on September 2nd.

HPU will have their first home match on September 8th versus non-conference opponent Schreiner University at 5:00 pm. All admission is free at Citizens National Soccer Field.

2013 ASC PRESEASON MEN’S SOCCER POLL
[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors]

Team (first place votes) Points 2012 Record
1 Mississippi College (15) 229 13-5-3, 11-1-0 ASC (1st)
2 Texas-Dallas (5) 209 12-5-1, 10-2-0 ASC (2nd)
3 Texas-Tyler 205 11-6-1, 8-3-1 ASC (T3rd)
4 Mary Hardin-Baylor 180 10-6-1, 8-3-1 ASC (T3rd)
5 Hardin-Simmons (2) 164 10-6-2, 7-4-1 ASC (5th)
6 Louisiana College 118 7-8-2, 4-6-2 ASC (T7th)
7 East Texas Baptist 88 4-10-1, 3-8-1 ASC (10th)
8 Ozarks 83 4-10-1, 4-8-0 ASC (9th)
9 Concordia Texas 71 4-12-1, 3-9-0 ASC (11th)
10 Howard Payne 62 4-10-2, 2-9-1 ASC (T12th)
11 LeTourneau 44 3-13-1, 2-9-1 ASC (T12th)
* Schreiner (8-10-0, 7-5-0 ASC) and Texas Lutheran (6-8-2, 4-6-2 ASC) are no longer members of the conference.