SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State soccer team travels to San Antonio to play at 7 p.m. on Wednesday to face the Incarnate Word Cardinals at Benson Stadium. The Rambelles (3-5-0, 2-2 LSC) topped the Cardinals (4-1-2, 2-1-1 LSC) in last year's match between the two schools, but will be facing an IWU team that has already recorded a tie against conference-leading Abilene Christian and a win over a Texas A&M-Commerce team that beat ASU last Friday.

“They have some new players and are a different team than last year,” ASU head coach Travis McCorkle said. “They lost some great players, but they have shown that they are a very serious team that is getting results. It is going to be a tough game for us on the road and physically challenging after two games this weekend. They will have a lot of possessions and we have to make sure we are organized and ready to play.”

GAME NOTES

The Rambelles, who are coming off a 2-1 win over Texas Woman's University on Sunday, trail the all-time series 8-5 against the Cardinals but have won the last three matches. Despite those historical notes, the Rambelles are looking up to the Cardinals at the moment in the standings. 

“We don't believe that we are a middle-of-the-pack team,” McCorkle said. “We have to come out against Incarnate and prove that we belong up at the top of the conference. We are tired of talking about the changes we need to make, we just need to start doing. It is all about getting results now."

Sophomore forward Amber Guenther leads the Cardinals with five goals, while freshmen Sarah Johnson and Angelica Carrizales have added four goals. Angelo State senior Brandie DeBacker equals Guenther with five goals after scoring the 30th of her career in the win over Texas Woman's. DeBacker, who also assisted on Katie Camlin's game-winning goal, now has 70 points in her career at ASU. Camlin, a sophomore from Carrollton, became the fifth Rambelle to score this season with her first goal of the season.

Incarnate Word goalkeeper Victoria Puentes has played every minute this season for the Cardinals, while ASU has used freshmen Taylor Cardinal and Morgan Harrison. Puentes has recorded 42 saves this season, while the combination of ASU goalkeepers have 45 saves.


Coach's Quotes

Head coach Travis McCorkle

On Wednesday's game at Incarnate Word University:
They have some new players and are a different team than last year. They lost some great players, but they have shown that they are a very serious team that is getting results. It is going to be a tough game for us on the road and physically challenging after two games this weekend. They will have a lot of possession s and we have to make sure we are organized and ready to play.

On the importance of coming back from San Antonio with a 3-2 LSC record:
It would be a great thing for us to get over that .500 mark in conference play. We found out some things about ourselves against Commerce. We didn't get the win against them, but we did a good job fighting back. We don't believe that we are a middle-of-the-pack team. We have to come out against Incarnate and prove that we belong up at the top of the conference. We are tired of talking about the changes we need to make, we just need to start doing. It is all about getting results now.

On the Rambelles' mindset after splitting two games last weekend:
We have to develop a short memory. Whether we win or lose, we have to focus on the next game. The current game has to be our primary focus. If we do that, we will start having a successful season. I think we have good traits and are making progress.

On the return of junior transfer Kat Monroe who played her first two games of the season last weekend:
It was critical having her back last weekend. I'm not sure we would have had enough defenders to make it without her. I think she realized that her body is better than she thought. She is further along than she was thinking and she really added to our team.

On senior defender Megan Schaffer playing through pain last weekend:
Megan toughed it out and did great. It was priceless to have her in there. She played through her injury and really gave us everything she had. She was battling the entire game and deserves a lot of credit for us getting that win.

On what impressed him the most from the Rambelles last weekend:
Our defenders really showed more urgency in the second half. We were not going to let them score a second goal against us. We did a great job winning balls and being competitive.


GIVING BACK

The Angelo State soccer program is raffling off tickets for an autographed jersey with all proceeds going to the Susan G Komen Foundation. The drawing will take place on Friday, Oct. 14 during halftime of the Rambelles' match against Midwestern State. The soccer team donated over $400 from last year's raffle and are hoping to exceed that mark this year.

“We are always trying to find ways to give back to the community,” McCorkle said. “The Susan G. Komen foundation has done some great work in research and development. We decided as a team to donate the funds we raise through this raffle to them. We are really hoping the students at Angelo State and the community help us in this effort.”

For information on the fundraising effort, contact Travis McCorkle at tmccorkle@angelo.edu or 325-942-2264 ext. 232.


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