Women’s soccer gears up for final week of regular season

A lot can happen in the final week of the season.

The UHV women's soccer team can find itself as high as fourth in the Red River Athletic Conference standings if the Jaguars (10-4-0, 7-4-0) win both games this week and get some help with LSU Alexandria and Texas A&M-Texarkana each losing or tying one match this week.

But, the Jaguars, who clinched an RRAC Tournament berth with a win over North American last Saturday, have to handle their business first with a home tilt against Our Lady of the Lake (7-5-2, 6-4-1) on Thursday and then again Saturday at Texas A&M-San Antonio (4-8-1, 4-6-1).

Over the last couple of weeks, UHV has done a good job of staying focused on what they can control and head coach Adrian Rigby feels the team is in a place it can succeed this week.

"It's boring to say it, but we're taking it one game at a time," Rigby said. "That's all we can control. I think the girls are focused right now and really bought into the system we're playing. They're full of confidence, which goes a long way this time of year."

The Jaguars also continued to make history on the field, eclipsing the 10-win mark for the sixth time in program history after Saturday's 5-0 win over the Stallions.

Graduate senior Kyleigh Spree-Kolos netted a hat trick in the win to bring her season total up to 14 goals and break UHV's single-season scoring record first set by Sheliat Akapo in 2013 and tied by Emily Lupton in 2015. She also tied the single-season points record (31), which has been done twice by Lupton in 2015 and 2016.

Spree-Kolos and fellow COVID senior Flanagan have combined for 21 goals, including all five on Saturday, and six assists this season to pace an offense which is averaging nearly three goals per game at 2.86, which ranks fifth among RRAC teams. Spree-Kolos, a Victoria native, ranks second in the conference in goals scored and fifth in points.

 UHV has gotten goal contributions from 21 different players this season.

"I think we understand where we are and what our goals are," said senior midfielder Chloe Spencer. "We all have the same goal and we're all working for the same thing. It's amazing to be a part of that."

Thursday's 1 p.m. kickoff at The Cage will mark the 27^th meeting all-time between the Jaguars and the Saints, the most of any opponent in the program's history.

While OLLU features first-year head coach Lee Williams, the familiarity between the programs has bred a competitive rivalry on the pitch and Rigby expects nothing less on Thursday. The Saints most notably picked up a draw on the road at conference frontrunner Xavier (La.) two weeks ago, the only blemish so far on Xavier's conference record.

"It'll be a tough game," Rigby said. "They're a pretty good rival of ours. So for us, we have to concentrate on ourselves. They've proven what level they can play. But for us, on any given day, we have to just worry about ourselves and our performance."

Saturday will be the fourth meeting all-time between A&M-San Antonio and UHV. The series split is even with one win, one loss and one draw apiece.