The University News (Irving, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 2, Ed. 1 Wednesday, September 12, 2001 Page: 9 of 11
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The University News
Sports
September 12, 2001
Crusaders open soccer season flawlessly in California
by Matt McGee
Contributing Writer
The Crusader women's soccer
team picked up where they left
off last season when they trav-
eled to California to kick off their
2001 season over the weekend of
Sept. 1.
The women won both of their
games, relying on strong team
chemistry and precise organiza-
tion on the field.
I'D is coming off a highly
Successful 2000 season, when
they were 12-5 and worked hard
to build a dominant and talented
program.
The Crusaders' teamwork and
poise resulted in their dominance
in wins against Pomona-Pitzer
and Whittier College.
IT) found itself down only
once the whole weekend, com-
ing in the second game when
Pomona-Pitzer scored in the first
period.
"California was a great trip for
the girls," head coach Stefani Pa-
pageorge Webb said. "The upper-
classmen and the freshmen jelled
together well. The two wins are
huge confidence builders going
into the start of the season."
The second match was high-
lighted by three unanswered goals
after Pomona-Pitzer scored first.
A tandem of Jenny Walsh, Liz
Mikkelsen, and Tiffany Barden
joined in the scoring as UD de-
feated Pomona Pitzer, 3-1.
Veronica Chadwick and Les-
lie Smith added assists in the
contest.
The Crusaders' first game of
the trip ended in a shutout of
Whittier ( "oilSee. 1-0.
photo by Kevin Heller
Senior goalkeeper Shanna Nelson attempts a save during Sunday's home
match against Southwestern University.
Despite almost 20 shots by the
women, doubling their opponents'
total, Leslie Smith scored UD's
only goal of the game early in the
first period.
That goal,however, would be
all that UD would need for their
second victory of the year.
Crusader goalkeeper Shanna
Nelson had a solid game with four
saves, notching her first shutout of
the young season, and freshman
defender Katie Pryor emerged as
a key part of the UD defense over
the weekend.
"Winning back-to-back games
in California proved to us that we
could win games," Webb said.
"I can honestly say that this is
one of the best teams I have ever
fielded."
The Crusaders will look to se-
nior midfielder Smith and junior
forward Mikkelsen for leadership
and to play important roles m the
Crusaders' offense.
Nelson is also expected to con-
tinue her dominance of last year
as she anchors the defense.
Webb added that Pryor will
be running the defense and play
sweeper. Freshman Kateri Collins
and junior Christine Chadwick
should both develop into major
keys to the organization on the
field.
UD took its confidence into this
weekend's games against South-
western and nationally-ranked
Trinity but fell short against each
opponent, (see box for details)
UD hosts I T Permian Basin
and Millsaps College this week-
end.
photo by James Berger
Freshman defender Katie Pyor advances the ball for the Crusaders. UD,
which began the season on a high note in California, lost twice at home
last weekend.
Women lose twice to tough teams at home
The UD women' soccer team struggled against top-notch
competition over the weekend, suffering a pair of losses.
The Crusaders fell Saturday to Trinity, 7-0, and Sunday to
Southwestern, 2-1, evening their season record at two wins and
two losses.
Leslie Smith was the only Crusader to score in either
photo by James Berger
Pryor looks on as senior defender Meg Hamlet makes a play oil the ball
Saturday against Trinity.
Attention: any runners at the University of Dallas
A Cross-Country informational meeting is set for Thursday, Sept. 13, at 5 p.m.
in the Enrollment office (located in Carpenter Hall).
Come find out what cross-country at UD is all about.
Snacks will be provided.
Contact coach Rork at x4036 for details.
Calling all aspiring sportswriters
Interested in covering Crusader athletics?
The University News wants you.
Contact the Sports Editor at:
hardball 31 @ hotmail. com
New baseball coach looks to build on success
by Genny Luke
Contributing Writer
This fall, there's a rookie up to
bat in the UD baseball program.
The new
face at the
plate is
that of Sam
B lack mini,
who the
University
of Dallas has
announced
will replace
James Vilade
as head base-
ball coach of the Crusaders.
Blackmon did not deny that he
has some big shoes to fill.
Since 1997, under the wing
of former coach Vilade, the Cru-
saders have compiled an overall
record of 118-52, capturing three
consecutive American Southwest
Conference East Division Cham-
pionships.
"The groundwork for this
baseball program has been laid,
and it's been successful. I want to
maintain and build on that, on the
field and off the field," Blackmon
said.
UD's new coach comes from
the Tyler Roughnecks, a profes-
sional baseball organization based
in Tyler, TX, where he served as
the organization's hitting coach.
The Roughnecks competed in
the All-American Association and
posted an overall record of 39-32
during the league's 2001 inaugu-
ral season. Blackmon helped the
team to a first-round playoff ap-
pearance and a third place ranking
at the year's end.
"The transition has been great,"
Blackmon said of his advance to
UD. "Anytime you come into
a situation like this, you're a
little bit behind, just trying to get
caught up on things."
After his four successful years
at the University of Dallas, Vilade
resigned in August to take a posi-
tion with Oral Roberts University
in Tulsa, OK.
"We're sad to see Coach Vilade
go, but we're happy for him,"
senior and captain Jesse Nelson
said.
"It's going to be different, deal-
ing with the absence of Coach
Vilade and the presence of some-
one new," Nelson said. "As far
as the program goes, I think Sam
Blackmon is the best man for the
job. I've played for him before.
He's an excellent coach."
Blackmon was also varsity
baseball coach at Elkhart High
School in Texas.
Under his direction, the team
finished 14-10, captured the Dis-
trict and Bi-District Champion-
ships and advanced to the area
playoffs during the 2001 season.
Nelson has high aspirations
for his final season at UD — the
NCAA regionals and the NCAA
college world series.
Coach Blackmon harbors the
same desires.
"I want to get us to the playoffs
and go from there," he said.
His coaching philosophy is that
of old-school baseball.
"I think the game is meant to be
played a certain way — with hus-
tle and discipline. Players should
have fun with it, too. I think mod-
ern day baseball has come away
from that," said Blackmon.
"I think in terms of getting the
job done," he said.
In choosing a replacement
for Vilade, UD Athletics Direc-
tor Dick Strockbine found two
strengths in Coach Blackmon.
"He's a solid baseball man,
and he has respect for the values
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Gaunt, Sarah. The University News (Irving, Tex.), Vol. 26, No. 2, Ed. 1 Wednesday, September 12, 2001, newspaper, September 12, 2001; Irving, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth201343/m1/9/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting University of Dallas.