2021 Centenary Women's Soccer Season Preview
This season’s Centenary women’s soccer team will look very different from last season’s record-setting version. Different does not mean that expectations do not exist, though, and first-year head coach Morgan Crespo inherits a talent-laden roster filled with experience and promise.
2021 Centenary Women's Soccer Season Preview
This season's Centenary women's soccer team will look very different from last season's record-setting version. Different does not mean that expectations do not exist, though, and first-year head coach Morgan Crespo inherits a talent-laden roster filled with experience and promise.
The Ladies will open their season on Saturday at home against the LeTourneau YellowJackets in a non-conference match set for 4 p.m. at Mayo Field. Crespo takes over for Greg Cathell after she previously served as an assistant on his staff. Crespo was previously named head coach of the Centenary men's and women's cross country and track and field teams in July of 2019
Centenary had one of the finest seasons in program history in 2019 and its best in the division III era. The Ladies finished last season 16-3 overall and 7-3 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play and qualified for the SCAC Championship for the fourth season in a row, falling to Southwestern 1-0 in overtime in the semifinals in Georgetown, Texas.
The Ladies set division III era (2011-present) team records for wins (16), goals (47), assists (39), points (132), and shots (327). They were ranked for six consecutive weeks in the United Soccer Coaches West Regional Poll during the season and finished 10th in the West Region in the final edition of the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 NCAA Division III Poll.
Gone are a trio of seniors; Migui Boldrin, Betza Bravo, and Kyra Montes who combined for a staggering 32 goals, 20 assists, and 84 points last season. Boldrin had a stellar campaign for the Ladies as she was named the 2019 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III Women's All-America Team as a second team selection, named the SCAC Offensive Player of the Year, and named to the United States Coaches All-West Region Team.
She also earned the distinction of being the first player in program history (division 1 or division III) to be named an All-American as she had one of the finest seasons in Ladies soccer program history as she led the conference in goals (16), shots (97), points (39) and game-winning goals (5). Boldrin was also a First Team All-SCAC selection and was named to the 2019 SCAC Women's Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team.
Montes finished her superb career with a flourish as she scored 11 goals, had a team-high 10 assists, and 32 points. Montes was a three-time first-team All-SCAC honoree (the only player in the division III era to do so) and earned her first All-Region accolade in 2019. She led the SCAC in points per game, averaging 2.29 points per game in just 14 games played. Montes, named to the 2019 SCAC Women's Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team along with Boldrin, also led the conference in assists and assists per game.
Bravo netted give goals and had three assists and 13 points. She was named all-conference for the third time in her career after being named to the Honorable Mention squad in 2017 and to the second team in 2018. She finished her career ranked third in career assists, seventh in points, and eighth in goals.
The Ladies return 10 players who played in at least 13 games last season and six of those played in at least 18. Centenary also welcomes six freshmen this season. Sophomore midfielder Yosi Bouslog (Friendswood, Texas) and sophomore forward Sydney Bascomb (Mesquite, Texas) each played in all 19 of the Ladies' games. Bouslog started 18 games in her rookie season and earned Honorable Mention All-SCAC honors. Bascomb scored three goals last season which ranked fifth on the team and had six assists which was good for third on the team. She totaled 12 points on the season (fourth on team) and two of her goals scored were game-winners.
Another key returnee for the Ladies is junior Gabby McDonald (Pasadena, Texas) who played in 18 games with 16 starts. She scored two goals, both coming in conference play, and tallied an assist for a total of five points and recorded a game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory at Dallas on Oct. 25. McDonald was named the SCAC Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 29 as she earned the honor for the first time in her career.
Sophomore midfielder Ariel Muller (Groves, Texas) is another one of the incredibly talented members of the Ladies' freshman class who played in 15 games with two starts in the midfield last season. She scored four goals which was fourth-best on the team, two of which came in SCAC play.
Sophomore Avery Gilbert (League City, Texas) posted a solid rookie season for the Ladies at the forward position as she played in 18 games with seven starts. She scored one goal and had an assist for a season total of three points
Sophomore Sierra Charles (Baton Rouge, La.) played in 18 games as a defender and midfielder and was one of the Ladies' top defensive players as a freshman. Sophomore Celeste Muniz (Denton, Texas) played in 16 games with two starts for the Ladies in the midfield. She scored one goal, a game-winner, and had one assist for a total of three points. Junior forward Kat Martinez (San Antonio, Texas) played in eight games with four starts. She scored one goal and one assist for a total of three points.
The goalkeeper duties this season will belong to senior Maggie Pitcher (San Antonio, Texas) and junior Avery Sanderson (McKinney, Texas). Pitcher saw action in eight games with one start last season. She recorded 12 saves with five coming in a 4-1 victory at Schreiner and also had five in a start at home against Southwestern. Pitcher owns six shutouts in her career and ranks third in program history in career saves with 122. Her 2.17 career goals against average also ranks third.
"With each new season comes new challenges and we look forward to facing those head on in making this season the best we can make it," said Crespo.
"At this point, I'm sure every team no matter where you are, is feeling the same in that we all just want to play and we've been lucky enough to be granted that opportunity. We have a talented group of returners that have demonstrated phenomenal leadership and six new players that have the ability to leave their mark on this program and that's always exciting."
The Ladies will play two additional non-conference matches before starting SCAC play in late February. Centenary welcomes Piedmont College to town on Sunday, Feb. 7 and then faces Mississippi University for Women on the road on Feb. 17. The Ladies open their conference schedule on Feb. 25 at St. Thomas.
The Maroon and White then play the first five matches in the month of March at home, beginning with a non-conference match versus Belhaven University on March 2 before their first home conference match against Austin College on March 6. The Ladies then host Mississippi University for Women in a rematch on March 9 and square off with the University of Dallas (March 13) and Schreiner (March 20) in consecutive weeks at home in SCAC play.
The Ladies finish the month at Texas Lutheran on March 27 and play their final road contest of the regular season at Southwestern on April 3. Centenary finishes the regular season at home versus Trinity on April 10 for Senior Day. The SCAC Women's Soccer Championship will be hosted by Texas Lutheran University April 23 and 25 in Seguin, Texas.
A link to the Ladies' complete schedule can be found here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/wsoc/2020-21/schedule
Live stats and live video are available for all home matches.
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