Nov. 8, 2006

ABILENE, Texas - Setting The Scene The Hardin-Simmons (14-5-1) men's soccer team is heading to San Antonio for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Championships. The four teams gathering in South Texas are host No. 1 Trinity, No. 2 UC Santa Cruz, No. 18 Puget Sound and Hardin-Simmons. The men will face the top seeded Trinity Tigers Saturday at 11 a.m. HSU was knocked out of the tournament last year by the Tigers 3-2, and opened the 2006 season with a 5-2 loss to Trinity.

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Muy Caliente Senior forward, David Salas, has had success against the Tigers in the past two years. Salas has four goals in the last three games against Trinity. He had a game-tying goal in the first meeting last year that sent the game to overtime where the Cowboys would eventually lose, 3-2. In the NCAA Tournament last year Salas had the only two goals in a 3-2 loss; one goal coming when he played the ball over the keepers head from just past midfield. In the last meeting between the two teams, Salas had one of Hardin-Simmons' two goals in the 5-2 loss. Salas leads the Cowboys in goals and assists this season and was named ASC co-offensive player of the year. He is the leading goal-scorer for the Cowboys in the ASC era.

All-Conference The Cowboys had six players named to the All-Conference team. Forwards, David Salas, Nick Sager, and defender Ricky Matthies were given first team honors. Ryan Flanigan was named to the second team while two freshmen, Esteban Arbaiza and Cody Oswald were given honorable mention honors.

Senior Leadership There are four graduating seniors on this years Cowboy soccer team. Three forwards, Nick Sager, David Salas, and Colt McKee, and defender Ricky Matthies are all looking to end their careers on a high note. All four have been involved in two conference championships and two NCAA Tournaments.

Youth, Too The key to the Cowboys' season may have been how well the young players on the team have taken to the leadership style of the seniors. The Cowboys will play as many as eight freshman on Saturday and will likely start five freshmen

Head Coach Dan Heger Heger is in his fourth season with the Cowboys, posting a record of 51-21-7. He has led Hardin-Simmons to two ASC titles and two NCAA Tournaments and the Cowboys have gone to the ASC Tournament in all four of his seasons with his alma mater.

Stepping Up Freshman goal keeper, Austin White, was not the starter for the first game of the year against Trinity. After the 5-2 loss to the No. 1 team in the nation Coach Heger decided to give the young goalie his chance. White has started all but one game since then and has made a steady progression. Austin has six shutouts. He was stellar in the semifinals and finals of the ASC Tournament. He stopped eight shots in the second half against Mississippi College to hold of the Choctaws and send the Cowboys to the NCAA Tournament.

School Success Hardin-Simmons is one of only six teams across the country to have its men's soccer, women's soccer and volleyball teams make the NCAA Tournament. It is the first ever appearance for the Cowgirl volleyball team, the sixth trip for the women's soccer team and the fourth time for the men's soccer team. Coincidentally, all three are in the same regional grouping as one of the other teams to have all three teams make the field - archrival Trinity.