Nov. 6, 2003

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' will host the American Southwest Conference Women's Soccer Championship Tournament, Friday and Saturday at Shelton Stadium.

Texas Lutheran (11-5-1, 6-2-0) and UT-Dallas (13-3-3, 11-1-2) will square off in the first semifinal at 3:30 p.m., Friday. TLU is the second seed out of the ASC West and comes into the tournament 11-5-1 overall and finished 6-2 in the ASC West.

Hardin-Simmons (14-3-0, 8-0-0) will play host to Mississippi College (16-3-1, 11-2-1) at 6 p.m. on Friday. The two winners will square off at 7 p.m. for a berth to the NCAA Tournament.

Hardin-Simmons is led offensively by a talented trio of forwards. Sophomore Cathy Castagnos leads the team with 15 goals and with her six assists giving her 36 points, that also leads the team. Freshman Stefanie Patterson has 13 goals and seven assists and Erika Lay has 12 goals and seven assists.

The midfield is led by freshmen Whitney Piendak, Jacky Cox, Mindi Zamora and sophomore Kala Chalman. The defensive backfield is headed up by All-American sweeper Mollie Porter. She has been flanked by freshman Calli Wood and Natalie Longhofer who are two of the better defensive backs in the conference.

Junior goalkeeper Rachel Goold has started every game, but unlike last year she has a backup. Goold has 1110 minutes in goal this season and has allowed just six goals. She has split time for most of the year with freshman April Johnson.

HSU has never lost the conference tournament when it was held at HSU (1997, 1999 and 2001)