Preview of Today's Games

Soccer doubleheader, football on tap

Lions-Bulldogs game on SAGU TV in HD

WAXAHACHIE, Texas  --  Three of the four teams from Southwestern Assemblies of God University that play in the fall will be in action at home today.

The volleyball team, with a three-game winning streak, is in Oklahoma. The lady Lions have swept three straight teams this week.

 They take on Bacone College (3-9) in Muskogee at 1:00pm.

The men’s and women’s soccer teams will entertain LSU-Shreveport in RRAC conference games on the campus pitch before the football Lions play host to Texas Lutheran University at Lumpkins Stadium at 6:00pm (CST).

TLU is a member of the NCAA's Division III and the American Southwest Conference.

Fans can review the action, complete with articles, statistics and action photos, which will be posted here later tonight.

Women’s Soccer 1:00pm

Southwestern (1-7) takes on the Lady Pilots (4-3) in a 1pm clash of teams from the Red River Athletic Conference.

LSUS has won their past two games; both by 3-1 scores over Louisiana College (3-4) and Huston-Tillotson University (0-8).

The River Runners qualified for the RRAC tournament in 2011 when they went 7-6-2 during the regular season.

Brooke Martin, a senior midfielder from San Antonio, is the cog in their wheel.  She has four goals and an RRAC-leading five assists. In 2011 she booted 16 goals and had a pair of helpers.

The Lady Lions, who fell at LSUS last fall, 4-0, continue to play well on defense and at midfield.

SAGU will have the very capable Amber Belisle (Roseville, Cal / Whitney HS) in the goal. On Thursday she held Northwood to one goal over 70 minutes.

Noelle Pugliese (Lee’s Summit, Mo / Lee’s Summit North HS) leads the Purple Pride with three goals and an assist.

Amy Lambdin (Stockton, Cal / Elliot Christian), Audrea Davila (Grand Prairie, Tx / South GP HS) and Belisle each have netted two goals.

Men’s Soccer 3:00pm

Southwestern (4-4), erratic of late, has struggled to get everyone plugged into the same GPS device.

LSU-Shreveport (4-2-1) has done quite well "on the road," going 3-1-1. On Thursday they tied nationally-ranked Huston-Tillotson University, 1-1, in double overtime.

While their defense has constricted opponents, allowing just six scores in seven games, the Pilots offense has yet to bust out (nine goals).

Eight different players have scored, paced by William Awagu’s two netters. Lance Quini has excelled between the pipes, thanks to a solid defense.

A year ago the Pilots, 5-11, were held to less than two goals on twelve occasions, including a 2-1 setback to SAGU in Shreveport.

Today's contest figures to be a defensive chess match.

The Lions are led in scoring by Danny Martinez (Houston, Tx / Cy-Creek HS) and Lee Kounas (Dallas, Tx / Townview HS) with six and five goals respectively.

SAGU was routed by Northwood, 5-2, on Thursday. The Knights flew out of the starting blocks and finished with a surprising 29-7 advantage in shots.

The line-up could be influx with changes in order to juice-up a thirsty offense since an injury to Martinez.

Football Lions vs. Texas Lutheran

If it weren’t for the fourth quarter, the Lions could be 3-0. Or 0-3. Each of their games have been decided in the closing stanza, including last week’s 25-17 heartbreaking loss to Austin College.

Following a defensive stand, SAGU had the lead (17-16), the ball, and less than five minutes remaining. A fumbled exchange in the backfield, however, proved pricey.

Needing a touchdown and a two-point conversion, QB Reid Golson (Grandview, Tx / Grandview HS) marched the Lions to the 'Roos seven yard line with nine seconds remaining. Two passes fell incomplete as time expired.

In the Lions season-opener they also allowed a late TD in a 13-12 setback to #18 ranked Bethany College (Ks). Team Purp scored 10 points in the fourth quarter at Howard Payne for a 27-17 victory two weeks ago.

At 1-2, SAGU needs a win today to turn things around. Finding it against Texas Lutheran University (1-1) will be a tall order.

The Bulldogs, who defeated SAGU in 1998 and 1999 during the Lions first two complete seasons, have a potent offense.  QB Brent Peavy lit up Austin College with 290 yards in a 38-16 triumph in the ‘Dogs debut. TLU trailed at halftime, 16-3.

TLU operates a spread offense that employs four wide receiver sets and an effective ground game of Therron Jerome and Dominique Hardaway.

Peavy’s favorite target is his twin brother, Cameron, who utilizes his size to outmuscle defenders in the secondary. Ryan Jones, with 6 TD receptions in 2011, and the speedy Lewis Williams will draw plenty of attention by the Lions defense.

Their own defense is short on size but does not lack for playmakers.

All-Conference linebacker Bradley Snowden, lineman James Fowler III and cornerback Kyle McNally (3 pick sixes in 2011) are the stalwarts for the Bulldogs.

The Lions catalyst is the junior signal-caller, Golson. His passing attack stretches the field when targeting Trevor McKinley (Arlington, Tx / Seguin HS) and Jeremy McDonald (San Antonio, Tx / Cornerstone Christian).

Cade Leuschner (Waco, Tx / Robinson HS) has been the most effective of a backfield that has been hindered by a number of injuries to the offensive line. Expect Sean Haynes (Katy, Tx / Univ of Houston, Taylor HS) to be in the thick of things.

SAGU’s defense is anchored by D.J. Johnson (Detroit, Mich / Parkview HS), a one-man wrecking crew on the line. A plethora of ‘backers, keyed by Rockie Davis (Santa Fe, Tx / Santa Fe HS) and Dalton Snyder (Ennis, Tx / Ennis HS), roam to and fro seeking ballcarriers.

Solidifying the defensive backfield are cornerbacks are Shakeem Taylor (Mesquite, Tx / Poteet HS) and Nick Ekanem (Richmond, Tx / B.F. Terry HS) have four and three interceptions apiece.

Both teams have excellent kickers; All-American Allen Cain kicked 17 field goals for the Bulldogs in 2011, while SAGU’s James Gish (Waxahachie, Tx / Waxahachie HS) has nailed all seven of his tries through three games.

The NAIA's best Livestream

The game will be aired by SAGU TV, the NAIA’s finest and only broadcast in HD.

The pre-game show begins at approximately at 5:45pm. SAGU Sports Live’s Rob Price, Tim Roberts and Bianca Alarcon will bring the action to viewers at no cost.

Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, SAGU Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 469-658-2847.