No. 6 DBU (6-0-0) vs UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS – TYLER (1-4-0)
March 17 | 7:00 p.m. | Dallas, TX | Patriot Field | Senior Night

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Twitter: @DBUWomensSoccer
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COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF
The No. 6 nationally ranked DBU Women's Soccer team is coming off of an historic 2-1 win against Louisiana State University this past Friday afternoon.

DBU would find themselves in the toughest battle of the season in Baton Rouge. The Patriots came out strong in the match and went toe-to-toe with the SEC side. Both teams had good chances in the opening minutes of the match; however, it was LSU who would get on the board first in the 25th minute of the match. Down in the score line the first time all year, DBU would respond excellently. Throughout the rest of the game, their signature style of play would begin to break through the lines of the LSU formation and the Patriots would begin to see multiple solid opportunities.

In the 61st minute of the game, freshman Ashley Merrill was calm, cool, and collected when she found herself in a one-on-one situation inside the 18 after an excellent pass from Kaci Parks. Merrill would slot the ball into the bottom corner for her 9th goal of the year to even the score at 1-1. DBU would see the majority of momentum for the remainder of the game with solid passes from the defense and midfield breaking multiple lines of the LSU press, and beautiful off the ball runs would allow the front runners for the Patriots to have space in the attacking third.
 
In the 84th minute, an Abigail Olmos pass connected with an excellent Delaney Schmidt run and the No. 8 would pick up the ball in the box. Schmidt would be brought down after her first touch which would see the Patriots be awarded a penalty kick. Freshman Marit Auee, who had a dominating performance all day, would step up to the spot for DBU and calmly place the ball into the side netting for the Patriots to put them up 2-1. Michelle Lenard's side would see the game out and come out of Baton Rouge with an historic 2-1 win.
 
Although the Patriots were limited to a lower possession percentage than they had seen so far on the year, it was what DBU did with their possession that stood out. The Patriots completed 83% of their "key passes", compared to LSU's 42%. To continue, 10 Patriots completed 70% or more of their passes on the day. When DBU was in possession of the ball, they made sure to make it count, and that certainly paid off.

PATRIOT STORYLINES
 - Wednesday night is Senior Night for the DBU Women's Soccer team. For these seven girls that came to University Hill in 2017, they have an overall record of 51-10-10 and still counting, and have reached the NCAA Tournament every year, making the Sweet 16 twice. Between them, there are 10 All-Conference selections, five All-Conference Tournament Team honors, one Conference Tournament MVP, one Conference Player of the Year, four First Team All-Region Selections, seven Second Team All-Region honors, and one All American. The legacy that these girls will leave behind is unmatched. Below are seven "Patriot Storylines", one for each player.

 - Abigail Olmos is one of the most decorated players in DBU Women's Soccer history. Olmos, a staple in the DBU offense since she first began playing, has 13 goals and eight assists so far during her time as a Patriot. In 2017, she had an historic start to her DBU career when she was named First Team All-Heartland Conference, First Team All-Region, Heartland Conference Player of The Year, and Second Team All-American. The Kennedale native is an incredibly smooth dribbler on the ball, has great speed in the open space, and can create chances out of nowhere for the Patriots. Olmos will look to continue her historic career throughout the remainder of her time on University Hill.

 - Alondra Olmos has constantly been a reliable player for Michelle Lenard's side. The younger of the Olmos sisters has been directly involved in 10 goals for the Patriots in her career, scoring five herself and providing the assist for five more. A part of Olmos' game that doesn't show up on the stat sheet is her ability to create in the buildup of play. The No. 6 for DBU is one of the most creative players on the roster and has a strong knack for playing in and getting out of tight spaces which makes her a threat to any defender that she matches up with on the wing.

 - Delaney Schmidt is one of the most prolific goal scorers that DBU has ever had. Schmidt currently sits at 26 goals and 14 assists; she has been one of the top three goal scorers for Michelle Lenard in every year she has been on the roster, being the top in two of those years. The Burleson native is a two-time All-Conference selection, two-time All-Conference Tournament Team honoree, and three-time All-Region selection. Schmidt is a player who is dangerous anywhere in the attacking third for DBU and can play all three positions up front. Her agility and speed allow her to create space for herself and push forward into dangerous areas.
 
- Kaci Parks has been an assist machine up front for DBU during her time on the roster. Parks currently has 21 assists, paired with 17 goals to her name. She currently sits third in all time assists for DBU, with a solid chance to climb up that list. Every year, the Plano native is one of the best players in the conference at bringing the ball into her feet and setting her teammates up for an excellent look on frame. The four-time All-Region selection uses her composure on the ball to help facilitate the game up front for the Patriots; however, can also drop into the midfield to help DBU maintain possession on the ball lower down the field.
 
- Melissa Jones has one of the highest soccer IQ's on the team and in the conference. Michelle Lenard's staff have often made the comment that Jones is another coach on the field due to how well she knows the Patriots system. Although Jones is not a player who will often appear on the score sheet, with one goal and four assists during her time on University Hill, the Patriots system would not be able to operate without her. As many soccer fans know, the 6 spot is not one of the more glamorous roles; however, Jones operates it to near perfection and helps the DBU system run.
 
- Brittany Eccles has been a work horse in the middle of the park for the Patriots and has nine goals and three assists during her time on campus. In her first season in the side, the No. 30 led the Patriots in goals on the year with six. Eccles, another player whose solid play may fly under the radar, has an engine that never seems to stop and covers some of the most ground on this DBU roster. The senior from Denton can be seen at Patriot Field absolutely blowing up any challenge that she gets into, as well as, helping control the possession for her team.
 
- Summerlyn Heller is one of the most graceful soccer players on this roster. Throughout her career, the left back has been able to contribute to 12 goals, scoring three of her own and assisting her teammates nine times. The senior from Bastrop has the best left foot that has ever stepped on University Hill and uses her speed, awareness, and technical ability to fly down the wing for DBU and create chance after chance from that side. If she has any space on the wing there is a high chance that her pass will be slid into a dangerous area or her cross will find the run of one of her teammates. Heller is the type of player that brings those around her to life, as the lone senior on the backline for the Patriots this year she will look to use her leadership throughout the remainder of her time on the roster to pour into her defenders alongside her.

SCOUTING UT-TYLER
 - In their first season in the Lone Star Conference, UT-Tyler finished in 9th with an overall record of 6-10-1.

- UT-Tyler comes into the matchup with DBU 1-4 on the year. However, there one win came against NCAA Division I side Stephen F. Austin University.

- Head Coach Stefani Webb is in her 16th year in charge. Prior to the 2019 campaign, Webb had never had a losing season and never had fewer than 10 wins on the year. Webb led UT-Tyler to the NCAA DIII Tournament in 2014 and 2015.

- UT-Tyler returns Third Team All-Lone Star Conference selection goalie in Camri Cecil. Cecil was a staple in the side last year for a team that only allowed 1.53 goals per game and will look to have the same impact on the field this year.

SERIES HISTORY
DBU is 1-1 in the all-time series versus UT-Tyler with DBU winning the most recent matchup in 2019.

UP NEXT
The Patriots continue their home stand when they face off against another NCAA Division I opponent in Abilene Christian University on Saturday, March 20th. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.