The 2006 Lyon College Pipers women’s
soccer team will enjoy more unfamiliar territory in a
season of firsts.
NAIA Region XI officials announced today
that the Pipers have qualified for their first ever
regional tournament bid and will play in the first round
against Georgetown College in Georgetown, Ky. on
Saturday, Nov. 4, at 11 a.m. EST (10 a.m. CST).
Georgetown is ranked No. 4 in the region
and finished second in the Mid-South Conference
standings behind Lindsey Wilson College of Columbia,
Ky. -- the No. 2 team in the country and the No. 1
team in Region XI.
If the Pipers, ranked No. 5 in the Region
XI rankings, were to beat Georgetown College on Nov. 4,
they would play at Lindsey Wilson on Monday, Nov. 6.
Lindsey Wilson beat Martin Methodist, the TranSouth’s
No. 1 team, by a 4-1 count on Oct. 4. In turn, Lyon fell
to Martin Methodist on Sept. 30 by a 9-1 differential.
In addition to its regional tournament
bid, Lyon has accomplished a number of firsts this
season for its women’s soccer program – including the
first ever season over .500 with a record of 13-5, a
third-place finish in the regular-season TranSouth
Conference standings and a first-time appearance in the
conference tournament. The Pipers made the most of that
TranSouth tourney appearance, advancing to the
semifinals with a first-round win over Lambuth.
The Pipers have clicked as a team, but
have also set a number of individual school records
during the gold-standard season. Lyon forward Sarah
Poncher set single-season and career record marks for
goals (11) and points (27). Katy Smith set a
single-season record for assists (6) and goal keeper
Stephanie Henderson set school marks for career and
single-season shutouts (8), victories (12) and goals
against average (1.16).
Five Piper players made the All-TranSouth
Conference team, led by first-team selections Ashley
Goheen (defender) and Henderson. Three other Lyon
College teammates made the All-Conference second team –
forward Angelique Armenta, defender Allison Morrison and
midfielder Aurora Alba.
