SPORTS EDITOR – DIDIER CADENA
As the 2022 fall semester rolls on, the first month of Rattler Athletics has started with strong performances all around from the various Rattler teams. This fall half of sports looks to be a very exciting one, where there might be chances of late tournament runs for the various teams.
In one of the best starts since the 1998 season, the women’s soccer team is striving with the longest winning streak to start off the year, breaking the previous record from 2001. They won their first six games of the season in impressive fashion, outscoring the competition 21-2, and have shut out 4 of those opens. Those 21 goals have the Rattlers third in the nation for goals, assists, and total points. Senior Forward Juni Ejere leads the team in goals scored with 7, placing her seventh in the nation in both goals, (8) and total points (19). The Rattlers are currently 7-1.
Next off is the women’s tennis team, who is coming off a strong performance at the St. Mary’s Invitational. The Rattlers ended the tournament winning six singles and two doubles titles during play. The tournament was also highlighted by 4 Rattlers going undefeated in singles play.
The women’s golf team hopes to continue with the strong momentum that they had from last season this year. In their first tournament of the season at the West Texas A& M Fall invitational, the Rattlers were able to place fourth overall with a three-round total of 873. Senior Rebecca Reed led the Rattlers as she finished in seventh place.
The volleyball team continues to show flashes of greatness as they begin their second season under coach Laura Ulrich. As they wrap up their non-conference play with a record of 4-7, they hope to surge through conference play starting against Texas Women’s University on Sept. 16. The Rattlers have also recorded multiple service aces throughout all of their 13 matches this season a n d h a v e recorded a total of five or more, eight times throughout their games.
The women’s basketball team starts their season later in the fall but hopes to enter a brand new era in the program. After finishing 3-25 last year, the team hopes to make a comeback to the strong play style and success they have achieved in the past. The Rattlers are also led by a new head coach, Valerie Huizar, who will become the ninth coach in the program’s history. The Rattlers started their season on Nov. 11 at home against the Regis University Rangers.
The men’s soccer team is hoping to continue the success that they have been constantly able to replicate in their last couple of seasons. The Rattlers have started their season in a unique way. In the first four games, the Rattlers have won only one of those games and the other three games have all ended in a draw. The first win was also an upset victory with a final-minute goal against the ranked Colorado State University-Pueblo Thunderwolves. Even with the unique start, the Rattlers have continued to make noise across the nation, being ranked as the twenty-first team in the nation at one point. There is hope to continue making strides towards late-season success and another playoff spot. The rattlers currently have a record of 2-0-3.
The men’s tennis team was able to end their first tournament play with two single titles and had a pair of doubles teams who were able to advance to the finals. This was before the matches were called off due to lightning. They hope to continue their success as they travel to Colorado for their next tournament. The men’s golf team continued their success from their last season with a strong start in their first tournament. Senior Christian Hansen was able to win the first tournament of his career at the Dallas Baptist University Fall Classic. Hansen led all players shooting -4 on par 4 holes and was also able to score an eagle during the tournament. No team scores were recorded after frequent weather suspensions forced the tournament to end play early. The golf team hopes to build off this success at the Missouri Southern State University Fall Invitational on Sept. 26.
The men’s basketball team hopes to build off some of the success that they achieved last season as they prepare for the upcoming one. They finished last season with a record of 12-13. The Rattlers begin their season in Colorado on Nov. 11, but start play in San Antonio as they play a cross-city exhibition match against the University of Texas at San Antonio on Nov. 14.
The St. Mary’s eSports program enters its third year at the university. The plan this season is to continue the success that they have consistently been able to replicate in their various programs. They currently have “League of Legends,” “Rainbow 6 Siege,” “Rocket League,” “Starcraft II,” “Halo Infinite,” “Fortnite” and “Call of Duty: Vanguard” teams geared up for success this season. Their scheduling and match data can be found through their Twitch channel at twitch. tv/stmuesports.
The St. Mary’s STUNT program is in its first year of existence at the university and is the 13th varsity sport at the university. The sport looks to bring a new sense of energy to the athletics program. More information about the program’s schedule will be revealed as the rest of the fall goes on. This fall looks to be another competitive one for the rattlers so be sure to come out and support the teams this season.