As the new school year starts up, sports are back in full swing. This past week Hardin-Simmons University’s athletics stayed busy with thrilling games, matches, and tournaments. Men’s and women's soccer, football, volleyball, tennis and golf all competed.
Cowgirl soccer had a strong performance for their home opener coming out 2-0 on the weekend. With packed stands and an electric atmosphere they put on a show. “Both of the games were important in region so for us to get two great results was awesome,” Julie Atlason, a junior Criminology Major from Frisco and midfielder said. Sept. 8 they played Ohio Northern and defeated them 3-1.“Home openers are the best, because we finally got the chance to play on our own field,” Atlason said.
Cowboy soccer also competed Sept. 8-10 away in San Antonio against the Whitman Blues at Trinity. They came out of the weekend with a draw 1-1.
Football also had an exciting weekend in Wisconsin where they played Wisconsin La Cross. With a slow start and a rough first quarter giving up 21 points to Wisconsin they pushed through and ultimately came out on top, winning 28-21. Because of the distance they did not have a lot of support from the stands and familiar faces were far and few but they still found a way to keep their energy alive. “We had to create our own energy and environment, and it was absolutely wonderful.” Brayden Boggs-Rushing, sophomore math education major from Dumas, and a linebacker for cowboy football, said.
Volleyball played two amazing games against Howard Payne and Sul Ross at home in Mabee Gym. They beat both teams in three sets setting the tone for their future competition and starting ASC play off on a high note. “The games felt smooth and relaxed. All of my hitters were swinging and the defense killed it!” Ail Meyer, sophomore fitness, recreation, and management major from Cedar Park and setter for HSU cowgirl volleyball, said. They also wear ribbons in their hair and ask the students to match a theme to support different awarenesses. Sept. 8, they showed support for suicide awareness and had the fans wear neon, and Sept. 9 they asked their fans to wear jerseys to support autism awareness. “When people participate in our game day themes they are also supporting the awareness that we are representing that day.” Meyer said.
Our men’s and women’s tennis teams hosted the Big Country classic Sept. 7-9. “It was a great first tournament, we had a lot of great wins but also saw some things that we can work at and get better at,” Halle Smith, sophomore psychology major from Abilene, said. They played matches against the University of Mary Hardin Baylor (UMHB), East Texas Baptist University (ETBU), and McMurry University (McM). The men’s team had a great weekend with an overall score of 32-18, and the women’s team defeated UMHB and McM but fell short to ETBU. “The experience was amazing! The energy was so good and the intensity was definitely there all weekend,” Smith said.
Mens golf also competed in a tournament hosted by LeTourneau Sept. 12-13. All of the American Southwest Conference was there, and HSU finished 6th in the tournament.