Nolan College Showcase Updates

Follow daily updates from the nations premier event at ESPNRISE. The Nolan College Showcase is where the best teams from coast to coast come to play. The nation's #1 team will be determined. CLICK HERE for more.

NOLAN SHOWCASE BEGINS THURSDAY

Nolan Catholic High School and Southlake Carroll play host to one of the nation’s most competitive tournament which once again includes only the best teams, not only in the area, but in the nation. Each year we increase the field of teams and this year is the biggest event yet—with 32 total teams from Texas, California, and Florida. Four teams in this years showcase have been ranked #1 in the nation in the last several years, while 11 of this years 32 Invitational teams have gained national respect already this year in the National Rankings: #1 McKinney Boyd, #2Coppell, #4 Ursuline, #5 San Clemente, #10 Plano West, #13 Clear Lake, #18 Seven Lakes, #31 Southlake Carroll, #35 Nolan Catholic, and #40 St. Thomas Aquinas. We always look forward to the level of play in each event.

The top players in the country have participated in the event over the past 8 years: US National Team Player and Olympic Gold Medalist, Amy Rodriguez (Santa Margarita) and US U-21 National Team Player and UNC’s Jessica Maxwell (Colleyville Heritage). UNC’s Courtney Jones (Monte Vista), the University of Florida’s Jazmyne Avant (Coppell), BYU’s Lauren Anderson (Monte Vista), TCU’s Alex Mechalske (Nolan), Texas’ Kendall Frizzell (Tyler Lee) and University of Kentucky’s Laura Burton (Amador Valley) participated in 08, as well as Notre Dame recruit Jazmine Hall (Marcus). US under-16 National Pool Player, Whitney Jaynes (Plano West) and Lexi Harris (Plano West) were also in attendance. Jaynes and Harris were both headed to New Zealand with the National Team following the event. Other notable showcase participants were University of Texas standouts Caitlin Kennedy (Colleyville Heritage) and Kendall Campisi (Ursuline), as well as LSU’s Michelle Makasini (Colleyville Heritage), Texas A&M’s Becky Olson (Nolan) University of Virginia’s Caitlin Miskel (St. Thomas Aquinas), Stanford standout Kiki Bosio (Santa Margarita), USC National Champion JJ Johnson (Santa Margarita), TCU’s Jackie Torda (Nolan), 2009 & 2010 NCAA D1 College Cup Finalist Alina Garcia-Mendez (Ursuline) from Stanford, and 2010 NCAA D1 National Champion, Courtney Barg (Plano West) from Notre Dame.

ALUMNI GAME

The Lady Vikings welcome back former players, coaches, and fans as they kick off the 9th Annual LVS Alumni Game at 11:00am today. The Lady Vikings are also celebrating the programs 400th win since 1986 with a 2-1 victory over John Paul II last Tuesday night.

It should be an exciting day for the Lady Vikings Soccer Program.

Go VIKES!!

Spread the Wealth; Lady Vikes Down the Cardinals

The Lady Vikings come back from break with something to prove and they do it on the road, early.

Senior, Annie Smithey scores her first of the year in the first minute and it was just a matter of time before someone else stepped up to the table which wasn't until John Paul evened the match with 5 to play in the first half.

The Lady Vikings were resiliant throughout the match sticking to what works best for them and that is getting bodies forward. John Paul took 4 shots on goal compared to the 14 from the Lady Vikes and it was in the 68th minute when Junior, Allaire Langdon scored the first goal of her career of the 11th corner of the match. That goal turned out to be the game-winner and improved Nolan Catholic to 7-5-1 in district play.

With 1 more district match remaining next Tuesday against TCA, the Lady Vikings look forward to hosting the Nolan Showcase next weekend. The Nolan Showcase sees teams from all over the country. It has become one of the most competitive tournaments in the nation over the last 9 years of the event with teams being represented from coast to coast. For more information on the event CLICK HERE.

MERRY CHRISTMAS from LVS; Video Christmas Card

From all of us at LVS, we would like to wish everyone a Safe and Happy Holiday. Please check back on Christmas Day for a Video Christmas Card from LVS.

Goals Come at Right Time

The Lady Vikings enter the Christmas Break with 3 straight wins and 15 goals.

Are the Lady Vikings back on track?

After a slow start to the season the Lady Vikings have averaged 3 goals a game and only given up goals to Ursuline over the past 5 games. Megan Billingsley and Kayleen Negron have scored 3 goals each in those 5 games, Haley Spotts gets her first, and defender, Sarah Chandlee scores 2 goals on her first 2 shots of the season.

Goalkeeper, Paige Harris and sophomore, Ashley Fischer are finally back healthy and Nolan still awaits the return of senior forward, Annie Smithey who has been out the entire season.

With two matches left in district play, the Lady Vikings are more concerned with peaking at the right time. The Lady Vikings have clinched a playoff berth and look forward to public school competition in January and February to prepare them for the post-season which begins in February.

Lady Vikings head coach, Jay Fitzgerald, has enjoyed the journey to this point which is surprising due to a program high 5 district losses. "I love this group, we have taken our knocks but we keep getting back up, " Fitzgerald commented, "Our players know what is expected of them and they will respond....there is a lot of soccer to be played and I trust each and every one of these young ladies to get the job done."

The Lady Vikings will be back in action on January 4th as they travel to John Paul.

Lady Vikes Turn Corner

The Lady Vikings start to turn the corner after a dismal 3-4-0 start during the first half of the season.

After the Thanksgiving Break, Nolan is 1-1-1, with a victory coming on Monday night after a very impressive performance. The Lady Vikings travelled to Bishop Lynch and outshot the Lady Friars 22-4 but it wasn't until the 80th minute that junior, Gaby Larson scored the game-winner for Nolan Catholic, her second of the season.

It was a much deserved result for the Vikings as they put together a very consistent performance putting constant pressure on Lynch the entire match. Haley Spotts led the way with 5 shots on goal. Paige Harris picked up her 3rd shut-out of the season.

"Our group deserved this win tonight - a clean slate on the road is always a positive and it doesn't matter who it is against," comments Lady Vikings head coach Jay Fitzgerald.

Perseverance helped Nolan Catholic get this win.

They kept the ball well and finally broke down a Lady Friar team that sat all 11 players behind the ball in the final 15 minutes of play.

The Lady Vikings go on the road again on Thursday to take on Plano Prestonwood before the return home on Friday taking on Bishop Dunne at Doskocil Stadium in their final match of 2010.