Centenary Athletics: Fall 2024 Recap

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY:

The Centenary cross country program had the honor of hosting the 2024 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships on Nov. 2 at South Bossier Park in Bossier City. The Ladies and Gents welcomed the league's 22 cross country teams for the event and with the additions of Concordia University (Texas), McMurry University and University of the Ozarks to the SCAC, 11 men's and 11 women's teams competed at this year's meet - creating the largest fields on both sides since the 2011 championships. 

Philip Hughes was the Gents' top finisher as he placed 87^th overall in a time of 30:58.01. Evan Halbert was 104^th, finishing with a time of 36:53.99, Clayton Hancock was 107th (38:57.75), and Herman Pride finished 108^th (41:38.00). The Gents did not record a team score and the Ladies did not have anyone compete.

The Ladies and Gents were led by third-year head coach Joseph Moses Jr. and assistant coach Vincent Manuel.

MEN'S SOCCER

The Gents finished 7-9-2 overall and 3-7-1 in SCAC play under the leadership of fourth-year head coach Kevin White.

The Gents' seven victories are their most since winning eight in 2019 and their three conference wins are their most since winning three in 2020. Centenary was extremely competitive as the Maroon and White lost four matches by a score of 1-0 and allowed two goals or less in seven matches.

Centenary was a consistent and impressive offensive club as the Gents scored 34 goals and tallied 30 assists for a total of 98 points as the 34 goals are the most in a single season in the division III era (2011-present) and the number of assists and points are also new program records.

The Gents set a division III program era record for goals in a game with a 9-0 blowout victory over the Mississippi University for Women (MUW) Owls on Sept. 13 at home as they raced out to a 5-0 lead at halftime and added four more goals in the second half over the Owls to coast to the win. The previous record for goals in a game was set in a 7-0 win over Hendrix College on Sept. 24, 2019.

Seven different players notched at least one assist and Mondragon had a pair as he joins seven other Gents to tally two assists in a match in the D3 era. All but one of the Gents' nine goals was assisted as the eight assists sets a new D3-era record for assists in a match and the 26 points in the match is also a new D-3 era record for points in a match.

Freshman GK Sebastian Lutin (Fort Worth, Texas) became the first player in the history of the program to win a major postseason individual award as he was named the SCAC Newcomer of the Year following an impressive rookie season in which he recorded a conference-leading 102 saves and ranked in the top 20 in the country.

He posted a Goals against average (GAA) of 1.50 and a save percentage of .810. He made 16 starts, tallied one shutout, and had four matches with 10+ saves. He made a season-high 16 saves at Colorado College on Oct. 6, finishing one save shy of the division III era (2011-present) single-match record of 17 and his 16 saves were the most in a match by a SCAC player all season.

Lutin, named the SCAC Men's Soccer Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 1, finished the season ranked in the top 50 in the nation in both in saves per game and save percentage. His 102 saves are the seventh-most in a single season in the division III era (2011-present). He helped lead a defense that allowed 10 fewer goals in conference play in three more matches than the previous season.

Lutin also earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team and was joined on the All-SCAC Team by senior MF Brennan Amato (Denham Springs, La.), and freshman F Nathan Uduojie (Houston, Texas) as all three all earned Honorable-Mention honors and Uduojie joined Lutin on the All-Freshman Team. 

Amato tied for second on the team with four goals and tallied two assists for 10 points, which was good for fourth on the team as he finished off an impressive career in which he played in 60 matches – starting all 60. He finishes his career with eight goals scored, seven assists, two game-winning goals, and 23 points to rank in the top 10 in the D3 era in all four categories.

Uduojie scored a team-leading six goals and tied for second with four assists for a team-best 16 points as he ranked in the top 10 in the conference in goals. Uduojie recorded a hat trick for the Gents in the blowout win over MUW as he scored the first two goals of the match for the Maroon and White in the ninth and 14^th minutes of the first half and added a third just 36 seconds after halftime for a 6-0 lead. Uduojie, who also tallied an assist on the Gents' third goal of the night, becomes only the third Gent to score three goals in a game in the D3 era as he joins Wil Escobar in 2019 and Nick Hammond in 2017 in doing so.

The Gents were a well-balanced offensive team as 13 players recorded at least one assist while 12 scored at least one goal. Freshman MF Emiliano Mondragon (Dallas, Texas) tied for seventh in the conference in assists (6) and also scored three goals (tied for third on team) for a total of 12 points (second on team). Freshman MF Kevin Huskey Jr. (Dallas, Texas) turned in an impressive rookie season as he scored four goals and added three assists for 11 points as he tied for second on the team in goals, was fourth in assists, and third in points.

Senior F Ron Masti (Houston, Texas) and senior MF Hunter Booth (Harrodsburg, Ky.) each scored three goals to tie for third on the team and senior F Gabriel Aragon (Forney, Texas) scored a pair of goals and had one assist. Senior D Christopher Tarr (Durban, South Africa) scored his first-career goal and had a pair of assists and sophomore D Hayden McConnell (Flower Mound, Texas) scored his first-career goal and started every match as he continued to prove himself as one of the league's top defensive players. Sophomore F Carter Webb (Flower Mound, Texas) scored four goals to tie Amato for second on the team, sophomore D Dylan Clark (Allen, Texas) scored a pair.  

WOMEN'S SOCCER

The Ladies finished (3-13-2 overall and 1-9-0 in SCAC play under the guidance of fifth-year head coach Morgan Dorsey.

Centenary scored 22 goals during the season and added 18 assists as 13 different players scored at least one goal and 11 had at least one assist. Junior D/MF Kylie Zeller (Denham Springs, La.) and freshman F Jenevieve Willis (Bossier City, La.) tied for the team lead in goals scored with three each and freshman MF Sydney Hamm (Sterlington, La.) had a team-high three assists. Willis had a team-leading eight points with Zeller right behind her with seven.

Senior MF Aubrey Burkhardt (Bossier City, La.) and sophomore MF Sarah Crenshaw (Alexandria, La.) represented the Ladies on the All-SCAC Team as they had identical offensive stats as each scored two goals and tallied two assists for a total of six points apiece. Burkhardt played in all 18 of the Ladies' matches, starting 16, and Crenshaw started all 18 matches in her first season with the Maroon and White after transferring from Roanoke College. Both Burkhardt and Crenshaw earned All-SCAC honors for the first time in their careers

Sophomore GK/MF Zoe Keller (Waggaman, La.) finished second in the conference in saves (81) and her 5.79 saves per game also ranked second. She made a season-best 13 on Oct. 27 against TLU after she made a previous season-high 12 against Southwestern two days prior. Keller's 81 saves are the 10^th-most in a single season in the D3 era in program history.

Five Ladies tallied two assists apiece and Burkhardt, Crenshaw, and Willis all had multiple goals and assists. Senior D/MF Kaitlyn Bordelon (Shreveport, La.) scored two goals and had one assist, and senior MF/D Desiree Rodriguez (Forney, Texas) and sophomore MF Shona Carlton (Ponchatoula, La.) each scored a pair.

Junior MF Madi Cooley (Vidalia, La.) and Zeller were both named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team after the season. The 2024-25 Academic All-District® Women's Soccer teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.

VOLLEYBALL

The Ladies finished their 2024 season at 1-25 overall and 0-15 in SCAC play under first-year head coach Kayla Black.

Centenary finished with 1,050 digs, 573 kills, 528 assists, 94 service aces, and 91 total blocks.

Junior S Kristi Hinze (Shepherd, Texas) was an impact player in her first and only season with the Ladies after transferring from Dallas College Eastfield where she was part of a national championship team. Hinze ranked in the top 10 in the conference in both assists and aces as she totaled team-highs in assists (433) and aces (34). She averaged 0.42 aces per set and 5.35 assists/set. She posted double-digit assists in 22 of 26 matches and did so in her final 13 to end the season including a season-best 36 against the University of Dallas on Nov. 3 and recorded 20 or more six times.

Junior LB Daly Nagot (Benton, La.) was named to the 2024 Academic All-District® Volleyball team, selected by College Sports Communicators after the season as she became the first Ladies' volleyball player since Jaycie Proctor in 2022 to earn the honor.

The prestigious team recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. Nagot, a Business Administration major with a 3.58 GPA, played in all 25 of Centenary's matches this past season and tallied a team-high 253 digs (3.33 digs per set), 31 assists, and eight service aces.

The Ladies honored their senior class - MB/OH Elizabeth Canady (League City, Texas), OH/DS Kiara Liedy (Sugar Land, Texas), OH Jaylin St. Martin (New Orleans, La.), and DS Allana Scott-Daniels (Spring, Texas) on Nov. 3 against the University of Dallas.

Those four seniors combined for 312 career matches played and Canady, Liedy, and St. Martin finished their careers ranked in the all-time top 10 in division III program history (2011-present) in multiple career statistical categories.

FOOTBALL

The Centenary football program completed its historic 2024 season 4-6 overall and 4-4 in SCAC play as the sport returned to campus for the first time in over a half-century.

The Gents provided their fans many memorable and exciting moments all season long whether away or at the friendly confines of Atkins Field. Centenary scored 108 points in its five home games, an average of 21.6 PPG, and drew nearly 8,000 fans as the excitement and support was evident all season long at Atkins Field.

The Gents, picked to finish third in the conference in the preseason poll, finished behind co-champions McMurry University and Texas Lutheran University, who each tied for first place with 7-1 conference records. Centenary led the conference in interceptions (15) and finished third in sacks (22). The Gents' nine fumble recoveries was also second-most in the league.

Milestone Moments from Season:

First Game: Sept. 7 vs. Hendrix College

First Win: Sept. 21 at Austin College

First Home Win: Oct. 5 vs. Lyon College

Homecoming Win: Oct. 26 vs. Austin College

Junior WR Kobe Chambers (Greenwood, Miss.) and sophomore DL D'Qavion Lemons (Shreveport, La.) were named to the D3football.com All-Region Team on Dec. 11 and a dozen players earned All-SCAC honors this season – sophomore Vance Feuerbacher (Plano, Texas), sophomore OL Alexander Hamilton (St. Rose, La.), sophomore TE Gavin Jack (Mamou, La.), sophomore TE Isaiah King (Weatherford, Texas), sophomore DL Kris Mesloh (Bossier City, La.), sophomore LB Devon Strickland (Shreveport, La.), sophomore OL Jordan Taylor (Frisco, Texas), junior RB Josh Ware (Shreveport, La.), sophomore DB Bryan Washington (Wylie, Texas), and freshman DB Jacob Wilson (Shreveport, La.)

Chambers staked his claim as one of the most electric players in the conference as he was the league leader in all-purpose yards (1,202) with an average of 120.2 per game, finished third in the SCAC in receiving yards, and led the SCAC in kick return average (22.4) as he returned 27 kicks for 606 yards with a long of 80 and scored one TD. He ranked second in the league in receptions per game, and third in receiving yards/game. He had a team-leading 49 receptions and six TD's with a pair of 100-yard receiving games. He ranked 54th nationally in all-purpose yards

Feuerbacher cemented himself as one of the conference's top all-around players as he played linebacker and quarterback and punted and kicked during the season. He finished 10th in the league in total offense, averaging 36.9 yards per game, tied for 11th place in the conference in tackles and averaged 5.0 per game. He ranked second in the conference in punting (373. Average) with a long of 50 and punted 28 times. He was 4-6 on field goal attempts with a long of 38 and finished 13-15 on PAT's.

Lemons ranked 15th in the conference in tackles and averaged 4.6 stops per game. His two sacks were tied for second in the league and he tied for 12th in tackles for loss with two. Garnered two individual weekly honors after his stellar performance in a 36-17 win at Austin College as he recorded a team-leading eight total tackles, forced a fumble, and had a team-best two sacks with a team-high two tackles for loss.

Wilson led the conference in interceptions, ranking fourth nationally in division III, and led the team in tackles. He tied for seventh in the conference in tackles and tied for second in the league in passes defended. He intercepted a pair of passes in his collegiate debut against Hendrix on Sept. 7.

Hamilton and Taylor were standout players on the Gents' offensive line and Ware and King were part of an offensive attack that averaged 298.6 yards per game (200.4 passing and 98.2 rushing) and 22.1 PPG. Jack, Mesloh, Strickland, and Washington all earned all-conference honors on the defensive side of the ball and junior QB Zin'Tavious Smith (Coushatta, La.) finished fourth in the conference in total offense – fourth in passing and seventh in rushing, as he had 1,312 yards of total offense for the season and scored 14 touchdowns.

Read all of the game recaps and significant news from the 2024 season here: https://gocentenary.com/sports/fball/2024-25/news

See the complete home composite schedule here: https://gocentenary.com/composite 

Live stats and live video stream are available for all Centenary home contests.

#GoCentenary #CTheOpportunity