Soccer:

The women’s soccer team has consistently moved up in national polls. The team is now ranked No. 8. The team holds an undefeated HC record 9-0-1 and a 10-1-1 overall record among the Heartland Conference (HC) standings. All five of the team’s last matches have been shutouts, which is attributed to good defensive pressure and an offensive strategy. The next women’s soccer game is away on Thursday. The HC Championship Tournament will begin Nov. 3.

The men’s soccer team finished their last match with a frustrating draw, putting their HC record at 8-1-1 with a 12-1-1 overall record. Including this tie, the team has managed dominant shutouts in all four of their last matches. The team still leads the regional conference standings, and have moved back up to No. 3 in the nation. The men’s soccer team will host No. 19 Midwestern State University on Thursday at 3 p.m. The team is also preparing for the HC Championship Tournament starting on Nov. 1.

Cross-Country:

After team-best finishes at an invitational meet in Oregon on Oct. 15, sophomore Rachel Frei and freshman Mauri Padilla respectively earned HC Runner of the Week awards on Monday. Frei broke the St. Edward’s record in the 6,000-meter race, placing eighth in the overall race ranking with a 23:13.7 time, eight seconds faster than the previous St. Edward’s record holder, per SEU Athletics.

Padilla was the fastest Hilltopper for the third consecutive meet, as he finished with a pace of 5:23 per-mile. The women’s and men’s cross-country teams have now completed their fall invitationals and will compete at the HC Championships in Mansfield, Texas on Oct. 22.

Volleyball:

The volleyball team is looking to extend their 6-1 HC record, placing them second behind the reigning champion, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. The team started their season with several challenging road tournaments that accumulated to their 8-12 overall record, but they will have home court advantage for the rest of the month. Libero Morgan Beckham is ranked No. 7 in the nation in digs per-set. Outside hitters Katie Martin, Maty McClurg and Kate Hendrix lead the team in kills. Setter Avalon Frantz leads in assists (317) and middle hitter Mikayla Parker leads in blocks (71). The team will host  Texas A&M-International University on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Golf:

The women’s golf team has one remaining invitational left for the fall. In the other three competitions, the Hilltoppers finished sixth of 17/+30 (314-292=606), first of 16 (302-301=603) and eighth of 16/+56 (314-302-304=920). Individual stroke leaders are sophomore Ana Sofia Benavides, junior Johany Rivera, senior Isabel Morales and senior Jessica Tamen. St. Edward’s will travel to Puerto Rico to compete in the USI Island Getaway in Oct. 24-25. In the spring, the women’s golf team hopes to qualify for the NCAA Regional Tournament for the 12th-straight year, per SEU Athletics.

The men’s golf team made their season debut Sept. 12-13 in Amarillo with a second of 17/-4 place finish and a 287-286-287=860 score. Next the men’s golf team competed in the MacDonald Cup at Yale University, where they finished T-15th of 17/+46 (301-293-292=886). Last season, the team advanced to the 13th-straight NCAA Tournament, the longest playoff streak for any St. Edward’s athletics program. All six members of last season’s team have returned, and the golf team competed at the Midwestern State invitational Oct. 16-17. Scores were not available by print date.

Tennis:

The women’s tennis team competed in four competitions, focusing on team development. At the USTA/ITA Regional Championships from Sept. 29-Oct.1, sophomore Valentina Martinez advanced to the championship match where she finished the day 1-1 and the tournament 4-2 for the singles division. Doubles partners sophomore Paola Carpio and junior Vanessa Camara earned a 4-1 record and the consolation doubles title by default. Their spring goal is to make a strong presence in conference action.

The men’s tennis team had three fall competitions, highlighting the depth of their younger players and newcomers. Sophomore Chase Morehouse had multiple invitational victories in singles and doubles. Freshman Chase Bartlett teamed up with senior Charlie Shin to win in doubles, advancing to the semifinals at the USTA/ITA Regional Championships in Sept. 23-25. During the spring semester, the men’s tennis team will have multiple matches focusing on individual success that contribute to conference standings.