TSU: RISE OF THE TIGERS (Blog date Nov 5, 2012)

I was first introduced to the Texas Southern University Tigers women's soccer team on a hot early-September afternoon, as they hosted St. Mary's University visiting from San Antonio. Standing on the sidelines of the Alexander Durley Stadium, the intense heat reflected off of the field's artificial surface, making for some harsh soccer conditions. But the high temperatures did not seem to thwart the intensity of the match; the way these women played was hotter than the sun's rays that day. It was a terrific back-and-forth end-to-end passionately fought game, the visitors eventually prevailing 4-3.

Despite fielding a very young roster this year, TSU finished a respectable second in the Southwest Athletic Conference West. Third-year coach Tamura Crawley-Marigny had just two seniors and four juniors on her roster of 26 to work with. The rest were sophomores and a freshman class that, out of all the teams I have seen live this year, holds the greatest promise. Four of those freshmen were regular starters in the Tigers' rotation, including center-midfielder Marlyn Campa, who played all 90 minutes or more in every TSU match I went to see. A standout on the San Antonio Macarthur High School squad that finished ranked #5 in the area with a record of 17 wins, two losses and three draws in her senior year, Marlyn's quickness, creativity, speed and tireless hustle is going to be key to the TSU game for years to come. She has tremendous vision and a never-ending work ethic in all thirds of the pitch. She is most effective on the run with the ball up the middle, drawing defenders and then dishing it off on the break. Marlyn can execute this kind of drive in brilliant fashion, like she did against Prairie View A&M, using her quickness and excellent touch to weave past several defenders across midfield and then deliver a perfect pass to forward Sarah Glenn flying down the open right flank. Marlyn then received Sarah's cross to bury the goal that handed PVAMU their only conference loss of the season, perhaps Marlyn's biggest goal of her young NCAA career.

TSU center-midfielder Marlyn Campa (3) takes on Chantal Lynch (24) and the Southern University defense.

Coach Tamura however will be hard-pressed to find a replacement for All-Conference defender Florence Onyera, one of the two seniors graduating this year. An alumnus of Alief Elsik High School in the Houston area, Flo has been the Tigers' most solid defender, a confident presence in the back, and probably the smartest player on the field. Coach Tamura did an admirable job of assembling this current generation of freshmen, and there is no reason to doubt that she will be able to recruit again to fill Flo's shoes. She will have to in order to fulfill the Tigers' potential.

All-SWAC defender Florence Onyera, solid in the TSU back line, and the smartest player on the field.

Flo (14) took many of TSU's free kicks. She scored three goals on the season.

Very effective receiving in the air, Marlyn (3) goes sky-high against Southern's Jazmine Harrell (23).

Marlyn (white 3) defends against high-stepping SU forward Jami Blackston (blue 3).

I look forward to watching Marlyn Campa and her freshman classmates mature and develop over the next couple of years, particularly goalkeeper Liliana Hernandez and midfielders Yadira Gonzalez and Deisy Fernandez. When Marlyn learns to tame her sometimes volatile temper and apply it constructively, which I am confident she will eventually do, this midfield will dominate - and so will TSU. I'm predicting a SWAC title within two years - in Marlyn Campa's junior season.

(All photos by Kokoy Severino.)

Kokoy Severino has been coaching junior soccer in the Greater Houston area for 19 years. He holds a National Youth Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, two coaching certifications from the United States Soccer Federation, and a Master in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. His research focuses on the relationship between interscholastic competitive soccer and the academic success of at-risk students. He returns regularly to his native country of the Philippines and conducts soccer training sessions for economically disadvantaged youths.

"This blog is to document the intensity, the depth, the passion, the strategic and tactical nuances, the stars, the spectacular play that I witness in the women's teams at the college level. And in doing so, it is my hope that others might be inspired to discover for themselves the beautiful game brought by the women." (Kokoy, from blog entry dated Nov 4, 2012)