Over the next three weeks, we will be posting a daily review of the top 10 sports stories, moments and accomplishments of the 2009-10 school year in Concordia athletics, as determined by Sports Information Director Tony Baldwin.  Today's entry features the No. 10 story in our countdown.  Check back each weekday for a new entry in the top 10 list.  The No. 1 story will be revealed on May 25.  The full year in review will be posted on May 31.  Agree or disagree with the selections?  Comment by sending an e-mail to Tony Baldwin, SID, at tony.baldwin@concordia.edu.

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It all begins with a win.  And that's exactly how the Concordia University Texas women's soccer team began its 2009 campaign, by defeating cross-town foe Huston-Tillotson 3-0 on Sept. 1.  What the team didn't know at that time was the 2009 season was going to be a record-breaking year for wins.

Ironically, it was the same Huston-Tillotson squad which surrendered the record-breaking win for the Tornados on Oct. 20.  On a cool, rainy night near downtown Austin, the Tornados received a pair of goals from an unlikely goal-scorer.  Junior forward #Lya Morfitt# knocked in a pair of goals for Concordia that night, which allowed the Tornados break the program record for wins in a single season. 

Why were the goals from Morfitt so unlikely?  In her first two years at CTX, the Brownsville, Texas, native had not recorded a single shot, much less a goal.  However, Morfitt ended the 2009 season with five goals, the second most on the squad.

It wasn't just the wins that first-year head coach #Corey Holton# was proud of.  She also remembers the team battling to five draws, three of which came to teams that went on to make the postseason in their respective conferences. 

A couple of 1-0 wins for Concordia during the 2009 season helped secure the new wins record.  One of the most memorable happened on Sept. 17.  Concordia hosted Louisiana College at Town & Country Field for a conference match up on that afternoon.  With less than two minutes remaining in the second half, the Tornados were building an attack deep in Lady Wildcats territory.  Sophomore #Victoria Williams# was shoved to the ground in the box, drawing a penalty kick whistle from the center referee.  Sophomore midfielder #Kiera Ruck# stepped up to the spot and calmly tucked the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal to give the Tornados a 1-0 win (video link).

Ruck followed up an outstanding freshman season with a solid sophomore campaign.  The Sugar Land, Texas, native notched six goals for the Tornados in 2009, including three game-winners.  She earned third team all-ASC honors for her performance. 

Sophomore defensive back #Lauren Browning# and freshman goalkeeper #Teysha Sivage# were both honored as honorable mention all-ASC selections.  Browning anchored a young back line for the Tornados, which not only allowed Concordia to be competitive, but also controlled the tempo and flow of the game at many times.  Sivage started 12 games in goal for CTX, stopping 75 shots and recorded three shutouts.

Was 2009 just a record-breaking year for the Tornados or the sign of future success?  The future definitely looks promising for Concordia, who graduated only one senior (#Emily Sager#).