Making Of A Dynasty: Championship Pedigree

The North Texas soccer program, the most successful team in UNT history and led by the school's most accomplished coach, enters the 2020 season this fall with a target on its back, as usual. It comes with the territory of having won a league title in eight straight years and 16 since 2001. But what's led to this dynasty is much deeper than just the goals and wins. Over the coming weeks as the team prepares for its 26th season, we'll highlight a few of the outstanding people, characteristics, places and moments that have led this program to its elite status.

DENTON – Like the tides of a powerful sea, the North Texas soccer team has been a recurring force year in and year out for the last 25 years. Every fall returning to the field to play their brand of winning soccer and leaving their mark on the match.

But as the years have progressed the build-up has grown stronger.

Of the 236 women who have suited up for the Mean Green, 144 won at least one conference championship while they played for the Mean Green. That means 54 percent of all UNT soccer players have been champions. And with 16 championship rings in 25 years, many of those 129 have been repeat champions.

But over the last decade, the Mean Green tidal wave has turn into a tsunami.

Over the last nine seasons each UNT soccer team has had at least 10 past champions on its roster.

"When I got to UNT as a freshman I wanted to win," said 2018 graduate Cat Sebazco."And when you looked around the locker room and knew the upperclassmen had done what you wanted and had set that expectation you constantly were striving to be like them. It builds a winning culture that I think at the time we thought was impressive but also wanted to take even further."

Sebazco and her fellow freshmen joined a North Texas squad in 2014 that was two years removed from winning the Sun Belt regular season and tournament championship. Ten of their teammates had championship DNA.
Sure enough the upperclassmen led UNT to another title in 2014. By the time Sebazco and her peers played their final match in 2017, they were the first UNT soccer class to win a conference championship every year.

"It was definitely a goal of ours," Sebazco said about winning four straight championships. "We wanted to do something that had never been done before and take this already championship program to new heights."

It's been two years since that class graduated and two more senior classes have replicated as four-time champions. As this season's senior class prepares for their final year, a goal of a fourth conference championship isn't the only accomplishment they have on their mind.

First, another conference championship would be the program's seventh straight. No program at UNT has ever won more than six in a row.

Secondly, this season's seniors could become the first UNT soccer class ever and first UNT student-athletes since men's golf in 1972 to reach the NCAA Tournament all four years.

"We know it won't be easy but we've set the expectation of reaching the NCAA Tournament," said senior Brooke Lampe. "When you've made it three years in a row you want to reach for more. You can't let those who came before you and helped us get here down."

In 2017, Lampe was a green wide-eyed 18-year-old freshman eager to impress Sebazco and her other upper class teammates.

In penalty kicks of the conference tournament championship match, Lampe stepped up and followed through to help her seniors accomplish the four-time champion goal. Now three years later Lampe and her classmates are the ones carrying on the championship pedigree.

"You come to North Texas to play soccer and win championships," Lampe said immediately after the 2019 title. "When we went into the locker room at halftime tied 2-2 we knew we were going to win. We've all done this before and it's what we do."

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Brooke Lampe

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