Sept. 23, 2007

Box Score

PORTALES, N.M. - In the Lone Star Conference season opener, West Texas A&M women's soccer fell to Eastern New Mexico, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon. Elisabeth Markussen scored WTAMU's lone goal - her seventh of the season - early in the second half to tie the score at 1-1, but the Zias struck again late in the half and held on to the lead to win.

Senior goalkeeper Sarah Pipkin made her first start of the season and made two saves in the match, while ENMU's goalkeeper, Stephanie Sanchez, made six saves on seven West Texas A&M shots on goal.

Eastern New Mexico found the back of the net first, putting their first goal on the board in the 18th minute. Pipkin dove for a ball along the left goal line but Eastern New Mexico's Hannah Dozier touched it just past Pipkin's reach and sent the ball to the center of the box. Samantha Lawrence took one touch and scored on the open net from one yard out.

Markussen scored the equalizer in the 57th minute when sophomore Adi Stein split the Zia defense with a beautiful through-ball. Sanchez dove for Markussen's first shot, but it bounced off the goalpost right back to Markussen, who scored underneath the Zias' goalkeeper to tie the game.

ENMU regained the lead on a long ball from Leslie Weber that sailed over the Lady Buff defense. Dozier ran onto the ball and challenged Pipkin one-on-one, firing a shot to the left corner from eight yards out.

The Lady Buffs pressured hard in the second half, taking 12 shots in an effort to gain the lead, but could not convert.

With the loss, West Texas A&M falls to 6-2 overall, 0-1 in LSC play, while Eastern New Mexico improves to 7-2 overall, 1-0 in the conference.

The Lady Buffs' next game is Friday, Sept. 28, when they host conference foe Abilene Christian at 3 pm at The Pitch.