ABILENE - West Texas A&M kept its hold on first place in the Lone Star Conference following a 3-1 victory Sunday at Abilene Christian's Wildcat Soccer Pitch. The Lady Buffs scored two goals off set pieces and another shorthanded in improving to 5-3-1 overall and 4-1 vs. the league.
The loss dropped ACU's overall and conference records to 3-5 and 1-3.
West Texas scored its first goal at the start of the 11th minute down a player after the referee requested that midfielder Kelsey Wright leave the pitch in order to remove a piece of jewelry. Wright discarded the offending piece and patiently stood on the sideline for several minutes waiting for either a throw-in or goal kick, but ended up celebrating alongside the bench after Lindsay McHorse assisted on Leslie Briggs' 11th goal of the season.
The game's first goal was initiated by an ACU turnover in its defensive third. McHorse tracked the loose ball down and quickly fed a pass to Briggs, who one-timed the ball in from about eight-yards back on the right side.
Briggs again was involved on West Texas' second goal scored in the 25th minute after sliding to stop a corner kick ball ACU goalkeeper
Arielle Moncure attempted to clear. Moncure came out and struck the ball down near the top of the 18-yard box, but Briggs got a leg on it, redirecting the ball to Rachel Roth who punched it in from point-blank range.
The goal was Roth's first of the season and gave WT a 2-0 lead heading into the break.
ACU cut the Lady Buff's lead in half on
Julie Coppedge's rebound goal in the 50th minute, but West Texas regained its two-goal advantage 10-minutes later on Jessie Thomas' score from inside the goal mouth. Thomas was set up by a 50-yard free kick taken by Berklee Watson.
ACU outshot West Texas for the match, 17-8, and placed eight of its shots on goal. The Wildcats fired four shots and took one corner kick following the third Lady Buff goal, but
Ashley Craig had her shot blocked, while
Andrea Carpenter's sailed wide.
Lexi Stirling's free kick in the 78th minute just missed hitting the crossbar, and then in closing minutes Yvette Bedoy saved shots from Stirling and
Julie Coppedge to finish the match with 10.
Moncure came away with four saves.
The Wildcats start a five-match road trip Wednesday night at rival Midwestern State. ACU beat the Mustangs in three of four meeting last season, including the second round of the NCAA Championship.
