The Texas A&M University-Commerce women’s soccer team continued their flying start to the season with a convincing 4-1 win over Dallas Baptist University on Tuesday. The match was the first ever night game in the program’s history with a 7:30 p.m. kick-off, played under four new flood lights added to the field over the summer.
A&M-Commerce got on the board first in the ninth minute when senior Meagan Lasley picked up the ball on the left, disposed of a Patriot defender, and hit a centering pass to junior Chelsey Haight who scored on an empty net. It was Haight’s second goal of the season and opened the flood gates on the DBU goal.
Lasley went from provider to finisher in the 22nd minute as she headed in Lacy Alexander’s pass from just outside the six-yard box. Alexander worked to win the ball back from a defender just outside the penalty area before sending a cross right onto the head of Lasley.
A third goal was added seven minutes later when SMU transfer Devon Herrman received a pass from Haight at the center of the box.
The sophomore kept her shot low and finished to the right of DBU goalkeeper Haley Corbell’s outstretched arms. The Lions went into halftime looking comfortable with a 3-0 advantage.
Dallas Baptist did pull one back in somewhat unusual fashion just five minutes after the break. A low cross from Brittany Layne found its way to Hope Adams who took a swipe and lobbed the ball over A&M-Commerce goalkeeper Taylor Jordan. That was the first goal conceded by the Lions this season.
Shortly after, Haight appeared to have restored the Lions’ three-goal lead. Whitney Hancock blew past four DBU players on her way to the left side of the penalty area before crossing it to the back post. After bouncing between players and off of the post, the ball came off of Haight and crossed the goal line. It was disallowed, however, after the referee decided that she had handled the ball in the process, resulting in a DBU free kick.
Later, a spectacular goal from Herrman killed the game off for the Lions. After finding the ball at her feet from well over 25 yards out, she sent a curling strike over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
“I read it really well, got lucky I was in the right place at the right time,” Herrman said. “She [the goalkeeper] was off her line, and I just put it in the back of the net, chipped her, pretty much, from about 35 out.”
Herrman entered this season knowing she would be taking over the central attacking role of departed senior Melissa DoRemus, and so far she has lived up to expectations. She looks very comfortable in the center of the Lions attack and has been very effective so far, scoring five goals in three games.
“I think we came out on all cylinders,” head coach Neil Piper said. “We’ve got some dynamic forwards, and when they’re on, they’re hard to stop. Getting the three to nothing lead, obviously that’s a great start to the game. I think the kids were up for it, they knew it was a big game for us and they were themselves.”
Senior and team leader Meagan Lasley was also pleased with the way the Lions handled the match and she enjoyed the new atmosphere that came with a late kick-off.
“It’s always good to win at home, and with our fans, I think it helped a lot,” Lasley said. “We just came out strong, and we finished when we needed to finish. I think that helped us in the second half as well.”
A&M-Commerce will play another 7:30 p.m. home match under the lights on Friday, Sept. 4, when they welcome Texas A&M-International. They also play another home game on Sunday, Sept. 6, at 1:30 p.m. against Central Missouri.