Lions soccer loses home opener to Hilltoppers

 For the first time since 2006, Texas A&M University-Commerce women's soccer lost its home opener to St. Edward's 1-0 on Sept. 11, and is now 1-2 on the season.

The Hilltoppers took the lead in the 32nd minute when sophomore Rachel Murray's cross from the right wing strayed toward the goal and landed just inside the far post. It did not appear as though Murray intended to shoot, but regardless the Hilltopper's went up 1-0.

"You can tell right when you hit it if it's going to go into the back of the net," Murray said. "Even though it was unintentional, I knew when I hit it that it was going in."

With the nature of the goal, A&M-Commerce head coach Neil Piper said he felt his team was a little hard done by in the loss.

"I don't think, necessarily, St. Edward's should have lost, but I don't think we should have lost," Piper said. "The goal was a mis-hit cross, found the one place it could go and it did. The same thing happens to us and it hits the crossbar.

The Lions nearly got a goal back within minutes of the visitors scoring, as sophomore Brionna Minde had a cross from the left fall just too far of the back post. It was picked back up by Senior Devon Herrman, and her shot into the box was bounced around before falling to Minde whose shot went high over the cross bar. Then, freshman Cadie Annet got through on goal, but she was quickly closed down by SEU goalkeeper Claire Tilton and sent out for a Lions throw.

The visitors could have had a two goal lead at the break, but senior Kelly Servage's header off a free kick was sent bouncing off the ground and into the hands of A&M-Commerce's senior goalkeeper Randi Hafele. At the half, St. Edward's just edged the Lions in shots 6-5.

In the second half, Minde was the most active attacker for the Lions. Multiple times, crosses from the right would land in front of the sophomore winger, but a stingy Hilltopper defense coupled with good anticipation by Tilton kept Minde at bay. Minde received a yellow card on one goal attempt when she collided with the goalkeeper while chasing down an early cross.

The Lions received a potential gift in the 76th minute when St. Edwards' Jordan Ynostrosa was given a red card for kicking Herrman after she was fouled. After consulting his assistant, referee B.J. Jones had no choice but to send Ynostrosa off for violent conduct.

The main advantage did result in more scoring chances for the Lions, but the Hilltoppers held on to remain undefeated this season.

Multiple A&M-Commerce players are unavailable due to injury at the moment, leaving Piper with a short bench to work with. One of these players, senior Jordan McCarty, should be back by October, according to Piper, but he said having players that can last an entire match is more important than having more players to bring on later in the game.

"You would always like to have depth, but the eleven or twelve I've got playing are fit, they can play ninety minutes," Piper said. "Our kids are fit, they've worked hard, and even if I had twenty players I probably would not have subbed the team I had. I've got no worries about lack of depth right now, but obviously it comes into play when you start getting injuries and starters are off the field. As far as a game goes, I have no problem playing eleven if they're out there working hard and producing."