Soccer team drops both weekend games

The A&M-Commerce women's soccer team dropped both of its conference games last weekend in a 1-0 overtime defeat to Angelo State University on Friday night, and a 3-1 loss to the University of the Incarnate Word on Sunday.

In the Friday night loss, A&M-Commerce started on the front foot, immediately applying pressure to ASU senior goalkeeper Melanie Peterson's goal. Lions junior Devon Herrman had a close range header saved off the line by Peterson in her first of many crucial saves on the night.

After halftime, A&M-Commerce began to push ASU back and apply more pressure. Senior Chelsey Haight had a point-blank shot saved by Peterson. By the end of regulation, the Rambelles goalkeeper had eight saves. ASU did not record a shot in the entire second half, but the Lions could not find a way to score.

The opening 10-minute overtime period failed to produce a result, but four minutes into the second frame, ASU found their goal. Junior Brandi DeBacker was left unmarked at the back post on a Rambelles corner kick, and sent a header bouncing into the net from six yards out.

Commerce outshot the Rambelles 15-6 in the match. Coach Piper said he thinks the stats don't tell the complete story.

"I don't feel like it got away," he said. "I don't think either team created too many chances. Maybe, on the run of play, we had one or two better chances. Their keeper made some good saves, but it was a pretty even game. We just made too many mistakes."

Freshman Amber Guenther opened the scoring for Incarnate Word in their win over A&M-Commerce. After a scoreless first half, Guenther scored off a centering pass from senior Lauren Evans in the 51st minute.

Two minutes later, senior Keri Dawson turned a free kick in and over the head of Lions senior goalkeeper Stacey McDaniel. Freshman Sydney Solomon got the Cardinals' third goal, sending a shot low to McDaniel's left and into the net.

Haight did manage to get one goal back for the Lions in the 66th minute, but it proved to be too little too late.

"We knew what they were going to do coming out, and it just seems like we weren't here as a team today," A&M-Commerce senior and team captain Megan Monroe said. "We have to learn from this game. That's all you can do as a team is just learn from it, fix the mistakes, and hopefully come out better next time."