Lions finish season with 2-1 home win, fourth in conference

A&M-Commerce's Jordan McCarty made her senior night a special one by scoring the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Texas Woman's University.

The goal came with just over five minutes left in the game and about three minutes after sophomore Brionna Minde had tied the game off a blocked McCarty shot.

"Honestly it probably wasn't the best shot I've ever taken, but knowing it went in and putting us ahead with a few minutes left in the game, it really boosted my confidence," McCarty said about her goal. "Finishing the last home game with the win is just something you can't replace. It was a great ending to a perfect season."

McCarty almost got a goal early on when her chance on goal came close to going in. After using her first touch to get around a defender, McCarty set up a shot with her second then floated a left-footer just over the cross-bar from a tight angle.

Freshman Cadie Annett also came close to producing a goal. Her run forward down the right resulted in a cross that found McCarty rushing forward. The senior deflected the ball toward goal, but it clanged off the post and was cleared out for a corner.

Then a lapse by senior goalkeeper Randi Hafele lead to the game's opening goal. TWU got a free-kick about 28-yards out, and Rebekah Ledet hoofed the ball toward goal and over an unsuspecting Hafele. The Lions did not set up the usual defensive wall 10 yards away from the ball, which could have had a significant impact on the resulting goal.

After testing the TWU defense time and time again, the Lions finally got the breakthrough when McCarty's shot on goal was saved by goalkeeper Beatrice Soto but fell right into the path of Minde who finished to the lower-left corner.

A&M-Commerce then got a corner minutes later. The ball was partially cleared by the Pioneers, but only as far as freshman Samantha Huston. Her scuffed shot ended up at McCarty's feet, and the senior rainbowed the bouncing ball over Soto and just inside the far post for a dramatic late winner.

"I thought she played great in the first half and for about 20 minutes in the second half she didn't touch the ball," Head Coach Neil Piper said about McCarty's performance. "But, the game found her and she did well out there. I thought it was one of her best games, and we dominated from start to finish. I'm glad they won."

The Lions play Angelo State in the first round of the Lone Star Conference tournament today at 1:30 p.m. Piper said he believes his team can get past their struggles to capitalize on scoring chances and the Lions can do the job against the Rambelles.

"I think we're going to create chances," Piper said. "We've played well against everyone we've faced, and some days we score in bunches and some days they just go wide. I was hoping we would save some for the conference tournament. Looks like we've got Angelo State first, and I don't want to change much. We've had good luck against them."