Box Score Las Vegas, NM - The New Mexico Highlands University Women's Soccer team took on a tough West Texas A&M squad on the road Thursday night and came back with a hard-fought 1-1 tie.
The Lady Buffs entered the match fresh off shut-out victories over Adams State and Fort Lewis and were looking to go 3-0 against RMAC opponents, but solid goal keeping and heads up play by the Cowgirls prevented the sweep.
WT attacked early and had a one-on-one opportunity just six minutes into the game but HU goal keeper Briana Ruelas made the save. A poor clear by the Lady Buffs at the 17-minute mark allowed an alert
Abigail Chavez to make an interception and pass to an open
Zinnia Hannig for a Cowgirl score and a 1-0 lead. It was the first goal WT had allowed this season.
WT responded quickly. The Lady Buffs found an opening and Marlene van Mourik had her second one-on-one opportunity of the half, beating the second keeper of the game for the Cowgirls,
Karina Vega, for a score just past the 24-minute mark in the first half.
Both the Cowgirls and the home team would have scoring chances -- the Lady Buffs were credited with 12 shots on goal while the Cowgirls tallied six-- but neither team would find the back of the net again and the game went into overtime.
Both teams had good scoring chances in the overtime, but quality goal play kept the game a 1-1 draw. Cowgirl keeper Vega turned away nine shots during her nearly 100 minutes in the goal.
The Cowgirls will return to action against Angelo State University on Sunday, Sept 10th. The match will be played at the soccer complex in Bernalillo, NM. Game time is 11AM.
Go Cowgirls!
