Friday, October 10, 2014
PORTALES, N.M. — Sophomore forward
Jenna Sievers (Portales, N.M./Clovis HS) tallied her first goal of the season, midway through the first half of the Eastern New Mexico University women's soccer team's contest against Midwestern State (6-1-5; LSC 1-1-2). The goal evened the game at one goal apiece, but the Mustangs scored twice in the second half to hand the Zias (5-5; LSC 2-2) a 3-1 setback in Lone Star Conference action, Friday at ENMU Soccer Field.
Midwestern State entered the contest ranked sixth in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America South Central Region poll, while Eastern made its first appearance in the poll since the 2011 season, ranked tenth. Siever's goal was Eastern's 15th of the season, which equaled last season's total.
The Mustangs struck first, when Katy Catney picked up the rebound off her own penalty kick at the 14:19 mark, and found the back of the net. MSU maintained the lead for almost 15 minutes, before a flurry of action in front of the Mustang net, saw the ball cross the end line for an ENMU corner kick. Eastern made the most of the opportunity, with Sievers sneaking the ball under goal keeper Courtney Burnette after the Mustangs were unable to clear the ball from the box.
Eastern controlled the first 45 minutes of play and held a 13-4 edge in total shots and a 3-0 advantage in corner kicks. Midwestern State held a 7-3 lead in shots on goal in the opening half.
The contest remained deadlocked for most of the second half, until Destinee Williamson hit Alyssa Parkhill with a perfect centering pass for the game-winning goal into the right side of the Zia net, with 15:01 left in the game. Williamson netted an insurance goal for the Mustangs with 5:31 left, for a 3-1 lead.
Eastern held an 18-13 lead in total shots in the game and a 9-8 edge in shots on goal.
Fabienne Wilson (Sr., GK, Alamogordo, N.M./Alamogordo HS/Garden City CC) made five saves for the Zias, while Burnette made six for the Mustangs.
The Eastern New Mexico University women's soccer team will return to action on Sunday, when they take on Angelo State, in another Lone Star Conference matchup. The Rambelles are ranked second in the region and eighth in the nation. The contest is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
