Thursday, October 01, 2015

PORTALES, N.M. — James Gutierrez recorded six saves for the Eastern New Mexico University men's soccer team in their 1-0 loss to West Texas A&M University Thursday.   The keeper played astounding defense for the entire match with the only goal scored being an impossible shot to stop.

The Greyhounds fell to 3-3-2 on the season and 6-14-3 all-time against the Buffs (5-4).  The two teams will meet again come Oct. 21 in Canyon, Texas.

The only goal of the game came from the Buffs No. 9 Christian Suthers who recovered a ricochet at the left corner of the 18 yard box.  Left open for only a split second, the WT forward aimed a perfect ball into the right corner of the goal that could not have been more perfectly placed, giving Gutierrez no chance to make a play.

While the Greyhounds had their chances, they came few and far between against a stout WT defense.  Greyhound coach Paul Tate said, "I feel like it was a slow start and after they capitalized on a chance in the second half we didn't bounce back from it.  We got off our game after that and started playing long ball, not moving the ball and playing with our feet."

The Buffs outshot the Hounds 11-6 in the match and had twice as many shots on goal, 6-3.  Gutierrez's six saves gives him 45 on the season.

ENMU will head to Wichita, Kan., on Sunday to take on a 3-4-1 Newman University team.  After the matchup with Newman, the Greyhounds will have to prepare for the No. 2 team in the nation, the Midwestern State University Mustangs who are sitting at 7-0.

"We just have to connect with the feet and attack the goal.  We aren't attacking as a unit," said Tate when asked what improvements the team can make going forward.  He continued, "We have to attack with 10 men and defend with 10 men, always."