The West Texas A&M Lady Buff soccer team became the first No. 6 seed to win an opening round match in the Lone Star Conference women’s soccer championship since the 2007 Lady Buff team did it in Edmond, Okla., as WTAMU topped the No. 3-seeded Eastern New Mexico Zias 1-0 at the Wildcat Soccer Pitch in Abilene, Texas, on Thursday.
Neither team scored in the first half despite 15 shots from the two teams combined. The Lady Buffs recorded 10 total shots in the period, with four of them coming on-goal, but ENMU’s Sierra Cardenas saved all four shots that came within the net. ENMU recorded five shots total and four shots on-goal, but Yvette Bedoy was just as impressive in net for the Lady Buffs, saving all four shots her way as well.
WTAMU had a chance to score close to the end of the first period with Leslie Briggs attempting a corner kick. Briggs got the ball close to net for a header from Morgan Kviz, but the ball shot past Kviz’s head, giving possession back to the Zias.
The Lady Buffs finally broke the scoreless barrier at the 77:27 mark in the second half to go up 1-0. Briggs aimed her corner kick right at the post of ENMU’s goal and the ball shot off Cardenas’ hands into the back of the net to give Briggs her 11th goal of the season and her fourth game winner of the year as well.
The kick paid off for Briggs and the Lady Buffs as the team advances to Friday’s semifinal against the No. 2 seed, Midwestern State.
WT finished the game with 20 shots total to ENMU’s 14. Bedoy picked up the win in-net and had eight saves on the day. Cardenas picked up the loss, but did have nine saves on the afternoon.
Kickoff between the Lady Buffs and the Mustangs is set for 12 p.m. Friday at the Wildcat Soccer Pitch. The match can be seen live via web stream here.