ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University's women's soccer team had its most productive offensive match of the season, while its defense pitched its third shutout of the year, in a 4-0 win over the University of Texas-Permian Basin at Edwards Field.
The War Hawks (4-10-1) also snapped a four-game losing streak with the win over the Falcons (1-15).
“I was really proud of the way the team battled,” said McM head coach
Alan Riches. “We have been playing very well lately, especially considering we were coming off of games versus two of the top NCAA II teams in the country last week. Our won-lost record is deceiving, simply because of the difficulty of our schedule.
“This team is trending in the right direction.”
The two teams found themselves scoreless after the first half of play. However, in the 50th minute of play – less than five minutes into the second stanza – the War Hawks began their assault.
Kristen Grant tallied what would prove to be the deciding goal on a pass from
Destin Connally. It was Grant's second goal of the year, 1-0.
A little over three minutes later, McM's leading scorer,
Savannah Whitaker, netted her seventh goal of the year on an unassisted blast at the 52:14 mark to make it 2-0.
The War hawks' last two goals both came off of the foot of
Holiday Williams in the 69th and 77th minutes, respectively.
Aleria Luna assisted on the first of Williams' goals off of a corner kick, while
Lyndsie Jacobs got credit for the “help” on her second, masking it the 4-0 final score.
The goals were Williams' second and third of the year.
McMurry's tandem of goalkeepers –
Shelby Sova and
Chanel Felder – might have felt like the Maytag repairman…the loneliest person around…as UTPB managed just three total shots and two on goal. Felder, who played the second half, got credit for both saves in the combined shutout.
For its part, McMurry had 19 total shots, 13 of which were on-goal.
Rachel Moore took four shots, all directly on goal.
UTPB net-minder Victoria Ramirez had nine saves and allowed three of her team's goals during her 74 minutes of work.
