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Soccer capitalizes on opportunities

Pioneers were victorious in the game against Texas A&M-Commerce, picking up goals in three different ways to beat the Lions.

Pioneers racked up a free kick goal, corner goal and a penalty kick goal to make the score 3-0. TAMUC is the highest ranked opponent in program history, and the Pioneers rallied to the cause to defeat them and gain the first conference win for TWU. Pioneers put a stop to the Lion’s four game streak and gave them their first league loss of the year.

Those who scored in this game were first-year midfielder Maddie Nolton, which was her first goal as a Pioneer, sophomore midfielder Lucero Chavez, and senior midfielder Chelsea Martin. Sophomore goalkeeper Samantha Jimenez made eight saves during the game. Martin scored the penalty goal with two minutes remaining in the game.

Unfortunately, Pioneers could not keep the same momentum going into the game against Midwestern State. Mustangs scored twelve minutes into the game, with Jimenez blocking multiple MSU attempts, keeping the Pioneers within a one goal difference. Pioneers attempted various shots on goal, without any making the cut. Senior forward Nancy Chavez had two attempts in the final moments of the period but they did not make it in.

Junior defender Blaine Cathey was able to work one in at the 68th minute during some chaos in front of the box. Martin made an attempt with 11 minutes on the clock, but missed wide left.

MSU broke the tie at the 79th minute with a shot into the top corner of the goal. Pioneers attempted to tie it up again with a shot by Chavez but it was saved by the Mustang’s goalie. Shortly after this, MSU took a free kick from the right side, making it into the goal and solidifying their lead in the last minutes of the game.

Head Coach Babak Abouzar said: “These last two conference games against TAMUC and MSU were up and down for us. On Wednesday against TAMUC, we capitalized on our opportunities and limited theirs. The score really showed that. On Friday against MSU, it took us a while to get going and MSU took advantage of that. We were able to even the score late in the game but had a few mental lapses that MSU made us pay for. There were things we will learn from and help us get better on the back stretch of our season.”

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