BETHANY, OKLAHOMA – It was a day of season-firsts at Southern Nazarene University as the Lions (11-5 Overall) opened the game with an offensive blitzkrieg, defeating the Crimson Storm (8-8) 4-0, and extending their winning streak to a season-long three games.
 
After peppering opposing keepers 20 times over the course of the season, senior Cadie Annett's 21st shot of the year finally found the back of the net early on in the fourth minute. After junior forward Jade Bell set her up with a pass, Annett beat a defender, dribbled to the right side of the box, and hammered it home past SNU keeper Natasha Fuentes.
 
"I was pretty shocked, because I mostly do the assisting," said Annett, "We started off strong, and I was just happy to get us on the board early."
 
Later in the contest, the Lions were fouled and granted a free-kick opportunity from the top left corner of the zone, ten yards from the box. Defender Anitra Wright drilled it high, and the ball curved down to the right side (18'), giving Wright the first of her season and ninth of her career.
 
Before the end of the half, Cadie Annett returned the favor of her first goal, setting up a chip-in for Jade Bell, her seventh of the season (29'). By the time the first half was over, the Lions led 3-0 despite being outshot by the Crimson Storm 7-8.
 
Sophomore keeper Callie Ballard's first action of the season was a rousing success, picking up the ninth shutout of her career on 18 SNU shots, making four saves. Ballard gave Lions fans a scare when she went down in a heap after a big collision in the second half, but after being inspected by trainers, she was back up and good to go without needing to exit.
 
Late in the game when the result was long-decided, forward Savannah Henderson was tripped inside the SNU box, leading to her second penalty kick of the season. Henderson went blazed one to the right, easily passing the reach of Fuentes for Henderson's 12th of the year (83'). With the score, Henderson takes sole-possession of the conference-lead in points (28), and extends her conference lead in goals, with second place being a tie at 10 between Texas Woman's Natalia Diaz and Angelo State's Sierra Anderson.
 
"That was a huge win for us," said head coach Neil Piper, "It helps us immensely for NCAA seeding."
 
The Lions will take the next three days to prepare for their final weekend of the regular season, and the conclusion to Lone Star Conference play. Currently, the Lions are tied for second in the conference with Eastern New Mexico, though they've already beaten the Zias 3-1 in Commerce. First place belongs to Angelo State, but the Rambelles only have one game remaining to the Lions' two. A&M-Commerce is currently in a situation where they can win the conference by winning their final two games.
 
Their first game will involve a long trip to Canyon, Texas for a match against West Texas A&M, where they will look to avenge a 1-0 loss from earlier in the season. That game is scheduled for Halloween, October 31st at 7:00 p.m.