COMMERCE, TEXAS – The Lions (8-4-0) are now 3-2 against conference opponents and stand atop the Lone Star Conference following Thursday's 1-0 shutout victory over the Texas Woman's University Pioneers (7-4-1).
 
After a long period of each team feeling one another out, the Lions found themselves with a corner kick to the left of the TWU net. Forward Savannah Henderson booted the ball into a mass of humanity in the box consisting of players from both sides. A mad scramble ensued, and the ball took a weird bounce or two before finding its way off of defender Ashley Phillips' knee and past Pioneers' keeper Ariana Morrison into the back of the net
 
"(TWU midfielder Megan Coppedge) and I were right on top of each other, and to be honest, I didn't even know the ball was in. I just started running, and the next thing you know, it hit my knee and her knee and went in." said Phillips, who scored her first of the year, "It feels amazing, because I never score."
 
The game was defined by offensive streaks going back and forth. The Lions would control the action for several minutes, followed by the Pioneers taking over for extended periods. By the end of the match, the teams actually tied in shots (14), and the Pioneers actually generated more chances on frame with eight to A&M-Commerce's six. TWU's Erin Bolinger led the Pioneers in shots with four, while leading conference scorer Savannah Henderson (10G, 3A) led the game with six shots, while also notching the assist on Phillips' goal. With the assist, Henderson moves to 23 points, which puts her in a tie for the conference lead in points with TWU's Natalia Diaz.
 "I think it was a really close game. I really think it could have gone either way," said Neil Piper, who picks up his 190th win as head coach of the Lions, "Both teams created a lot of chances. Both keepers played well, and I think ultimately we just executed, and maybe they just made one more mistake than we did. It was a fun game to coach."
 
A&M-Commerce keeper Courtnie Northern put together another performance with a high volume of saves (eight) en route to her fourth shutout of the season. Northern has now made 79 saves over 12 games, which averages out to 6.58 saves per game and a .898 save percentage.
 
With half the conference schedule complete, the Lions will shake things up with a trip up north to Bethany, Oklahoma to take on the Southern Nazarine University Crimson Storm (4-7-0).
 
"They're a good team. Their record is deceiving. They've got some really good players, and it's a big regional game for us," said Piper.
 
That game is scheduled for Monday, October 13 at 4:00 p.m. at the Wanda Rhodes Soccer Complex. After that, the Lions will return home to resume conference play with their second meeting against Midwestern State University.