COMMERCE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team defeated West Texas A&M 3-1 on Friday night. The Lions fell behind 1-0 but scored the final three goals to defeat WT.
 
The win brings the Lions to 9-3-3 and 5-3-1 in the Lone Star Conference, moving them into third place in the conference standings. The Lady Buffs fall to 6-5-4 and 4-2-3 in conference play. The teams split the season series, with the home team winning each match.
 
The Lions will host their final home match of the regular season on Sunday as they will face Eastern New Mexico. The match will be at noon at the Lion Soccer Field. Entrance to the match will be free of charge as part of the Lion Champions Fund Senior Sellout.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Sabrina Munguia scored the final two goals of the match, including the game winner. She scored in the 31st and 63rd minutes to bring her season goal total to seven.
- Sophie Haywood scored the first goal for the Lions, bringing her season total to seven goals.
- Caitlin Duty made five saves in the match.
- Haywood, Michelle Kotlik, Leslie Campuzano, Delaney Bunselmeyer, Katie Givens and Kara Blasingame all had one assist in the match.
- Munguia and Haywood both had two shots on goal. Kotlik and Izzy Ward also each had shots on goal.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions had an early opportunity on a WT yellow card in the box. Kotlik took a penalty kick but shot the ball wide right.
 
WT capitalized on their first opportunity. After a corner kick was fumbled about, a WT player had the ball fall into her lap and she shot the ball into the net, giving the Lady Buffs a 1-0 lead.
 
Haywood had a shot saved in the 17th minute while two shots from WT were saved by Duty in the next 10 minutes.
 
The Lions tied the match in the 29th minute. Blasingame passed the ball in from deep. Kotlik headed the ball and directed it toward Haywood, who found the net for her seventh goal of the season. The match was tied at 1-1.
 
The Lions then took the lead in the 31st minute. After receiving a pass from Campuzano, Haywood directed a long pass in front of Munguia. Racing past her defender, she had only the keeper to beat and shot past the diving keeper to give the Lions a 2-1 lead.
 
Ward had a shot saved in the final minute as the Lions took their 2-1 lead into the half.
 
WT had a shot on goal in the 51st minute that was saved by Duty as the Lady Buffs looked for the equalizing goal. However, the Lions extended their lead in the 63rd minute. Munguia scored on a header that was assisted by Bunselmeyer and Givens.
 
Duty made a save in the 66th minute and another in the 69th minute. Those were the final shots on goal in the match as the Lion defense clamped down to win the match 3-1.