WICHITA FALLS– The Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team defeated MSU Texas 3-2 on Monday afternoon. The Lions scored three goals in the first half and held on down the stretch to get the win.
 
The win brings the Lions to 6-4-0 on the season and 3-3-0 in the Lone Star Conference. The Mustangs fall to 2-7-2 and 1-4-1 in conference action.
 
The Lions return to the field on Friday for a road match against Angelo State. The match will be played at 7 p.m. at the ASU Soccer Field in San Angelo.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Michelle Kotlik headed in the opening goal in the seventh minute off of a corner kick assist from Karissa Rulander. Kotlik also had an assist in the match. She leads the Lions with five goals so far this season.
- Kara Blasingame scored her first goal of the season in the ninth minute. She scored from eight yards out on a cross pass assist from Lindsey McDonald.
- Sabrina Munguia scored her fourth goal of the season in the 23rd minute. The goal was assisted by Kotlik. Munguia had three shots on goal in the match.
- Caitlin Duty had three saves in the match. Both teams had five shots on goal.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions got on the board quickly. Drawing a corner kick in the seventh minute, Rulander directed the ball toward the net. It was headed in by Kotlik to give the Lions the lead.
 
The scoring did not stop there. In the ninth minute, McDonald had the ball on the right wing and found Blasingame, who found the back of the net. The Lions held a 2-0 lead at the 8:11 mark of the first half.
 
After a Munguia shot was saved in the 18th minute, she got another chance in the 23rd minute and this time she found the mark. Kotlik took the ball and dropped the ball in on a dime for Munguia to take a shot. The eight-yard kick found its mark, giving the Lions a 3-0 lead.
 
MSU began to control the ball a little more, taking multiple shots, but each missing the goal. A late shot from Julia Orozco got the Mustangs on the board with 58 seconds left in the half. The Lions took a 3-1 lead into halftime.
 
Duty had two early saves to open up the second half before the Mustangs cut into the Lion lead again in the 62nd minute. The Lions held a 3-2 lead.
 
The Lions again went on the offensive as Munguia had another shot on goal. This one was saved to keep it a one-score game. The Lions also had multiple shots barely miss the goal, including a shot off the post from Kotlik. The Lions also drew four consecutive corner kicks in the 80th minute. Duty made a save in the 87th minute and the Lions ran out the clock to get the win.