COMMERCE– The Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team heads on the road this weekend to begin their Lone Star Conference season. The Lions face Eastern New Mexico on Friday and No. 25 West Texas A&M on Sunday.
 
WHO: Texas A&M-Commerce (3-1-0) at Eastern New Mexico (2-2-1)
WHERE: Greyhound Stadium in Portales, New Mexico
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. MDT (8 p.m. CDT)
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
LIVE VIDEO: goeasternathletics.com/watch/?Archive=302&type=Live
 
WHO: Texas A&M-Commerce at No. 25 West Texas A&M (5-1-0)
WHERE: The Pitch in Canyon, Texas
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 23 at 1 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
LIVE VIDEO: portal.stretchinternet.com/wtamu/
TICKETS: Click HERE
 
The Lions have not played a game in more than a week after defeating Ouachita Baptist on Sept. 12. Head coach Neil Piper lamented not being able to finish the team's Saturday match against Harding. The teams played seven minutes before lightning ultimately canceled the match.
 
"It was unfortunate the game was canceled," Piper said. "It was probably the best seven minutes we have played all season. It is tough to get going and simulate games in practice. We had three games in the first six days of the season and now only one since. I am looking forward to conference but am also a bit nervous. I'm not sure what to expect."
 
Since the Lions have been unable to play a match, the team has looked more to practice and film study to prepare to open up their conference season. Piper said his team is doing its best to handle the situation and to stay in playing shape.
 
"We have been watching video," he said. "We are doing a lot of running. We are trying not to kill our players but we are doing a lot more running than we usually do at this time of the year. It is all about tactics for us. But right now, a lot of it is physical, trying to stay in shape. We are preparing as well as we can, but it is difficult."
 
The team now heads to Portales to face Eastern New Mexico in one of the longest road trips of the season. Entering his 21st season in the LSC, Piper knows it is key to win matches on the road and is hoping to steal one or two wins away from their home field this week.
 
"I don't remember a year where I have looked forward to this trip," Piper said. "It is always tough. It is two turf fields. You deal with altitude and just the travel distance. We play Eastern first and they are having a good season. They have a new coach so I'm not sure exactly what to expect from them. But that is the key for us. We need to get that game. If we get that game, then Sunday we are playing with house money. If we get a result there as well, that's great. But Friday is the key for us."