COMMERCE – Needing a win to keep its season going, the Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team punched its ticket into the Lone Star Conference Tournament with a 9-0 win over Oklahoma Christian on senior day at the Lion Soccer Field on Saturday afternoon.
 
The nine goals scored are second most in program history, the Lions have scored 10 goals three times in program history. This is the first time since September 11, 2015, that the Lions have scored nine or more goals in a match. Eight different players scored for A&M-Commerce on Saturday.
 
The Lions entered the day needing a win and a loss by either St. Edward's or St. Mary's to make the seven-team Lone Star Conference Tournament field. The Hilltoppers fell 2-1 to Texas Woman's, thus giving the Lions a bid into the conference tournament.
 
The pairings for the quarterfinal round of the conference tournament, which will be held on Tuesday, are going to be announced on Saturday evening by the conference office.
 
SENIOR DAY
Prior to the match, the Lions honored their five seniors: Kara Blasingame, Leslie Campuzano, Rylie Robertson, Skylar Sorrell, and Cora Welch with a senior day ceremony.
 
The first goal of the day came from Melissa Storey in the seventh minute. A throw in by Sorrell (Monroe, La.) was headed in towards goal by McKenna Keeley (Frisco – Memorial). A shot by Storey deflected off Karalie Morrison's (North Richland Hills – Colleyville Heritage) leg back to Storey, who kicked it in.  
 
Less than four minutes later, Morrison took a corner kick from the far corner, that was headed in by Welch (Plano).
 
The Lions continued their run of set piece goals with their third goal coming in 29^th minute by Savanna Puccio (Plano Academy). A throw in by Mindy Shoffit (Wichita Falls) was headed by Keeley towards Puccio, who kicked it in.
 
Welch scored another goal off a corner kick in the 36^th minute. This time it was Blasingame (Oswego, Ill.), who served it up for Welch, who headed it in.
 
Another goal came in the 40^th minute, also on a set piece. Lydia Myers (Colbert, Wash.) took a corner kick, that was shot into the goal by Shoffit. Myers got in the scorebook once again less than two minutes later, scoring a goal, which was assisted by Christina Hernandez (Denison). Hernandez took a shot, which was saved, but Myers kicked in the deflection.
 
After six goals in the first half, Sorrell gave the Lions their seventh goal in the 55^th minute. Morrison sent a long pass to Campuzano (Garland – Lakeview Centennial), who made the extra pass, past the Eagles' goalkeeper Ashlee Jackson, to Sorrell, who had a clear look at the goal.
 
Sorrell led the team with four shots. Myers had three shots, while Welch, Blasingame, Shoffit, and Bush had two each. Gracie Cornelius had two shots for the Eagles.
 
Kirsten Bush (Belton) scored the eighth goal for the Lions in the 61^st minute. A cross kick from Puccio was deflected off the post and kicked in by Bush. Naomi Sink (Plano) became the eighth different Lion to score. Her goal came off a corner from Myers and barely crossed the goal line.
 
The eight different Lions to score are the most for the Lions since 2005. The Lions outshot the Eagles, 22-7 in the match. Both shots on goal for Oklahoma Christian came in the second half and were saved by Lauren Banning (Pflugerville). Jen Peters (Allen) played the first half and did not see a shot on goal.
 
The Lions did not allowed a goal in their final three matches of the regular season.


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