COMMERCE – After a 469-day layoff, the Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team decided they wanted to play into overtime. The extra time paid off with a game-winning goal in the 98th minute for a 4-3 victory over UT Tyler.
 
The Lions are now 1-0 overall and in the Lone Star Conference, while the Patriots fall to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in league action.
 
A&M-Commerce hosts DBU at 1 p.m. Saturday for the second of three straight home games in a seven-day span.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Neither team was afraid to shoot after the long break, as the Lions launched 30 shots with 12 on goal, and the Patriots took 17 shots with 11 on goal.
- Leslie Campuzano (Garland – Lakeview Centennial) was in on all four Lion goals with two goals and two assists.
- Mindy Shoffit (Wichita Falls – Rider) headed home the golden goal off a Campuzano corner in the 98th minute. Amber Crews (Lewisville) also scored off of a corner kick.
- Lauren Banning (Pflugerville) earned the win in goal with six saves after coming into the game at halftime.

HEAD COACH NEIL PIPER AFTER THE MATCH
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions fell behind early, as UT Tyler scored in the fourth minute after a mix-up in the Lion penalty area on a long ball. Shaylee Anaya put the ball in the back of the net for the early lead for the visitors.

A&M-Commerce even things up in the 17th minute, when Campuzano found a loose ball at the top of the area and rocketed a left-footed shot off the inside of the post.
 
The Lions took the lead in the 35th minute after Skylar Sorrell won a corner kick. Campuzano lofted the ball into the mixer and Crews converted for the 2-1 lead.
 
The frenetic first half would take another turn in the 44th minute when UTT was able to play the ball from the back and float a cross to the back post where Sydnee Garner headed it home to tie the match at 2-all headed to the break.
 
Campuzano wasted no time in putting the Lions back in front, scoring her second of the match in the 47th minute. Her long shot off the crossbar was unable to be cleared, and she followed up her own rebound with a hard, low shot for a 3-2 lead.
 
The Patriots were able to tie the match in the 87th minute when a long free kick played into the box was hit home by Sarah Flannelly despite shouts for offside.
 
In overtime, the Lions controlled the run of play, earning three corner kicks. The final one turned into the golden goal when Shoffit put her right foot on the end of Campuzano's in-swinger to bring the match to a close with the Lions as victors.