DALLAS – Mindy Shoffit and Kara Blasingame scored in the Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team's 6-2 loss at No. 17 ranked Dallas Baptist on Wednesday night at Patriot Soccer Field.
 
The Lions and the Patriots began Lone Star Conference play on Wednesday, Patriots are 1-0, and Lions are 0-1. Dallas Baptist improves to 5-1 on the year and drops A&M-Commerce to a record of 2-3-1.
 
The Patriots were awarded a penalty kick in the third minute of the match. A foul by the Lions, who were looking to force the Patriots out of the box, ended up in a penalty kick. Michelle Gonzalez converted the kick on the top-right corner of the goal to give the Patriots an early advantage.
 
In the 12^th minute, Gabrielle Heller attempted a cross pass towards the goal. Delaney Schmidt got in the way of the Lions' Jen Peters' attempt to catch the ball. The header from Schmidt bounced into the back of the net and gave DBU a 2-0 lead.
 
A&M-Commerce quickly got the ball in its attacking third following the reset and Karalie Morrison (North Richland Hills – Colleyville Heritage) had a shot that was saved by DBU's Adrianna Schroeder. Morrison had three of the nine shots for the Lions.
 
The Patriots continued their charge in the 18^th minute when Summerlyn Heller served up a perfect cross pass for Ashley Merrill, who headed it in for the 3-0 lead.
 
In the first half, DBU outshot A&M-Commerce, 11-4, had more shots on goals, 8-2, and corner kicks, 3-2. In the match, DBU had the 21-9 advantage in shots, 13-4 advantage in shots on goal, and 5-4 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Peters (Allen) made four saves in the first half. Lions had a team save as well. Lauren Banning (Pflugerville) checked in as the goalkeeper at halftime. She made two saves.
 
The Lions got on the board in the 50^th minute on a set piece goal. A corner kick by Lydia Myers (Colbert, Wash.) was headed up by McKenna Keeley (Frisco – Memorial) on the front post. Shoffit (Wichita Falls – Rider) was waiting at the back post and headed it in for the goal.
 
The Patriots' fourth goal of the match was scored by Merrill. DBU was on a breakaway and Merrill received the ball with a clear angle at goal and took a shot from about 20 yards out that went above Banning's reach.
 
Abigail Olmos added another goal for DBU in the 69^th minute. The Lions attempted to clear the ball, but the ball landed right at Olmos' foot, and she kicked it past Banning. Melissa Jones headed in a rebound off the post in the 81^st minute to make it 6-1.
 
A cross pass by Cora Welch (Plano) was deflected by DBU goalkeeper Breanna Bowen as well as two Lions before landing near Blasingame (Osewego, Ill.), who kicked it in from just inside the penalty box for A&M-Commerce's second goal.

UP NEXT
A&M-Commerce opens up the home portion of the Lone Star Conference schedule on Saturday at 2 p.m. against UT Permian Basin