COMMERCE – A goal with less than four minutes left in Friday night's match gave Texas A&M-Corpus Christi a 2-1 win in front of 532 fans and handed the Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team its first loss at the Lion Soccer Field this season.
 
The Islanders scored early, but the Lions came back to tie it in the second half. In the end, it was the Islanders that tallied a goal in the 87^th minute for their third straight win, and improving to 7-5-3 overall on the season and 4-2-1 in Southland Conference play.
 
The loss was the first conference loss for the Lions, first home loss, and snapped a six-match winning streak. A&M-Commerce remains in second place in the SLC with a 5-1 conference record and has an overall record of 7-6-1.
 
The two teams met twice during the regular season and both teams won on the road by a goal each. Coincidentally, the match-winning goal came in the 87^th minute in both matches.  
 
In the 33^rd minute, the Islanders opened the scoring with a goal by Molly Arens. Ashley Wilson took a long shot that bounced off the post and Arens was there to kick it in for her second goal of the season.
 
The Lions outshot the Islanders, 17-8 in the match and had nine shots on goals, but it took them until the 72^nd minute to find the equalizer.
 
Hannah Bell (Duncanville) crossed in a pass into the box for Kaydence Ramirez (Waxahachie), who headed it in for her sixth goal of the season. She has now scored in each of the last four matches. The Lions did not find the back of the net the rest of the night.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi re-took the lead in the 87^th minute on a set-piece. A corner kick was deflected by the Lion defense, but Olivia Hughes was there to score from point-blank range, her third of the season. Maggie Murray was credited with an assist.
 
Zoe Theriot made her mark for the Islanders in goal with eight saves, while Wilson had team-high four shots for the Islanders.
 
Ramirez had seven shots for the Lions, who received two saves in goal by Gillian McKenzie (Mesquite Horn). The Lions had 9-7 edge in corner kicks as well.

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Things do not get easy for the Lions, who head to Lamar on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Cardinals are now the lone undefeated team in conference play and have won 11 in a row.