COMMERCE – Kristen Sueltz burst onto the scene with her first collegiate brace to give the Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer team a 3-2 comeback win over the UTEP Miners on Sunday afternoon at the Lion Soccer Field.
Sunday was the final non-conference match for the Lions, who enter Southland Conference play next week with an overall record of 2-5-1, while the Miners are 1-6-1.
A&M-Commerce's two non-conference wins came over a team from the American Athletic Conference (Tulsa) and Conference USA (UTEP).
Both teams had just one shot each in the match through the first 20 minutes, with none going on goal. UTEP capitalized on its first scoring opportunity with Taya Lopez scoring from about 12 yards out in the 22
nd minute, which was the first shot on goal for either squad.
The Lions had nine shots in the first half, but none of them went on goal. UTEP had six shots, with two going on goal. Lopez scored on one and the other one was saved by
Gillian McKenzie (Mesquite Horn).
GILLIAN MCKENZIE SAVE HIGHLIGHT
A&M-Commerce's only shot on goal in the first 70 minutes of the match came in the 55
th minute and it tied the match at one. Sueltz (The Colony) scored her first collegiate score off an assist from
Kaydence Ramirez (Waxahachie).
KRISTEN SUELTZ FIRST GOAL HIGHLIGHT
It did not take long for the Miners to re-take the lead. In the 59
th minute, Nicole Morales had a shot that was initially saved by McKenzie, but Sheyliene Patolo was there for the rebound with no one in sight for the clear goal.
The Lions tied the match once again in the 68
th minute and this time was a set-piece goal, headed in by
Mindy Shoffit (Wichita Falls – Rider).
Nia Chacon (Rowlett – Sachse) took a corner kick that headed up in the air by Ramirez and headed into the net by Shoffit, her first of the season.
MINDY SHOFFIT GOAL HIGHLIGHT
Heading into the final eight minutes of the match, Sueltz gave A&M-Commerce the lead with a goal in the 83
rd minute. A free kick from
Camila Montero (Langham Creek) was deflected and kicked in by Sueltz, her second of the match.
KRISTEN SUELTZ MATCH-WINNING GOAL HIGHLIGHT
A&M-Commerce had 19 shots in the match, but only three landed on goal and all three ended up in the back of the net. Ramirez had eight shots in the match, which are the highest by any Lion in the Division I era.
McKenzie recorded two saves, while playing the full 90 minutes. For UTEP, Nicole Morales, Emerson Kidd, and Patolo had two shots each. Tionna Taylor played 90 minutes in goal for the Miners, but did not record a save.
The Lions outshot the Miners, 19-12, while also having the 2-0 edge in saves and 5-2 edge in corner kicks.
POST MATCH INTERVIEW
UP NEXT
The Lions begin conference play at A&M-Corpus Christi next Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 1 p.m.
-TAMUC-
