COMMERCE, Texas – The HCU women's soccer team fell into a 3-0 hole in the first 20 minutes but fought back to within a goal at Lion Soccer Field on Friday night but ultimately dropped a 4-3 Southland Conference matchup to Texas A&M-Commerce.
The Lions (7-5-1, 5-0-0 SLC) jumped ahead early with a goal by Hannah Bell right in front of the goal off a long-distance throw-in in the sixth minute. Texas A&M-Commerce kept the foot on the gas and put two more goals into the net before the 19:00 mark in the first half to a 3-0 advantage.
HCU (3-8-0, 1-4-0 SLC) managed its first shot on goal in the 21
st minute with
Mia Salas taking aim from a distance and placing a shot to the top shelf that was stopped by AMC goalkeeper Sophia Dean but the rebound fell at the feet of
Katie Marker who scored an easy goal with Salas earning an assist to get the Huskies on the board. A&M-Commerce, however, found the goal one more time before the half and led the Huskies, 4-1, at the intermission.
In the 49
th minute, HCU controlled a goal kick by A&M-Commerce and Jaimes made a wide pass to
Evelyn Slaughter who took one touch and made a perfect pass into the box which Salas got to just ahead of a Lions' defender and snuck the ball past Dean to the bottom right corner. Less than three minutes later,
Kat Lazor took the ball down the left sideline and lofted a ball into the box that Dean appeared to lose in the lights, stumbling back while the ball went into the goal for Lazor's first goal since her collegiate debut in the fall of 2020 and pulling the Huskies within one, 4-3.
The Huskies managed just one additional shot on target the rest of the way, a Salas attempt with less than four minutes remaining.
Chloe Bagshaw, playing the second half in goal, made three saves to keep the Lions within reach.
A&M-Commerce held a 22-12 advantage in shot attempts with 12 on goal to HCU's six.
Taylor Sanderson played the first half in goal for the Huskies, registering five saves, while Bagshaw had three. Marker's goal was her third of the season and it was number two of the year for Salas. Jaimes had a pair of assists and now leads the team for the year, with three.
The Huskies turn around to face Northwestern State on their home turf this Sunday, Oct. 8, at 1:00 p.m. in Houston at Sorrels Field.
