Laredo, Texas – After putting up a tremendous fight in the first half against one of the top teams in the Heartland Conference, St. Edwards put up two goals early in the second half to sink The Texas A&M International University Women’s Soccer Team 3-1 Saturday afternoon at Dustdevil Field.
Kirsten Jennings scored The Dustdevils lone goal of the match and TAMIU outshot St. Edwards 9-7, led by Shelby Williams who finished with three.
The Hilltoppers were paced by Rachel Murray who scored two goals and added one assist.
St. Edwards opened the scoring in the 6th minute of the game when Olivia Collado and Kelly Servage drew the TAMIU defense away with a nice give and go leaving Murray wide open at the top of the box. Spotting the opening, Collado sent the ball to Murray who fired from 22 yards out, bending it in just past the diving fingertips of TAMIU keeper Noemi Salazar.
The Dustdevils would equalize in the 31st minute with a goal from Kirsten Jennings. Jennings made an impressive move to slip past a St. Edwards defender then finished with an equally impressive shot that went over the head of Hilltoppers keeper Claire Tilton, who was caught out of position. The goal was Jennings second of the season, putting her in a tie for second most on the team. TAMIU took the momentum into halftime with the match tied at one.
St. Edwards snatched the momentum back early in the second half, getting a goal in the 52nd minute from Rachel Murray. A long pass from Jordan Ynostrosa drew the TAMIU keeper out of her box, setting up a race to the ball. Murray was the first to get there chipping the ball over the keepers head and walking the ball in for an easy goal.
Just one minute later Murray would return the favor, setting up Ynostrosa for the Hilltoppers third goal of the match. Murray sent a cross into the box where a waiting Ynostrosa leapt above The Dustdevil defense, heading the ball off the underside of the post and into the net.
TAMIU’s overall record drops to 2-14-1, 1-8 in Heartland Conference play. The Dustdevils will conclude their season with one final conference home game versus U.T. Permian Basin on November 1st at 3:00 p.m.
(TAMIU Sports Information Director, Michael Blake may be contacted at michael.blake@tamiu.edu)