Box Score

Season Statistics

CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M women's soccer team earned its first victory of the season in a dominating 4-0 performance over University of Texas of the Permian Basin at The Pitch in Canyon, Texas. Junior Emily Krenek tallied back-to-back goals in under a minute during the first half to give the Lady Buffs the win in their home opener. WT now improves to 1-3 while the Falcons drop their record to 0-4 on the year.
 
"Getting this win and being able to score some goals will definitely help our confidence level," noted Krenek. "We've been struggling so far early on but I think this is just what we needed heading into our next match so hopefully we can find a way to carry that momentum forward."

The Lady Buffs dominated possession over the first 10 minutes of today's match. They let a few passes get away in transition in the opening minutes before grabbing a couple of early corner kick chances, taken by redshirt freshman Katelyn Taschler. WT was able to then get its first shot with an attempt by junior Haley Girard from 30 yards out but UTPB keeper Ebony Campbell was able to step up for the stop.
 
Taschler then took another corner just before the 10^th minute and set up teammate freshman Lucy Chalgren with a well-placed ball in the center of the box. Chalgren jumped and took the kick in the air but her attempt went five yards high over the crossbar. One minute later, Taschler took a pass a dribbled inside and sent a strike from about 15 yards out but Campbell dived back in for the save, deflecting the ball before a UTPB defender was able to clear.
 
Junior Emily Krenek then caught fire as she scored two quick goals from identical locations just 49 seconds apart to give the Lady Buffs the early 2-0 advantage. Her first came at the 15:59 as she took a pass from sophomore Karyn Forbes at the close left wing and dribbled around a defender and beat the keeper from point blank range inside the near post.
 
"On that first goal, Karyn really just played a perfect ball for me," added Krenek. "She set me up in good position and coach has been telling me constantly just to go in with confidence in those situations. So I kept making my way inside once I saw the keeper staying back and then just took the chance."

Under a minute later, at the 16:48 mark, Forbes attempted a shot from the top of the box; however, the ball was blocked by a Falcons' defender right into the feet of Krenek. The junior then took the shot, beating Campbell once again inside the left post over her right shoulder.
 
Despite the two goal advantage, WT never let up the pressure through the rest of the half. Taschler and sophomore Kaitlin Steele both sent in two quick shots after taking the lead before sophomore Brady Prescott had a good look on goal in the 31^st minute, leading to another Campbell save.
 
Senior Rhea Belgrave had a great opportunity in the 37^th minute as she took a free kick from 30 yards out. She would place a high kick that nearly curved enough to drop in but fell inches over the crossbar and out of play.
 
The Falcons finally got their first real scoring opportunity in the 44^th minute. Sarah McPherson took a corner from the left side while Mallory Martin attempted a diving header which was saved by WT freshman keeper McKynzie Zick.
 
WT dominated the stat sheet through the first 45 minutes of play. The Lady Buffs held the strong advantage in shots, 10-2, and shots-on-goal, 6-1. Krenek led the way with three while seven others had one each.
 
Freshman Rachel Herring nearly added to WT's lead early on in the second frame. Senior Jessie Thomas weaved through a couple of defenders on the far right wing and sent in a cross to Herring who took the one-timer which ended up rattling the left post.
 
Thomas put together an identical play in the 61^st minute but let the cross get a little away from Chalgren as it rolled out of play.
 
The Falcons then put together half the work for WT in its third goal in the 70^th minute. Prescott took a pass near the top of the box on the left wing and dribbled in, striking a shot into the left post. The rebound bounced right into a UTPB defender and then found the net for an own goal.
 
The Lady Buffs would do their final damage in the 75^th minute. Junior Taylor Laubhan took another corner for the home team which connected perfectly for Belgrave to head in the score, securing the decisive 4-0 victory.
 
Tonight's victory was the first for WT as it improves to 1-3 on the year and it remains undefeated in the all-time series with the Falcons, 11-0.
 
"I am very proud of the way our team performed from the opening whistle today," head coach Chad Webb commented. "We did not get quite the results we wanted in our first three games and I think this match was crucial for us coming back home. We have a lot of things to take care of in practice this week but today was a big step in the right direction."

The Lady Buffs finished off the match this afternoon with 19 total shots and 10 on-goal while the Falcons managed only five shots, four of them on target. Leading the way for WT was Krenek with four attempts followed by Belgrave, Chalgren, Laubhan and junior Dominique Premac with two each. Zick earned her first victory of the year as she improves her record to 1-3 as well, tallying four saves in the contest. Campbell took the loss and now drops her record to 0-3.
 
WT will return to action next Thursday, Sept. 18, as it travels to Plainview, Texas to face Wayland Baptist University. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. It will be the first ever meeting between the two programs.