PORTALES, N.M. – Sophomore midfielder Khadidra Debesette scored her third game-winner of the season in the dying moments of Thursday night's match as the Lady Buffs won their eighth straight match in a 1-0 victory over rival Eastern New Mexico. With the win, the Lady Buffs improve to 11-4 and 9-2 in Lone Star Conference play while the Greyhounds fall to 3-12-1 (2-9).
"That was a better second half from our team tonight," said WT women's soccer head coach Chad Webb. "We knew it was going to be a physical match and I feel that we responded well to the challenge. Khadidra played really well in the second half and deservedly scored the winner for us. I am proud of the team and how they have been playing during this winning streak."
WT nearly got on the board in the first five minutes of the match but Gabby Wolf's shot was saved by ENMU's Marissa Torres at 3:36. The Lady Buffs best chance came nearly 15 minutes later when Karyn Forbes found separation from her defender but was denied by Torres on two different occasions.
Both teams finished the first half with four shots apiece.
The Lady Buff got off to a fast start in the second half as Forbes' had two shots go wide in the first five minutes. Khadidra Debesette caused problems for the Greyhounds as she had five shots in the final 45 minutes alone.
WT nearly went ahead in the 85th minute but freshman MacKenzie Taylor's shot was pushed away by Torres and Gabby Wolf's shot off the save was blocked. Debesette finally put the Lady Buffs ahead at 87:03 scoring her fifthgoal of the season to break the Greyhounds hearts. The Rousillac, Trinidad & Tobago native found space five yards from goal and latched onto Forbes' corner kick sending the ball into the back of the net lifting the Lady Buffs to their first eight match winning streak since 2006.
The Lady Buffs finished the match with a 18-7 advantage with seven of those being on goal.
Courtney Dippel made four saves for the Lady Buffs picking up her second consecutive shutout.
WT will play their final regular season match of the 2016 season on Sunday, Oct. 30 when they host Midwestern State on Senior Day. The seven seniors on this year's sqaud, Kaitlin Steele, Dom Premac, Ashlee Craig, Karyn Forbes, Aryn Douroudian, Brady Prescott and Katelyn Taschler, will be honored before the match.
NOTES:
· With the win, the Lady Buffs lead the all-time series 14-6-1.
· The Lady Buffs have now won eight straight for the first time since 2008.
· Khadidra Debesette had a match-high six shots.
· Debesette now has six career game-winners, three more than any other Lady Buff.
· WT has now scored six goals in the final 15 minutes of matches this season.
· The Lady Buffs are a perfect 8-0-0 in October.
· The Lady Buffs are now 4-2-0 when tied at half time.
