Stats
Video
CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M returns to The Pitch on Saturday, Sept. 14, when they host Adams State. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
LIGHTNING DELAY LEADS TO NO CONTEST
The Lady Buffs' Thursday game against Fort Lewis was deemed a "No Contest" due to continuous lightning in the area. According to NCAA rules, the teams needed to play 70 minutes to be ruled an official contest. The statistics from the partial game do not count.
The game was called in the 64th minute with WT trailing 4-3 after
Hannah Kelley-Lusk,
Khaline Jacob and Emily Avial found the back of the net for the Lady Buffs.
It was their first "No Contest" since 2016 when they saw consecutive games end without a result.
A LOOK AT THE LADY BUFFS
Kelley-Lusk and Jacob are one of the top one-two punches in the nation. Kelley-Lusk, who earned All-American honors last year, has already scored one goal this season while Jacob will be making her official season debut against ASU. The duo combined to score 20 goals last season.
The midfield is led by senior
Mackenzie Taylor, who ranks in the Top 10 in career minutes played. The Grapevine, Texas native is joined by
Shanelle Arjoon,
Jessica Diaz and
Ashley Silvestre.
2018 Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Year Cheyenne Orzozco anchors the Lady Buff defense joined by
Marlene van Mourik and
Emily Avila.
Natasha Worm has got the start in goal during the first two games of the season.
A LOOK AT ADAMS STATE
Colin Baker is in his first season as the head coach of Adams State women's soccer after serving as an assistant for a season for the men's and women's teams. Prior to making Alamosa home, he spent time at Southwestern College, Great Falls College-Montana State and Carroll College.
The Grizzlies enter the second week of the season 1-1 after opening the season with a 1-0 victory over Western Oregon before falling to Eastern New Mexico on Thursday night in Portales, N.M.
Maya Mau has recorded a team-high four shots, including one on-target, in 133 minutes played. Diana Cerillo ranks second on the team with three shots with Gia Barone, Jayne Scheiss, Zoe Moses and Carena Harrison all recording a shot.
Corri Zaiger has started in both games in goal for the Grizzlies having allowed three goals on 28 shots faced. The redshirt junior has made 10 saves for a save percentage of .769 and one shutout.
THE SERIES
The Lady Buffs are a perfect 5-0-0 all-time against the Grizzlies including 2-0-0 at The Pitch. WT has outscored ASU 23-2 in their previous five meetings.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE GRIZZLIES
WT defeated ASU 3-1 on Sept. 7, 2018 in Alamosa behind Jacob's second half brace. The Lady Buffs recorded 27 shots, 11 of those on-target compared to 11 (6 on-target) for the Grizzlies.
Diana Cerillo put the home side ahead in the 6th minute on a line drive from a difficult angle. Kelley-Lusk tied the match at 1-all in the 37th minute on a through ball from Jacob. Jacob took control of the match in the 72nd scoring both goals in a span of 31 seconds to lead WT to its fifth straight victory over ASU.
LADY BUFFS IN HOME OPENERS
Due to the "No Contest", Saturdays game will be the Lady Buffs home opener. They are 4-1 in the past five home openers at The Pitch. Before losing 2-0 to CSU-Pueblo last year, WT had won four straight home openers including three shutouts.
SCORING = WINS, USUALLY
WT is unbeaten in their last 23 games when scoring dating back to October 2017. They are 21-0-2 since losing to Texas Woman's 3-2 in overtime on Oct. 22, 2017 in Denton.
RECORD WATCH
Kelley-Lusk recorded a team-high five shots against UCCS bringing her career total to 102. The junior is 10 shots shy of tying Jessica Rodriguez (2000-02) for the 10th most in program history.
Marlene van Mourik currently ranks seventh on the list with 134.
Kelley-Lusk moved up to seventh in career game-winners against CSU-Pueblo on Thursday. The junior is now tied with teammate
Khaline Jacob with six game-winners.
Mackenzie Taylor enters Thursday's game having played 5,064 minutes for the Lady Buffs, 59 shy of passing
Haley Girard (2012-15) for the seventh-most in program history.
9 WINS AWAY FROM THE CENTURY MARK
10th year head coach
Chad Webb is nine wins short of becoming the second head coach in program history to win 100 games. The former Buff standout is 91-71-20 during his tenure including four straight seasons with 10-plus wins and back-to-back NCAA appearances.
THE PITCH
The Lady Buffs are 49-26-12 (.632) all-time at The Pitch including 8-3-2 in 2018. In 13 home games last season, WT ranked 13th in total attendance (3,250) and 33rd in average attendance (250/game).
LSC PRESEASON POLL
The Lady Buffs were picked to finish first in the Lone Star Conference Women's Soccer Preseason Poll for the second straight year receiving 18 first-place votes. Newcomers Dallas Baptist were picked second followed by St. Edward's in third, Angelo in fourth and Texas A&M-Commerce in fifth.
Kelley-Lusk was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year with DBU's Maggie Scales and SEU's Annabel Sweeney were named the defensive and goalkeeper of the year respectively.
LIVE COVERAGE
Live stats and webstreaming will be provided by WT for Saturday's game for $5 for a day pass or $50 for a year pass. For more information, visit the Women's Soccer Schedule Page at GoBuffsGo.com.
UP NEXT
The Lady Buffs make the trip to Shawnee, Okla. for a showdown against Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday, Sept. 21. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at OBU Soccer Complex.
