CANYON, Texas – The No. 10 Lady Buffs of West Texas A&M scored twice in the second half as they opened the season with a 2-0 victory over CSU-Pueblo on the road. Hannah Kelley-Lusk and Ashley Silvestre both scored as WT improved to 6-5-1 all-time against the ThunderWolves.
After an even first half where both teams registered six shots, the Lady Buffs took over in the final 45 minutes putting five shots on-target compared to zero for the ThunderWolves to avenge last season's 2-0 season opening loss.
Kelley-Lusk opened the scoring in the 50th minute to give the Lady Buffs a 1-0 lead following a defensive miscue from the ThunderWolves. The junior took advantage of a misplaced ball by the CSUP defense before beating the goalkeeper at the far post for her first of the season and 13th of her career.
Ashley Silvestre doubled the visitors lead six minutes later in the 56thminutes scoring on her debut for WT. The Amarillo, Texas native bent it like Beckham to the near post off the corner to catch ThunderWolves off guard and give the Lady Buffs a two-goal advantage. It was nearly 3-0 in the 59thminute but Maliyah Mendoza's effort from just inside the penalty area was saved at the near post by Rylie Martin.
Natasha Worm picked a win and shutout in her first career start in Maroon & White as the freshman made two saves.
The Lady Buffs finish their two-game Colorado road trip on Saturday, Sept. 7, against No. 24 UC-Colorado Springs. The teams last met in the NCAA Second Round last fall where WT won in a penalty shootout behind the heroics of Courtney Dippel.
