CANYON, Texas – Junior Emily Avila scored the game-winner in the 96^th-minute to defeat St. Mary's, 3-2, pushing the West Texas A&M Lady Buffs to the Lone Star Conference Semifinals.  The Lady Buffs, now 14-5-0, will face the No. 1 seed DBU (16-2-0) on Friday night in Dallas, Texas.  
 
St. Mary's put pressure on the Lady Buffs defense early with a shot by the Juni Ejere but was denied by senior keeper Daniela Estrada to leave the Rattlers off the board.  StMU responded quick with a score in the 5^th-minute by Kylie Von Holle to make it 1-0.
 
The Rattlers lead would be short lived with Hannah Kelley Lusks 26^th goal of the season in the 10^th-minute.  Reagan Matacale's shot from the top of the penalty area was saved by Rebecca Difronzo and rebounded to Maliyah Mendoza before the Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week tried to find the back of the net.  The shot was stopped with Difronzo's third save of the match but found its way in front of Kelley-Lusk.  The senior showed fancy footwork as she moved past defenders before firing the equalizer just out of reach of the keeper. 
 
WT doubled its score in the 35^th-minute after recovering possession from St. Mary's goal kick at midfield.  Emily Avila found Kelley-Lusk in the Rattlers territory who chipped it to over a pair of defenders before Asha James raced through the back line.  The sophomore tapped the ball past Difronzo to take a 2-1 lead before the half. 
 
StMU led off scoring for the second time of the match as the Rattlers leveled the score with Ejere's goal in the 49^th-minute to make it 2-all. The Lady Buffs continued to pressure the Rattlers with three consecutive shots but were each denied by Difronzo to prevent the lead change.  
 
Maliyah Mendoza would draw the foul in the penalty area in the 83^rd-minute but it would be Avila to take the Lady Buffs sixth penalty kick of the season.  The Albuquerque, N.M. product shot for the low right corner but was unable to convert the kick.  
 
As the clock counted down the final minutes, neither team was able to take hold of the lead to send the match into overtime. 
 
The Lady Buffs would get the golden goal in the 96^th-minute when Avila got redemption as the junior converted a free kick over the head of Difronzo to send the Lady Buffs to the semifinal rounds. 
 
James led a Lady Buffs offense that outshot the St. Mary's 35-6 after the sophomore posted eight shots.  Daniela Estrada was awarded the victory as the senior registered 95:46 between the post, recording two saves while Difronzo was credited the loss with program record 19 saves. 
 
WT heads to Dallas for a rematch with DBU on Friday, Nov. 12 with kickoff set for 5 p.m. at Patriot field.