CANYON, Texas – Playing in their first regular season game against a Division I opponent since 2005, West Texas A&M were unable to take advantage of their scoring chances in a 1-0 overtime loss to Abilene Christian on Friday evening at Th Pitch.
The Lady Buffs nearly opened the scoring in the second minute when Hannah Kelley-Lusk got behind the Wildcat backline but here shot went off the side netting for a goal kick. The senior forced the first save of the game in the 18th minute with another shot inside the penalty area.
ACU found their footing later in the half forcing a save from Reagan Heelan. The shots continued to come from the Wildcats with Brennan Reuland and Cayln Wright's shots going just wide. In the final minutes of the half, Maliyah Mendoza tried her luck from distance but saw her shot saved.
Kelley-Lusk would have WT's first real chance in the second half in the 62nd but saw her shot at the near post saved by Erin Smith. She was inches away from scoring the opening goal in the 70th minute after her rebound on a mishandled free kick was cleared off the line by a Wildcat defender to keep things scoreless.
Heelan came up big again for the Lady Buffs in the dying minutes as the Wildcats pushed numbers forward looking to win it in regulation. She pushed Alyssia Anuat's shot from the top of the box and made herself big to force Brennan's rebound over the crossbar.
ACU would score the golden-goal in the 92nd minute when Natali Wodka launched her shot from six yards out into the back of the net.
Kelley-Lusk finished with four shots, three of those on-target, with Jessica Diaz contributing three shots. Heelan made five saves in her first collegiate match.
The Lady Buffs return to action next Friday, Feb.12, with a non-conference game against Lubbock Christian in Canyon.
