CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M picked up its first victory over a Top 25 opponent behind four second-half goals as they outlasted the No. 25 Riverhawks of Northeastern State, 5-1, at The Pitch on Saturday afternoon.  
 
Saturday's match marked the Buffs largest win-margin since the 2018 season where WT made their first appearance to the NCAA National Quarterfinals. 
 
The Riverhawks wasted little time jumping on the board as Ryan McCully completed a pass in the box to take a 1-0 lead in the 2^nd-minute.  After Giancarlo Saldana drew the corner, WT leveled the score with Bryan Martinez's first score of the season while Saldana was credited the assist. 
 
In the 53^rd-minute, Ben Siri found Saldana at the top of the box to double the Buffs score before he recorded his fourth-career brace moments later with a pass from Stefan Andjelic.  WT kept the momentum as Andjelic added to the board with his 14^th-career goal.  The senior connected with passes from Chris Palomino and Siri to make it 4-1.  
 
Sophomore Marcos Lopez was the final scorer for the Buffs as the Austin product recorded his first collegiate goal off a rebound from the woodwork by Keaton Hartman's shot. 
 
WT outshot the Riverhawks 19-7 with 12 shots landing on frame with four players adding to the board. Tom Miles earned his first collegiate start between the post as the freshman recorded four saves through 90 minutes of play.  
 
The Buffs will set out to Bethany, Oklahoma for their first road trip of the season as they face Southern Nazarene on Thursday, Sept. 16.