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CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M opens Lone Star Conference play on Wednesday, Sept. 22, on the road against UT Permian Basin. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. at UTPB Soccer Field in Odessa. 
 
Wednesday's contest will be broadcast on the Lone Star Conference Digital Network. Fans wanting to watch the game can purchase a 24 hour pass for $10 or a season pass for $50.
 
FREE KICK FLIPS THE SCRIPT
Emliy Avila's third goal of the season lifted the Lady Buffs to a 1-0 victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State on Sunday afternoon at The Pitch. 
 
After dropping their last meeting 6-0 to the Bulldogs, WT was the more aggressive team from the opening whistle registering 11 shots in the opening half. Asha James had their best chance of the opening 45 minutes when she sliced through the defense but her shot at the near post was saved.
 
They would come close to scoring on a corner in the minute but Kyndahl Britton's header ricocheted off the crossbar and into the hands of keeper. Avila would score the game-winner five minutes later after the referee awarded a free kick just outside the penalty. The junior made no mistake with a right-footed shot just inside the right post for the only goal of the game. 
 
Reagan Heelan made four saves en route to her fourth win and second shutout of the season. 
 
A LOOK AT UT PERMIAN BASIN
UT Permian Basin enters Wednesday's game full of confidence after picking up their first win of the season on Sunday against Oklahoma Panhandle State. The Falcons put five goals past the Aggies en route to handing second-year head coach Lynsey Winkler her first career victory. 
 
The Falcons have had eight different players find the back of the net this season as they are averaging two goals per game. Alexandra Sanchez and Yarely Orono have bagged a team-high two apiece with Sanchez also adding an assist. Yareli Barrera, a freshman from Odessa, ranks second on the team in shots.
 
Jenna McEnaney has been the starting goalkeeper for the Flacons in four of their five games this season. The sophomore has made a league-high 32 saves including a pair of double-digit performances against University of the Southwest and Southern Nazarene. 
 
THE SERIES
The Lady Buffs a perfect 19-0-0 all-time against the Falcons dating back to Aug. 30, 2006. Entering Wednesday's matchup, WT has outscored the Falcons 74-7 which includes 10 straight shutouts. 
 
SCORING FIRST IS ESSENTIAL
With their win over SWOSU, WT improved to 59-3-4 (.924) since 2015 when scoring the first goal of the game. 
 
LOOKING FOR WIN NO. 300
A win on Wednesday would give the Lady Buffs their 300th win in program history.  
 
YOU ARE A WIZARD, EMILY
Avila must have spent her summer watching Lionel Messi highlights on YouTube as the junior has scored three goals this season, all coming on set pieces. 
 
Entering this season, the Albuquerque, N.M. native had scored a total of three goals including a penalty kick in 2019. 
 
GOING STREAKING
Heelan has been great in goal this season as the Lady Buffs are a perfect 4-0-0 when she starts. The second-year freshman from Kearney, Neb. extended her shutout streak to 268 minutes, 11 seconds in WT's win on Sunday, the longest such streak of her young career. 
 
She currently ranks first in the LSC in save percentage (.952), second in shutouts (2) and third in goals against average (.286). 
 
A LOOK AT THE RANKINGS
The Lady Buffs are not currently receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Poll but are ranked fourth in the regional rankings released on Tuesday.
 
UC-Colorado Springs is ranked first with Angelo State leapfrogging Dallas Baptist for second with WT in fourth and Westminster in fifth. 
 
IT'S ABOUT TO GET REAL
Non-conference play is over and the battle for the LSC Championships begins. No. 17 DBU was picked to win the conference in the preseason poll voted on by the coaches, sports information directors and local media. 
 
Angelo State was picked second after winning the outright title last year in overtime against DBU. WT was picked third with St. Edward's fourth. 
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Buffs return to the friendly confines of The Pitch on Saturday, Sept. 25, to host No. 17 Dallas Baptist. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.