CANYON, Texas – A hat trick from
Avery Putnam helped the West Texas A&M women's soccer snap a three-game losing streak on Saturday afternoon with a 4-0 victory over Sul Ross State. The Lady Buffs improve to 5-5 overall on the season and 2-3 in Lone Star Conference action while the Lobos fall to 1-7 overall and 0-5 in league action.
Putnam's hat trick marks the first for the sophomore's career and the first for WT since Maria-Frances Serrant on Oct. 19, 2022 at Eastern New Mexico.
After
Alexsis Villarreal's shot less than a minute into the game, WT wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard. As the clock approached the fifth minute,
Reagan Matacale beat a defender and entered the 18-yard box. As she approached the goal, Matacale centered the ball for Putnam who spun and fired a shot into the goal. Nearly 90 seconds later, the Lady Buffs added to their lead when Matacale drew a foul inside the box for a penalty kick.
Madison Stokes stepped up to take the penalty where she converted the opportunity. Following the two goals, WT controlled momentum although Sul Ross State created shots on the Lady Buffs' half of the field. In the 22
nd minute, Putnam scored her second goal of the day as she cleaned up a rebound off
Emily McGuire's initial shot. Over the remainder of the first half, WT spent most of the remaining minutes on the Lobos' side of the field, recording multiple shots on goal during that time.
Two minutes into the second half, a crossing pass into the box went to
Adjeley Kpobi in front of the goal. Kpobi put a header toward the goal, but a Lobos' defender stepped in front of the shot before it crossed the goal line. The Lady Buffs continued to pressure goalkeeper Benita St. Carreon and the Sul Ross State defense with possession living in the WT attacking third. Putnam completed her hat trick in the 65
th minute after the Lady Buffs pushed up the field. Before a defender closed in, Villarreal sent a leading pass into the box for Putnam. As Putnam arrived at the ball a touch over the goalkeeper allowed the Austin, Texas native finished the ball into the goal. Now holding a four-goal advantage, WT lived on the Lobos' half of the field, allowing just three shots over the game's final 35 minutes.
WT remains at home for a Wednesday, Oct. 16 match against UT Permian Basin. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at The Pitch in Canyon.
