LUBBOCK, Texas – For the first time in the 2024 season, the West Texas A&M women's soccer team earned a draw as the Lady Buffs tied Lubbock Christian 1-1 in Lubbock on Wednesday night. With the draw, the Lady Buffs moved to 6-6-1 on the year with a 3-4-1 mark in Lone Star Conference play.
 
Both teams battled for possession in the game's opening minutes with neither team able to string passes together up the field. After a WT takeaway in the defensive third, the Lady Buffs built up the field with Mollie Ferro leading the charge along the sideline. As Ferro entered the 18-yard box, the sophomore sent a crossing pass towards the center of the box where a Lubbock Christian defender deflected the ball into the back of the net. After the goal in the ninth minute, Reagan Heelan preserved the lead seven minutes later as the senior goalkeeper easily handled a one-hop shot. The Lady Chaps started to settle into the match, keeping possession and moving up the field. Despite controlling possession, the WT back line swarmed the LCU attack to force contested passes and turnovers. As the clock went under 15 minutes to play, the Lady Chaps created an opportunity to tie the game on a one-on-one chance, but the offside flag went up to nullify the possession. LCU would eventually break through with 10 minutes to play in the half as a Lady Buff foul set up a free kick. On the restart, Emma Best found Ella Spiller on the back post who headed the ball back across the face of goal to beat Heelan. Less than 10 seconds after the game-tying goal, WT stormed up the field where Avery Putnam fired a shot which skimmed the crossbar and went out of play. Just before halftime, the Lady Chaps nearly took the lead as Heelan pushed a shot into the bottom of the cross bar. Luckily for the Lady Buffs, the ball fell away from the open goal to be cleared by a defender.
 
After halftime, LCU spent most of the opening minutes of the second half in its attacking third, keeping WT on their heels. In the 56^th minute, the Lady Buffs took possession over the midfield line where a Lady Chaps foul set up a free kick. Stepping up to take the free kick, Alexsis Villarreal went direct to goal, missing a go-ahead score by a matter of inches. A few minutes later, LCU pressed the WT defense once again as a Journey Curs shot forced a diving save out of Heelan. The Lady Buffs looked to take the lead with 17 minutes to play as Madison Stokes took a one-timer inside the box but watched a Lady Chaps defender step up to block the attempt. The physical play of the second half continued over the game's next minutes as each team fought to take an advantage. With less than two minutes to play, LCU looked to take the lead and walk away with three Lone Star Conference points as Maya Quinones beat two defenders and entered the 18-yard box. With no one around, Quinones sent a curving shot toward the top corner of goal but hit the corner post. The rebound came out to Olivia Weider who tried to beat Heelan but sent her attempt wide of goal. WT's last-second chance sailed wide as the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
 
The Lady Buffs return to The Pitch on Saturday, Oct. 26 for their annual Jachyllis "Jae" Hogeland ALS Awareness Game. The match against UT Tyler is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. in Canyon.