LAREDO, Texas – West Texas A&M women's soccer came up short on Saturday night in Laredo as the Lady Buffs fell to the Texas A&M International Dustdevils, 2-0. The loss drops WT to 4-5 overall and 1-3 in Lone Star Conference play while Texas A&M International improves to 3-3-3 overall and 2-1-1 in league action.
 
After gaining possession in the seventh minute, WT pushed up the field, looking to take an early lead. As Reagan Matacale neared the end line, the senior sent a cross in front of the goal, but TAMIU goalkeeper Claramalia Pederson pushed the ball over the crossbar and away from danger. The Lady Buffs tested Pederson once again in the 14^th minute when Madison Stokes sent a low shot toward the corner of the goal, but Pederson made the save. After the save, the Dustdevils pushed up the field quickly and entered the 18-yard box with WT running back. A Lady Buff foul inside the box gave TAMIU a penalty kick where Candela Gonzalez stepped up to take it. WT goalkeeper Reagan Heelan went to the right side of the goal, but Gonzalez's shot was too hard for Heelan to save. The pace of play started to slow down after TAMIU's 15^th-minute goal with possession bouncing back and forth between the two teams. The Lady Buffs looked to knot the game at one in the 32^nd minute when Yami Ruiz placed a shot on frame. With less than a minute to play in the half, the Dustdevils tested Heelan once again, but the senior recorded a save to send the game to halftime.
 
After halftime, the Lady Buffs came off the opening kick to advance up the field. A foul by TAMIU put WT within striking distance as the free kick went off a Dustdevil for a corner. The Lady Buffs couldn't generate a shot off the corner as TAMIU cleared the ball away. Just over six minutes into the half, Alexsis Villarreal nearly tied the game, but her shot went wide and out of play. The Dustdevils doubled their lead in the 56^th minute as a steal from Gabriela Mendez-Ortiz set up a one-on-one opportunity with Heelan. With Heelan off her line, Mendez-Ortiz floated a ball over the keeper's head and into the back of the net. WT went back to work after the goal, forcing Pederson to make a save. The Lady Buffs saw one of their best looks of the night come off the foot of Lauren Stokes in the 64^th minute. After being left open at the edge of the box, Stokes struck a ball toward the goal but into the awaiting hands of Pederson. With less than four minutes to play, WT sent a corner into the box which bounced around. Before a Lady Buff could get to the ball, the Dustdevils cleared the threat away. Despite a 9-5 advantage in shots and 4-2 lead in shots on goal in the second half, WT couldn't get on the scoreboard as TAMIU posted a clean sheet.
 
The Lady Buffs return to Canyon for a Homecoming match against Sul Ross State at 1:30 p.m. in Canyon.