CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M soccer team earned a 1-0 win over the New Mexico Highlands Cowgirls on Friday night in Canyon. With the win, the Lady Buffs improve to 3-1-0 overall while the Cowgirls fall to 2-3-1.
 
WT pushed the pace early as Mollie Ferro placed a shot on goal less than three minutes into the contest. New Mexico Highlands answered with a shot on goal of its own at the 10-minute mark. The Cowgirls continued to find the game's first goal after the shot, placing three shots on frame in a five and a half minute span. Although the Cowgirls continued to place shots on goal, Lady Buffs' goalkeeper Reagan Heelan continued to stop the opportunities. WT broke through in the 33^rd minute when Alexsis Villarreal sent a crossing pass into the box from the corner. Villarreal's cross found the head of Madison Stokes who put a header on goal. After New Mexico Highlands' goalkeeper Peyton Greener made an initial save, Stokes put the rebound into the back of the net for a goal. The one-goal lead held up for WT as the teams ended the first half.
 
In the second half, the Lady Buffs and Cowgirls played without a shot for the first four minutes until Acacia Rodriguez sent a shot wide of the goal. A minute later, Stokes tested Haylee Driscoll, a halftime sub in goal, where Driscoll converted her first save of the evening. WT persisted on testing Driscoll throughout the second half, but the goalkeeper wouldn't budge, making four saves on the night. Avery Putnam nearly doubled the Lady Buffs' lead in the 79^th minute when the sophomore struck a ball with a clean look at goal. Punam's scoring chance floated just high, hitting the crossbar and keeping action moving. The final 10 minutes of play saw WT control possession and momentum to close out a shutout victory on their home field.
 
The Lady Buffs stay at home for a Sunday, Sept. 22 match with Fort Lewis with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.