CANYON, Texas – The West Texas A&M women's soccer team fell to the Skyhawks of Fort Lewis 4-2 on Sunday afternoon in Canyon. The Lady Buffs fall to 3-2 on the season while the Skyhawks improved to 3-1-1.
 
Fort Lewis pushed the pace early in the game, taking the game's first shot two minutes in. Just over five minutes into the game, Ashlyn Salas tested WT goalkeeper Reagan Heelan, but Heelan made a diving save to keep the Skyhawks off the board. Fort Lewis tested Heelan once again in the 10^th minute as a crossing pass cut through the Lady Buffs' defense and to the foot of Salas. On a touch, Salas rifled a shot to the bottom corner of the goal, but Heelan converted the save to slow down the attack. WT wouldn't record its first shot of the game until the 14^th minute when Avery Putnam had her opportunity knocked down before it reached goal. The following time of the first half went quietly for both teams with play working through the midfield. As the clock approached 30 seconds to play in the first half, Fort Lewis found its first goal of the afternoon when Danielle Gonzales sent a pass up the field. After a bounce, Anna Tucker bumped the ball through to Abigail Nkrumah who placed it past Heelan into the back of the net.
 
After halftime, the Skyhawks quickly forced an errant pass from the Lady Buffs to start a counterattack. A deep shot from Gabi Meraz-Fishbein ended in the arms of Heelan who flipped the field allowing for Avery Putnam to put a shot on goal. Already holding a one-goal lead, Fort Lewis continued to press the WT back line as Gonzales approached the end-line. Before being forced out of bounds, the Skyhawks' midfielder crossed the ball to the middle of the goal where Jenna Salazar headed it in. Fort Lewis added to its lead in the 64^th minute when Abila Tapia placed a ball into the side netting from the corner flag. Four minutes later, Tapia scored her second goal of the game when Ann Spence found Tapia in the middle of the box. WT would break up the shutout in the 75^th minute when a foul set up a free kick for the Lady Buffs. On the restart, Reagan Matacale floated the free kick into the top corner of the goal, cutting the lead to 4-1. WT capped the scoring with 20 seconds to play as Sydney Martin sent a service into the box. Off Martin's pass, Leslie Rodriguez passed to Adjeley Kpobi in front of the goal.
 
The Lady Buffs start Lone Star Conference action on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Eastern New Mexico. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT at Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium in Portales.