West Texas A&M (0-0) at New Mexico Highlands (0-0)
Date	Thursday, September 4th | 5:00 p.m. CT
Location	Las Vegas, New Mexico | Sanchez Family Stadium
Live Statistics	Link
Live Video	RMAC Network (Pay-Per-View)

CANYON, Texas – A new era for West Texas A&M women's soccer begins on Thursday night as the Lady Buffs travel to Las Vegas, New Mexico to take on the Cowgirls of New Mexico Highlands in the 2025 season opener.
 
The Lady Buff roster features 26 student-athletes highlighted by returners Nadia Reyna, Avery Putnam and Sydney Martin who were honored by the Lone Star Conference as Preseason Players to Watch. A talented group of transfers and newcomers look to put their name on the WT women's soccer program that has won 13 conference championships with 12 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
 
THE SERIES
Thursday marks the 20^th all-time meeting on the pitch between the Lady Buffs and Cowgirls. WT is 15-2-2 in the series dating back to 1996. The last meeting came on September 20, 2024 as the Lady Buffs claimed a 1-0 victory in Canyon on a Madison Stokes goal in the 32^nd minute.
 
A LOOK AT THE COWGIRLS
New Mexico Highlands has been tabbed 13^th in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Cowgirls finished the 2024 campaign with an overall record of 2-14-2 with a 0-11-1 mark in league action. NMHU was honored for their efforts in the classroom as a recipient of the USC Team Academic Award with a 3.49 GPA.
 
Amanda Evans enters her second season at the helm of the NMHU women's soccer program. She came to Las Vegas after spending the past six seasons at Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, Virginia. She played at collegiately at Hawaii Pacific University and had semi-pro training in Utah.
 
Kate Rayner returns for her senior campaign as the Jurupa Valley, California native scored a team-best five goals last season with 25 shots, 18 of them coming on goal during her 1,213 minutes on the pitch.
 
WT HEAD COACH TURK OZTURK
Bulut "Turk" Ozturk was named the third head coach in the history of the Lady Buff Soccer program on December 19, 2024. Ozturk brings an impressive nine-season track record of collegiate coaching experience to WT. 
 
Ozturk was most recently on the coaching staff at Iowa State University for the 2024 season as the Soccer Development Coordinator. In this role, he was involved in all aspects of assisting a power four program that competes in the Big XII conference. Some of coach Turk's major duties included: Game Day coaching, video analysis for team members, scouting reports, recruiting, travel coordination and leading training sessions for the team.
 
Before Iowa State, Ozturk served as the Head Coach at Michigan Tech University for four seasons. During his tenure, he led the Huskies to their first NCAA tournament appearance in nearly a decade in 2023. Under his guidance, Michigan Tech achieved remarkable success with 17 players earning GLIAC All-Conference Awards, one All-American, over 60 players named to the All-Academic Excellence Team, and eight to the All-Academic Team.
 
LSC PRESEASON POLL
The Lady Buffs were selected 10^th in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll announced on August 27^th. 
 
Dallas Baptist claimed 29 of the possible 45 first place votes for a total of 650 points to sit atop of the poll followed by Angelo State (13 first place, 634), Texas Woman's (one first place, 556), Midwestern State (511), St. Mary's (468), St. Edward's (435), Lubbock Christian (392), Oklahoma Christian (358), UT Tyler (347), West Texas A&M (284), Texas A&M International (one first place, 244), UT Dallas (168), UT Permian Basin (146), Eastern New Mexico (124) and Sul Ross State (one first place, 83).
 
Annie Rocha of St. Edward's was tabbed the league's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. DBU senior Parker Coe was named the Defensive Player of the Year while Amanda Farris of TWU claimed Goalkeeper of the Year accolades.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Thursday's contest will be broadcasted on the RMAC Network. The RMAC Network moves to a pay-per-view model beginning with the 2025-26 season. Fans have three different subscription options: $10 per broadcast, $25 per month or $130 per year.